This is a SHA-256 hash of all your browser fingerprint data combined. It serves as a unique identifier for your browser.
A fingerprint hash is a cryptographic digest that combines all collected browser attributes into a single, fixed-length identifier. Key characteristics:
Fingerprint hashing emerged as a way to efficiently compare and store browser fingerprints. Rather than comparing dozens of individual attributes, a single hash provides a compact, consistent identifier.
Raw Fingerprint Data: ~5-10 KB of JSON data with 50+ attributes
Hash: 64 characters (256 bits), easy to index and compare
Hashing reduces storage requirements by ~99% while maintaining uniqueness.
A hash provides a standardized format regardless of which attributes are collected. Whether tracking 20 or 100 data points, the hash is always the same length.
Hashing provides the appearance of anonymization—you can't reverse-engineer a hash to see the original data. However, if a tracker collects both the raw data and the hash, this "protection" is meaningless.
Common algorithms used for browser fingerprinting:
Format: 64 hexadecimal characters (0-9, a-f)
Length: 256 bits = 32 bytes = 64 hex digits
Chrome on Windows 11:
a7f3d9c8e2b1f4a6c9d8e7f2a1b3c5d4e8f9a2b6c7d1e3f8a9b4c2d5e6f1a8b7
Same Browser, Different Resolution:
3b8e2d7f9a1c4e6b8d3f7a2c9e4b1d6f8a3c5e9b2d7f4a8c1e6b9d3f5a7c2e4
Firefox on macOS:
d4e8f2a9b6c1e7d3f9a2b8c4e6d1f7a3c9e5b2d8f4a7c3e9b1d6f2a8c5e7d4
SHA-256 produces 2256 possible hashes:
A fingerprint hash typically includes all collected data points concatenated and hashed:
// Example: Building a fingerprint hash
async function generateFingerprintHash() {
// Collect all fingerprint attributes
const fingerprint = {
// Network
userAgent: navigator.userAgent,
language: navigator.language,
languages: navigator.languages.join(','),
timezone: Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone,
timezoneOffset: new Date().getTimezoneOffset(),
// Screen
screenResolution: `${screen.width}x${screen.height}`,
availableResolution: `${screen.availWidth}x${screen.availHeight}`,
colorDepth: screen.colorDepth,
pixelRatio: window.devicePixelRatio,
// Browser
platform: navigator.platform,
hardwareConcurrency: navigator.hardwareConcurrency,
deviceMemory: navigator.deviceMemory,
cookiesEnabled: navigator.cookieEnabled,
// Rendering
canvas: await getCanvasFingerprint(),
webgl: getWebGLFingerprint(),
fonts: await detectFonts(),
// ... more attributes
};
// Convert to stable string representation
const fingerprintString = JSON.stringify(fingerprint, Object.keys(fingerprint).sort());
// Generate SHA-256 hash
const encoder = new TextEncoder();
const data = encoder.encode(fingerprintString);
const hashBuffer = await crypto.subtle.digest('SHA-256', data);
const hashArray = Array.from(new Uint8Array(hashBuffer));
const hashHex = hashArray.map(b => b.toString(16).padStart(2, '0')).join('');
return hashHex;
}
// Example output:
// "a7f3d9c8e2b1f4a6c9d8e7f2a1b3c5d4e8f9a2b6c7d1e3f8a9b4c2d5e6f1a8b7"| Scenario | Hash Changes? | Trackability Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Same Browser, Same Session | No | Perfect tracking - identical hash |
| Browser Restart | Usually No | High - hash typically remains stable |
| Clear Cookies/Cache | No | High - fingerprint hash is unaffected |
| Window Resize | Yes | Medium - new hash but patterns may link to old |
| Browser Update | Yes | Medium - version change creates new hash |
| OS Update | Yes | Medium - OS version affects user agent |
| Install Extension | Maybe | Variable - depends on extension visibility |
| Different Browser (Same Device) | Yes | Low - completely different fingerprint |
| Incognito/Private Mode | Usually No | High - same hash as normal mode |
| VPN (Change IP) | No* | High - IP not included in browser fingerprint |
How long does your fingerprint hash remain the same?
Even when your hash changes, trackers can link your old and new fingerprints by:
A fingerprint hash is the ultimate tracking identifier. It's a persistent, cross-site, cookie-independent way to recognize you. Unlike cookies, you can't see it, delete it, or block it.
Unlike cookies (visible in browser settings), fingerprint hashes are computed client-side or server-side. You have no way to know if a website is generating and storing your hash.
Clearing cookies, cache, and browsing history does nothing. The hash is regenerated identically on your next visit. The only way to change it is to change your actual browser/hardware.
If multiple websites use the same fingerprinting service, your hash links your activity across all of them. Companies like FingerprintJS and Iovation enable this at scale.
Sites store your hash alongside your cookies. When you delete cookies, the site recognizes you by fingerprint hash and restores your old cookies. You're never truly anonymous.
Used by 10,000+ websites for "fraud prevention." In reality:
Enterprise fingerprinting for banking and e-commerce:
Fingerprint hashes enable sophisticated discrimination:
Your fingerprint hash is likely in multiple databases:
GDPR (Europe): Fingerprint hashes are considered personal data and require consent
CCPA (California): Consumers can request disclosure and deletion of fingerprint data
Reality: Most sites collect hashes without explicit disclosure or consent
Since a hash is derived from your fingerprint attributes, the only way to change it is to change those attributes. However, this is extremely difficult.
To get a new hash, you need to change enough attributes:
Problem: Minor changes create a new hash but trackers can link old and new fingerprints by comparing unchanged attributes.
Randomizes canvas and audio fingerprints on each session:
Randomizes canvas data:
Result: Everyone using Tor has the same fingerprint hash
You cannot prevent websites from computing hashes, but you can make fingerprinting harder:
Test if your hash changes after modifications:
// Test hash stability
// Generate hash now
const hash1 = await generateFingerprintHash();
console.log("Hash before:", hash1);
// Make a change (e.g., resize window)
window.resizeTo(1024, 768);
// Generate hash again
const hash2 = await generateFingerprintHash();
console.log("Hash after:", hash2);
// Compare
if (hash1 === hash2) {
console.log("⚠️ Hash unchanged - still trackable");
} else {
console.log("✓ Hash changed - new fingerprint");
}For maximum privacy: Use Tor Browser. For practical privacy: Use Brave with fingerprint randomization. Accept that complete hash anonymity requires significant sacrifices.