Scientists have invented a new method for tracking browsers

[Brother]

A team of researchers from the Technical University of Graz (Austria) has developed an automated system for generating browser profiles using two new side-channel attacks to gain information about the software and hardware used and more effectively track the browser on the Internet.

Experts presented the results of the research in a paper titled "JavaScript Template Attacks: Automatically Inferring Host Information for Targeted Exploits". The new method, they said, makes it easier to track browsers, helps bypass a number of anti-spying techniques, and demonstrates that privacy-enhancing browser extensions "are leaking more information than they can mask."

Obtaining a digital fingerprint of a browser involves collecting data about the user's browser, such as associated software and hardware, the type of browser, the operating system used, various headers, cookies, extensions, screen resolution, etc. This information can be collected using JavaScript ...

The method developed by scientists is quite simple: at the first stage, a browser profile is created based on a list of properties available from JavaScript objects. The second step is to re-collect data from another environment (alternative browser or OS). The two profiles are then combined into a single template, which is then used to search for variations. These variations let you know environment-related properties in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and the mobile version of Tor, with which you can get an idea of the OS, processor, installed privacy plugins, and browser version.

The research of scientists once again shows that it is quite difficult to ensure complete anonymity on the Internet, even in the case of the Tor browser, which was designed with protection against surveillance. As experts explained, the measures implemented in Tor to mask the digital footprint may be ineffective if you take into account additional data.