All You Need to Know About Device Fingerprinting

Sure, the internet has turned the tables quite impressively over the last few years. But with ease and feasibility, the internet has offered a susceptible outfield for hackers to employ multiple methods to draw upon to access others’ sensitive information. 

From using brute force attacks to sending spam messages, and phishing to stuffing credentials, there are many ways the hackers use high-end technology to trap the victims. However, the potential scale of the techniques is ever-evolving with rapid advancements in technology. 

On the flip side, robust security systems, such as two-factor authentication systems help reduce the chances of others impersonating a user to access the digital accounts. Therefore, many companies today need to advance their security systems by reinforcing secure authentication methods to fend off fraudulent activities. 

And that is where Device fingerprinting comes into play. 

What is Device Fingerprinting?

Device fingerprinting refers to the way of identifying someone’s device through the information related to its software and hardware. The data points offer enough information to conclude a person’s intentions, while also tracking their activity. 

For example, the data that is used to get information can include IP address, time zone, browser, language, screen resolution, and operating system. The apps and websites conduct quick research to track the true intentions of the user to determine if they are fraudulent or harmful. 

So, device fingerprinting typically starts when a user visits a website, with JavaScript and HTML collecting the necessary information about his device. Device fingerprinting can also help websites better understand the rate of Return on Investment (ROI) of a campaign. 

Moreover, it is important to understand that there are different types of device fingerprinting, for example, mobile device fingerprinting and cross-device fingerprinting. 

• Mobile Device Fingerprinting

As the name implies, this type of fingerprinting refers to the process of identifying the unique mobile device of the user by checking out the operating system and other data. 

• Cross-Device Fingerprinting

Cross-device fingerprinting, on the other hand, refers to tracking the users and their activities across multiple devices, based on specific identifiers which remain constant no matter what the device, such as smartphone, computer, or tablet.  

Does Device Fingerprinting Cause Security Concerns?

We are cock-sure that this question arose in your mind as you understood the concept of device fingerprinting, isn’t it? 

Well, there are some pitfalls related to device fingerprinting, and the most obvious one is security. This can be used by just anyone to exploit security vulnerabilities in a browser or software. For instance, cybercriminals may use device fingerprinting to identify the version of the browser to target the known vulnerabilities in that version to attempt a malware attack. 

That said, it is your responsibility to ensure there are no software or hardware vulnerabilities on your device. Moreover, it is important to use a safe and reliable, home internet to browse. Connecting to susceptible and vulnerable public Wi-Fi can divulge doors for attackers. 

It is, thus, recommended to invest in a credible ISP, like Spectrum which is not only reliable but offers free antivirus software. You may check out planes de Internet Spectrum, custom-tailored for Spanish customers to seal a great deal. 

So, gear yourself up and let the criminals get worried, not you. 

How Does Device Fingerprinting Work? 

At its core, device fingerprinting is based on the technology that the website or application uses, and how it works with a browser. So, when a user visits a website, HTTP(Hypertext Transfer Protocol) will determine the operating system, browser, and server type. 

What is more, JavaScript can identify the user’s audio settings, battery status, fonts, plug-ins, location, time and date, screen resolution, etc.  Moreover, with device fingerprinting, you can analyze if the user has installed other programs, such as RealPlayer, VLC, Acrobat, etc. 

What are the Benefits of Device Fingerprinting?

Device fingerprinting can be used in many industries, especially businesses to get analytics and track ads. Besides, here are the most prominent uses of device fingerprinting: 

• E-commerce

Merchants can benefit from Device fingerprinting to mitigate payment fraud, chargebacks, loyalty program abuse, etc.

• Banking

In banking device fingerprinting can help identify suspicious activity, and to stop money laundering and spoofing.

• Ad Tracking

Ad agencies and businesses can use device fingerprinting to get insights into users’ demographics and psychographics to personalize their ad content for future campaigns. 

Closing Remarks

We can see that the digital landscape is getting more complex with the passing day. Businesses and marketers are supposed to keep up with advancements and the risks that come along with them. Therefore, device fingerprinting plays a key role in fending off any possible threats and keeping your website and app attackers-proof.