The data commonly included in a fingerprint includes your browser type, browser plugins, IP address, operating system, hardware information, software versions, your location, date and time of accessing the internet, cookies, and any other information which a browser may offer. Though fingerprinting does not actually include any uniquely identifiable data, it is however easy to make up a recognizable database by sorting all this information and relating it to your personal data which may be collected at any time.
Facebook, Google, and other such companies remain particularly interested in collecting activity behaviour patterns. Apparently, these details help them to provide the most relevant ads and suggestions to you. However, you never know who else might be looking at the data.
According to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, they have made it ‘harder to track’ users’ data.
“With Mojave, we are making it much harder for trackers to create a unique fingerprint. As a result, your Mac will look more like everyone else’s Mac, and it will be dramatically more difficult for data companies to uniquely identify your device and track you.”Only time will tell if it works.
