How Does My Browser Leak Information

Browser Leakage

You have many options when it comes to browsing the web anonymously and avoid being tracked. But no matter what you may have done or set up, the browser can still leak personal information that could then be exploited by attackers for their gains. Here is how your browser might be compromising your privacy and what you can do about it.

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What is Browser Information Leakage?

Browser information leakage occurs when a web browser inadvertently reveals personal or sensitive data to websites, advertisers, or malicious actors. This leakage can happen through various channels, including cookies, web beacons, or even vulnerabilities in the browser itself. The exposure of data may be unintentional or malicious, but in either case, it compromises your privacy and security.

Browsers store and process information such as your browsing history, passwords, location, IP address, and preferences. While this is done to improve your browsing experience, it can also be used to track your online behavior and create detailed profiles about you.

Cookies and Tracking Leakage

Cookies are small text files stored by websites in your browser. They are used to remember your login details, preferences, and browsing activity. While cookies can improve your browsing experience by allowing websites to load faster or retain your settings, they can also be used to track your movements across different websites. Third-party cookies: Advertisers and data brokers use third-party cookies to track your behavior across multiple websites, building a detailed profile of your interests and habits. This information is often shared with third parties for targeted advertising or other purposes.

Tracking pixels and beacons: Small, invisible images (also known as tracking pixels or beacons) embedded in web pages can track your browsing activity. They can collect information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, and more, without your knowledge.

To prevent cookies and tracking mechanisms from leaking information

• • Regularly clear your cookies through your browser settings.
• • Use Incognito or Private Browsing modes that don't save cookies or browsing history.
• • Enable Do Not Track in your browser settings (though not all websites respect this request).
• • Consider using browser extensions such as Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin, or Ghostery to block tracking cookies and pixels.

IP Address Leakage

Your IP address is a unique identifier assigned to your device when you connect to the internet. It can reveal a lot of personal information, such as your geographic location, internet service provider (ISP), and even your identity in some cases.

Even if you're using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to hide your true IP address, it’s still possible for your browser to leak it unintentionally through different mechanisms.

Common Ways IP Leaks Happen:

• • WebRTC Leak: WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a feature that allows browsers to facilitate peer-to-peer connections for activities such as voice and video calls. However, WebRTC can expose your real IP address even when you are connected to a VPN.
• • DNS Leaks: If your DNS (Domain Name Server) requests are sent to your ISP’s DNS servers instead of the DNS servers provided by your VPN, your browsing activity could be exposed.
• • Browser Fingerprinting: Even if your IP address is hidden, your browser may be fingerprinted using unique identifiers such as your screen resolution, fonts, and plugins. This can allow websites to track you across sessions, even if you use different IP addresses.

How to Prevent IP Leakage

• • Use a reliable VPN that has features to block WebRTC and DNS leaks.
• • Disable WebRTC in your browser settings (or use browser extensions that block it).
• • Test your VPN for IP and DNS leaks using online leak test tools.
• • Change your browser settings to route DNS requests through secure DNS servers, such as those provided by your VPN service.

Avoid Websites Without The HTTPS Protocol

Websites with just HTTP prefix means anything you do there is unencrypted. This will include what you type as well as links you click on. While this may not be a big concern for public sites where you are simply surfing for information. It could be a concern on any site, where you are entering personal information such as login, passwords or any other information you would not want hackers to see. We have even seen some websites include the HTTPS prefix on their Home page, then default to the unencrypted HTTP on their other pages. Would you like to give your password or payment details to that website?

A recent update to Chrome now flags sites as Non-Secure if they are insecure websites.

Always check that page URLs or addresses are prefixed with HTTPS before entering any log-in or payment information.

Download the HTTPS Everywhere extension for Firefox, Chrome and Opera, which automatically encrypts your browser’s communications with major websites if it finds faulty HTTPS links.

Minimize Plugin Use and Extensions

The web is full of small apps known as plugins designed to give your browser added features. These include extensions such as Adobe Flash and Java, which allow your browser to play animated content. Unfortunately, these apps can be riddled with vulnerabilities that hackers may have exploited to grab your personal info. Simply having plug-ins and extensions installed can make your browser vulnerable to attacks. Check your browser settings to see what plug-ins and extensions you have downloaded, and disable those you infrequently or never use.

You might consider disabling the big three, Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash and Java. Many sites no longer use these plug-ins to play video. Netflix has dropped Silverlight, and YouTube no longer uses Flash. If you receive too many messages that you need to run these plug-ins, invest in a script-blocker extension such as NoScript for Firefox or ScriptSafe for Chrome. These stop all Flash and Java by default, with options to build a whitelist of trusted sites that need these plug-ins.

Avoid Browser Fingerprinting

Browser fingerprinting is a powerful method that websites use to collect information about your browser type and version, as well as your operating system, active plugins, timezone, language, screen resolution and various other active settings. They state that they want to be able to load the web pages correctly. Plugins like Silverlight (Microsoft), and Java also happen to relay a lot more information, including the hardware you’ve installed, the plug-ins installed and, most tellingly, the exact lineup of fonts you have on your computer. This list combines to make a “fingerprint” that’s overwhelmingly unique to your browser, making it highly trackable even if you’ve disabled trackers AND turned off cookies.

You can test your Browser at Panopticlick, A browser tester set up by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The site will tell you how unique your fingerprint is and provide all the details. There is not much you can do about browser fingerprinting. Chameleon (Firefox) and Random User Agent (Chrome) have decent reviews at their respective app stores.

How to Prevent Browser Fingerprinting

• • Use a privacy-focused browser like Brave or Tor that implements anti-fingerprinting measures.
• • Disable or limit JavaScript, which is commonly used to collect fingerprinting data (though this may limit website functionality).
• • Use browser extensions like Privacy Badger and CanvasBlocker to block fingerprinting scripts.
• • Regularly clear your browser cache and reset your settings to minimize the uniqueness of your device profile.

Location Data Leakage

Many websites request access to your location for providing location-based services. While this is often useful for providing relevant content, it can also lead to location leakage if mishandled.

Geolocation API: Modern browsers often ask for your location through the Geolocation API, which can reveal your precise physical location to websites. If you're not careful, you may inadvertently share this information with third-party sites.

IP-based Location Tracking: Even without explicit location requests, websites can estimate your location based on your IP address, leading to potential privacy concerns.

How to Prevent Location Data Leakage

• • Always deny location requests unless absolutely necessary.
• • Disable location services in your browser settings.
• • Use a VPN to mask your real IP address, making it harder to track your physical location.
• • Use proxy servers or Tor to route your internet traffic through a different geographic region.

Stop Phishing Attacks on Browser Autofill

Your browser’s autofill function exists to make it easier to fill in forms that ask for the same information, name, address, date of birth. The convenience of saving such information can out weigh the concerns over the security of a Browser. Be warned that Browsers have been tricked into revealing saved personal information without the user realizing it.

This phishing attack has happened with hidden text boxes coded into a malicious site, alongside a couple of visible requests for common information like your name and email address. When you type in the info, the autofill feature ends up adding other information saved to the browser autofill, which could include enough details to enable credit card fraud
Also see What is Phishing.

Avoid typing in any personal information on websites you’re not sure about. NEVER keep credit card information saved in your Browser, and better still, just turn off the autofill feature entirely.

How to Prevent Autofill and Password Manager Leaks

• • Avoid storing sensitive information, like passwords and credit card details, in your browser’s autofill settings.
• • Use dedicated password managers like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass instead of relying on browser-based password storage.
• • Use strong, unique passwords for every account to prevent breaches.
• • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on important accounts to add an extra layer of security.

Third-Party Extensions and Malware

While browser extensions can enhance functionality, they can also compromise your privacy and security. Malicious extensions may collect your browsing history, track your online behavior, or even introduce malware to your device.

How to Prevent Extension Leaks

• • Only install extensions from trusted sources (e.g., Chrome Web Store, Mozilla Add-ons).
• • Regularly review the permissions requested by your installed extensions. Remove any that seem suspicious or unnecessary.
• • Use an ad blocker to prevent potentially harmful scripts from running in your browser.

Security Settings For Browsers

Firefox
Go to > Options > Privacy & Security > Forms & Passwords. Click in the box to remove the check mark.

Chrome
Go to > Preferences > Show advanced settings > Passwords and forms. Here, you can manage what information is saved to autofill and un check Enable Autofill to fill out web forms in a single click.

Microsoft Edge
Go to > Settings > Advanced Settings > Autofill settings. You can enable or disable the browser from automatically filling out passwords.

Safari
Go to > Preferences > AutoFill. Manage what information is autofilled and delete or edit what’s saved.

Opera
Go to > Settings > Privacy & security > Autofill. Manage what information is autofilled and delete or edit what’s saved.

Chromium
Go to > Customize > Settings > Advanced > click the arrow in the Autofill settings box.

Vivaldi
Go to > Settings > Security > Disable it.

Additional Online Resources

Other recommended websites that can show you more information about you, your browser and your privacy.

Device Info
Device Info is a web browser security testing, privacy testing, and troubleshooting tool.

http://ipleak.net/
An excellent site to test your browser leaks, also to test your VPN, if your real IP address is shown, then you have a problem with your VPN.

Using a VPN While Traveling
By using a VPN while traveling, you can enjoy a safer and more secure online experience, protecting your privacy and sensitive data from potential threats

PRISM Break
Opt out of PRISM, the NSA’s global data surveillance program. Stop the American government from spying on you by encrypting your communications and ending your reliance.

privacytools.io
You are being watched. Private and state-sponsored organizations are monitoring and recording your online activities. privacytools.io provides knowledge and tools to.

Riseup
Riseup is an organization which provides online communication tools for people and groups working.

Panopticlick
Panopticlick is a web page provided by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It tests the amount of personally-identifying data your web browser gives away to websites and.

DNS leak test
DNSleaktest.com offers a simple test to determine if your DNS requests are being leaked, which may represent a critical privacy threat. The test takes only a few seconds.

What every Browser knows about you
This is a demonstration of all the data your browser knows about you. All this data can be accessed by any website without asking you for any permission.

Privacy Heroes
We're an alliance of privacy-focused online services on a mission to defend Internet users from surveillance, hacking, and censorship.

Webbkoll
This tool helps you check what data-protecting measures a site has taken to help you exercise control over your privacy.

Device Info
Device Info is a web browser security testing, privacy testing, and troubleshooting tool.

Detection tools from BrowserLeaks.com
WebRTC Leak Test Local/NAT/Public IP Address discovery using JavaScript
Font Fingerprinting Font metric-based fingerprinting using JavaScript and Flash fonts detection
SSL/TLS Client Test Shows brief information about your HTTPS connection
ClientRects Fingerprinting Displays the exact pixel position and size of the rectangle of a drawn HTML elements
CSS Media Queries Pure-CSS Media Queries Test Suite
Social Media Login Detection Cross-origin login detection for most major social networks
Firefox Resources Reader Firefox resource URI fingerprinting, platform and locale detection
Do Not Track Detects DNT support in your web browser.

Summary

Browser information leakage is a significant privacy concern that every internet user should be aware of. By understanding the ways in which your browser can leak information, such as through cookies, IP addresses, browser fingerprinting, and more, you can take proactive steps to protect yourself. Implementing strategies such as using privacy-focused browsers, VPNs, and browser extensions can significantly reduce your exposure to tracking and data leaks. By staying vigilant and informed,

Author Bio: Betsy Trauger

A freelance web developer with a wealth of experience in utilizing RSH Web Services for her projects. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for utilizing third-party software seamlessly, Betsy's work is characterized by...

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