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submitted 1 day ago by someone@lemmy.today to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

I have been testing Tor Browser and Mullvad Browser using fingerprint.com. I get unique persistent identifiers that are unique per machine and persist over rebooting sessions. Javascript was on during this test.

This could be very dangerous to people using Tor Browser and Mullvad Browser.

For example, if someone visits Rainbow Railroad, an organization for leaving repressive countries with hostile LGBT policies, and then watches a video about the organization on YouTube, and then also does something, like create a Discord Server, and use Tor Browser to get around geoblocking but link it to their personal phone number, then a hostile regime buying data from data brokers could possible determine that user is considering using rainbow railroad. Even if this exact example isn't realistic or plausible (although governments do buy form data brokers), users should be aware that persistent identifiers in Tor Browser and Mullvad Browser allow for continuous tracking of a user using the same machine.

I posted this information on privacyguides forum and they deleted my account after, leading me to wonder if the forum is a giant honeypot that curates acceptable privacy discussions and unacceptable private discussions. I honestly wonder if they are infiltrated by the government. They repeatedly delete the posts of other people as well and the whole thing is starting to not sit well with me.

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[-] someone@lemmy.today 26 points 1 day ago

Then this may be happening only with certain distributions or operating systems. It is definitely happening for me, I checked it over and over. "You have visited once." I close Tor Browser, restart, come back to fingerprint.com. "You have visited twice." I also did try this with safer. I did multiple tests. This impacts at least some operating systems or distributions. It may not impact Qubes. I didn't test that, but I am sure it impacts at least some users.

[-] ken@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Are you keeping at default window size, or resizing? If latter, it is expected. This is a gotcha when using tiling window managers as they often force a window size that may give you off. TB should otherwise start with static fixed window size. Enabling "Letterboxing" feature can help alleviate this somewhat.

On PG: Also been seeing weird vibes and some inexplicable moderation comms and actions when looking closer. Their "recommendations" and "guides" also raise eyebrows. Something is very strange there.

[-] JackbyDev@programming.dev 1 points 9 hours ago

This website says my device is less trustworthy because I'm using incognito and privacy focused settings. Fuck 'em.

[-] Dust0741@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago

How are you installing the browsers? Flatpak? AppImage?

this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2026
141 points (98.6% liked)

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