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Firefox@Lemmy.ml : Does Firefox block websites from uploading data that could be used for fingerprinting like resolution, installed fonts, etc.? (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 months ago by TheTwelveYearOld@lemmy.world to c/firefox@lemmy.ml

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Fingerprinting works by collecting bits of information about the browser and device to identify users. Couldn't browsers like Firefox see when a website gets such info with JS and either prevent or ask permission from the user for the website to make HTTP requests to upload such information to the website. Idk if they do something like this already.

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[–] Strawberry@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 3 months ago (5 children)

once the javascript gets that information from the browser it's kinda impossible to prevent it from being included in a request without just blocking all requests. It could be anywhere in arbitrarily structured data and/or encrypted

[–] TheTwelveYearOld@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago (4 children)

But couldn't the JS runtime track which objects and variables interact with such information, so if they make any HTTP requests with the info after getting it and maybe processing it then it could be rejected?

[–] bamboo@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago

Taint analysis is a real thing that several papers have been published about, but the implementations aren’t in a state where they could be run in real time without massively hampering performance. Also they’re mostly focused on findings bugs in native applications rather than privacy on the web.

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