Your ISP can’t tell who you are contacting if you are using a VPN, but websites will track you by other means.
Comment on Browser Fingerprinting And Why VPNs Won’t Make You Anonymous
Blackfeathr@lemmy.world 3 weeks agoSo my ISP can still detect if I’m going to websites they don’t approve of if I’m using Mullvad as my VPN but using Firefox as my browser?
WolfLink@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Blackfeathr@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Ok, cool. It was mainly my ISP I was worried about.
Would be useful for me to find a browser that obfuscated fingerprinting efforts too though.
limerod@reddthat.com 3 weeks ago
If you use addons like Ublock-origin. You can reduce the fingerprinting. You can also disable 3rd party iframes, disable Javascript which can further reduce the data being sent to websites.
GreenShimada@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Not your ISP. Google likely is the one following that. If you have uBlock Origin installed, click on the badge on any site and you’ll see which trackers there are. For Lemmy, it’s just going to list other lemmy instances. When you’re on that forbidden site, see if they have any Google analytics trackers - those are what will fingerprint you.
Then go to amiunique.org or hidemytracks.eff.org and see what information you’re giving up. Vanilla FF gives up fonts, sound card info, and graphics info, which are enough to pin you to specific hardware. If your machine isn’t extremely common, then Google knows it’s you.
Why not download the Mullvad browser? It’s free, and you’re paying for its development if you’re paying for the VPN.
Blackfeathr@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I’ll give that a try, thank you!
artyom@piefed.social 3 weeks ago
No
A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
No, with a VPN the only thing your ISP sees is you connecting to a VPN server IP.
But browser finger printing, on the other hand, can identify you, due to info your browser hands over to every website… Such as OS version, Resolution, installed Plugins, browser settings, etc…which is often unique enough to identify you out of the whole of the internet.
Ironically, locking your browser down with more security features/settings/plugins often makes you more identifiable. Cause capitalism is god damned sure they are gonna track you and monetize the hell out of your information, whether its via your name, your user name, or just your digital fingerprint.
coveryourtracks.eff.org
Blackfeathr@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Jesus, this is scary stuff. Thanks for the link, gonna try my other browsers and devices when I get home.
LucidNightmare@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
I’m always a little shocked at what my browsing habits prevent from these types of things. Thanks for sharing! I feel a little better about my browsing usage!