Device Fingerprinting
Identifying a device by the unique combination of its settings and characteristics, without cookies or a stored ID.
Full definition
Device fingerprinting derives a stable identifier from attributes your browser or device reveals, screen size, fonts, time zone, GPU, OS version, language, and dozens more, which together are usually unique enough to single you out. Because it needs no stored cookie or ID, fingerprinting survives cookie deletion and "private" browsing, making it a favored tracking method as cookies decline. It feeds identity resolution and is largely invisible to users; anti-fingerprinting features in browsers like Brave, Firefox, and Tor are the main defense.
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Reduce online tracking →Related terms
Mobile Advertising ID (MAID)
A resettable identifier assigned to a phone (Apple IDFA or Google AAID) that links app activity and location to a single device.
Identity Resolution
The process of stitching together disparate records and identifiers to determine they all refer to the same person.
Surveillance Advertising
Advertising that relies on pervasive tracking and profiling of individuals across sites, apps, and the physical world.
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