This represents the total number of distinct data points BrowserTrace collected from your browser.
The total data points metric is a composite measurement that counts every individual piece of information that can be extracted from your browser and device. Unlike single attributes (like User Agent or Screen Resolution), this metric represents:
Browser fingerprinting relies on collecting as many data points as possible to create a unique profile. The more data points available, the more unique and trackable each browser becomes.
Available Data Points: ~5-10
Only basic information like IP address, browser type, and screen resolution were available. Tracking required cookies or server-side session management.
Available Data Points: ~20-30
HTML5 and advanced JavaScript APIs introduced canvas fingerprinting, WebGL, audio context, and hardware detection capabilities.
Available Data Points: 40-60+
Modern browsers expose extensive device information, hardware specs, network characteristics, battery status, media devices, and sophisticated rendering fingerprints.
The relationship between data points and uniqueness isn't linearāit's exponential. Each additional data point multiplies the potential combinations:
BrowserTrace collects approximately 45-55 data points depending on your browser's capabilities and what features are available. Some data points may not be collectible on all devices:
| Platform/Browser | Typical Data Points | Fingerprinting Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome (Desktop) | 50-55 points | Very High - Exposes extensive hardware and rendering data |
| Firefox (Desktop) | 45-50 points | High - Enhanced Tracking Protection reduces some exposure |
| Safari (Desktop) | 40-45 points | Medium-High - Intelligent Tracking Prevention limits some APIs |
| Brave Browser | 35-40 points | Medium - Aggressive fingerprint randomization |
| Tor Browser | 30-35 points | Low - Standardized fingerprint, many APIs disabled |
| Chrome (Mobile) | 48-52 points | Very High - Includes device-specific mobile attributes |
| Safari (iOS) | 42-46 points | High - More standardized than Android but still trackable |
The sheer volume of data points creates an exponentially unique fingerprint. Even with cookie blocking, your browser can be tracked across websites and over time.
Research from the Electronic Frontier Foundation's "Panopticlick" study found that:
The probability of uniqueness grows exponentially with each additional data point:
// Simplified uniqueness calculation
// Assuming each data point has 'n' possible values
function calculateUniqueness(dataPoints, avgPossibleValues) {
// Total possible combinations
const totalCombinations = Math.pow(avgPossibleValues, dataPoints);
// Estimated global browser population
const globalBrowsers = 5000000000; // 5 billion
// Probability of being unique
const uniquenessProbability = 1 - (globalBrowsers / totalCombinations);
return (uniquenessProbability * 100).toFixed(2) + '%';
}
// Examples:
calculateUniqueness(10, 10); // ~99.99% unique
calculateUniqueness(30, 8); // ~99.999999% unique
calculateUniqueness(50, 5); // Astronomically uniqueEven without third-party cookies, websites can share fingerprints through tracking networks. If Site A and Site B both use the same analytics service, your fingerprint links your activity across both sites.
Clearing cookies doesn't clear your fingerprint. Websites can recognize you immediately upon return, making "fresh start" browsing impossible.
Combining traditional cookies with fingerprinting creates "zombie cookies" that resurrect after deletion by matching fingerprints to backed-up cookie values.
More data points also enable:
Companies like FingerprintJS, Iovation, ThreatMetrix, and others collect 50-100+ data points including:
Reducing the number of collectible data points requires browser-level protections. Individual data points cannot be easily disabledāyou need comprehensive anti-fingerprinting strategies.
Data Point Reduction: ~30-35 points (vs 50+ in Chrome)
Data Point Reduction: ~35-40 points
Data Point Reduction: ~40-45 points
// Firefox about:config settings to reduce data points
// Disable WebGL
webgl.disabled = true
// Disable Canvas Data Extraction
privacy.resistFingerprinting = true
// Disable Battery API
dom.battery.enabled = false
// Disable WebRTC
media.peerconnection.enabled = false
// Reduce timing precision
privacy.reduceTimerPrecision = true
// Disable Geolocation
geo.enabled = false
// Disable Device Sensors
device.sensors.enabled = falseReducing data points has consequences:
Use Brave or Firefox with moderate privacy extensions for daily browsing. Switch to Tor Browser for truly sensitive activities. Accept that complete anonymity requires significant usability sacrifices.