this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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Privacy
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Well to cut it short, Incognito mode often just means that your own device will not remember anything. Meaning your keyboard does not log your keystrokes, your browser does not save your searches etc. Even if this was compeletely true 100% of the time (which it is not, example, you copy or download something), then the websites you visit would still have your device's fingerprint, so a VPN connection won't do much. It is better to use a privacy-oriented browser like Mull. If you want to, you can add incognito mode ON TOP, which on Firefox and therefore Mull is called private browsing mode. Do keep in mind, that it is hard enough to have a non-unique fingerprint. This only gets amplified on mobile devices, at least speaking for Android. IOS is out of the window by default lmao.
๐ you're telling me that by using proton plus VPN with, say, Firefox in private mode, websites still know who I am? I'm not logged into anything. They don't know anything.
Yes. They do. Not by name, but by your fingerprint.
They can see my fingers? I dunno know about that
You know, I don't know if you are trying to be annoying or if you truly do not know. Here is a wikipedia link for topic of device fingerprints: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Device_fingerprint
Here is the Tor project's take on it: https://blog.torproject.org/browser-fingerprinting-introduction-and-challenges-ahead/
And here is an overview of the browsers which are best at preventing fingerprinting for desktop: https://www.privacyguides.org/en/desktop-browsers/
The privacyguides website is generally a good resource. Sometimes, rarely, lacks a little behind in the latest and greatest. It's not primarily a site for news anyways.
One part of your browser's fingerprint that I find quite interesting and is easy to understand is it's resolution. Your browser displays websites in a set resolution, say 1080x1920. This resolution is dependent of your screen's resolution, the window size of the browser and generally everything that changes the shape anf size of the website. Firefox does not protect here, old man.
๐ So you attempt to help me understand and then call me an old man? I was pretty interested in this. Now I know your information is bullshit.
You were not interested in anything. All you were doing was play down everything I said. Too bad you got by far the most downvotes. The only ones I got seem to be from you, as their count never exceed one. So unless everybody in this community who has voted on our exchange is unknowledgeably, you are so. Furthermore, this is not my information. This is exactly the reason why I pulled up sources, because I just knew a grumpy old dude like you would not dare to take someone else seriously. If you do not trust the tor project on the topic of privacy inside a browser, you truly are not to be taken seriously. What they say is not only likely true but also closely monitored by hunderds if not thousands of security experts. I gave you all the informwtion you need, yet you keep your ignorance and arrogance. What do you want me to call you, a man of class? Clearly not, old man. If you think you can play me by my emotions, go ahead and try again. You're not gonna get far. Hope your family doesn't have to put up with you for too long anymore.
Quiet, spoiled brat. You don't know what you're talking about.
I am a Developer and have worked in IT for several years. I know very much what I am talking about. And I can not be spoiled if I live alone.
You're a real expert
And yes, this time I do mean to make you feel down.