What is Canvas Fingerprinting?

Most websites use "Cookies" to remember who you are. However, cookies are easy to delete. Canvas Fingerprinting is a smarter way to track you. Instead of saving a file on your computer, the website asks your browser to draw a secret shape or text.

Because every computer has a different graphics card (GPU) and different system fonts, your computer will draw that picture in a very specific way. These tiny differences create a Canvas Hash—a long string of numbers and letters that is unique to only your device.

Can I Delete It?

No. Unlike cookies, you cannot simply click "delete" to clear a canvas fingerprint. It is built into how your hardware works. The only way to hide it is to use special privacy tools that "scramble" the drawing.

Why Do Websites Use This to Track You?

Companies and advertisers want to follow you across different websites to see what you like to buy. Even if you use a VPN to change your IP address or "Incognito" mode to hide your history, your computer's hardware signature stays exactly the same. This allows them to "link" your different sessions together without your permission.

How to Protect Your Privacy

If you want to stop websites from seeing your canvas fingerprint, here are the best steps recommended by the IP Tracking Site team:

  • Use the Brave Browser: Brave has a feature called "Farbling" that adds tiny, invisible noise to every canvas drawing, making your ID look different every time.
  • Firefox Advanced Settings: You can turn on the "Resist Fingerprinting" mode in Firefox to make your browser look like everyone else's.
  • Tor Browser: Tor is the best for privacy because it gives every single user the exact same fingerprint.
  • Browser Extensions: You can install "CanvasBlocker" for Chrome or Edge to block these tracking scripts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is canvas fingerprinting legal?

In many places like Europe (GDPR), websites are supposed to ask for your permission before tracking you this way. However, many sites still do it for "security" or "fraud detection."

Does a VPN hide my canvas fingerprint?

No. A VPN only hides your IP address and location. It does not change how your computer draws images, so your canvas hash remains the same.