page_title: Device fingerprint
section_title: Offering a simplified fingerprint
hierarchical_section_title: Device fingerprint / Mitigation methods for browser fingerprinting / Offering a simplified fingerprint
caption_attribution_description: English: Typical Tor Browser notification of a website attempting a canvas read.
context_page_description: A device fingerprint or machine fingerprint is information collected about the software and hardware of a remote computing device for the purpose of identification. The information is usually assimilated into a brief identifier using a fingerprinting algorithm. A browser fingerprint is information collected specifically by interaction with the web browser of the device.
  Device fingerprints can be used to fully or partially identify individual devices even when persistent cookies cannot be read or stored in the browser, the client IP address is hidden, and even if one switches to another browser on the same device.
  This may allow a service provider to detect and prevent identity theft and credit card fraud, but also to compile long-term records of individuals' browsing histories even when they are attempting to avoid tracking – raising a major concern for internet privacy advocates.
context_section_description: Users may attempt to reduce their fingerprintability by selecting a web browser which minimizes availability of identifying information such as browser fonts, device ID, canvas element rendering, WebGL information, and local IP address. 
  As of 2017 Microsoft Edge is considered to be the most fingerprintable browser, followed by Firefox and Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Safari. Among mobile browsers, Google Chrome and Opera Mini are most fingerprintable, followed by mobile Firefox, mobile Edge, and mobile Safari. 
  Tor Browser disables fingerprintable features such as the canvas and WebGL API and notify users of fingerprint attempts.
caption: Typical Tor Browser notification of a website attempting a canvas read.
exif: {}