How to Device Fingerprint Online, fingerprinting collects information about a user’s computer and browser that is used to identify them. This data is then analyzed to create a digital fingerprint, which can be used to recognize returning visitors or build profiles of their interests and behaviors.
Fingerprinting can be a valuable tool in the fight against fraud, especially for eCommerce and eBanking businesses. It can help identify fraudulent orders that might not be legitimate (such as those made through a proxy, with a different credit card or name on the card), and it can assist in identifying customers who have previously committed fraud.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Perform Device Fingerprinting Online
A fingerprint is created by collecting various attributes about a device’s software and hardware, including its operating system, screen resolution, plugins, language settings, and more. While it may be more difficult to opt out of fingerprinting than cookie tracking because it takes place covertly using data that is necessary for websites to function properly, it does still rely on probability, leaving room for error and the possibility that some devices could be mistaken for others.
Because fingerprinting carries with it the potential to capture personal data, it is considered a tracker under GDPR and subject to the same rules as cookies. However, ePrivacy regulations (a law that will likely accompany GDPR in late 2019) will require companies to have a legitimate interest or user consent when they use device fingerprinting to collect personal data for marketing purposes.