Why Your IP Address Isn't the Only Thing Websites Can Use to Identify You
Websites can identify users through browser fingerprinting—combining signals like timezone, language, screen resolution, and graphics rendering—making VPNs or IP changes insufficient to prevent tracking.
Websites can identify you through browser fingerprinting, not just your IP address. A VPN or proxy changes your network address, but browsers expose signals like User-Agent, screen resolution, timezone, language, and WebGL. Individually weak, together these signals create a unique profile—for example, a German IP with an Asian timezone and unusual screen settings. Changing only the User-Agent may leave inconsistencies. Fingerprint protection isn’t anonymity: modifying too many traits can make you more identifiable. The author asks which signals (Canvas, WebGL, screen, timezone) matter most today and seeks technical studies.