What is CreepJS?
CreepJS is a browser fingerprinting library. It’s designed to extract an extensive amount of data from web browsers, utilizing JavaScript. It works on the premise of probing and compiling a list of capabilities, settings, and hardware details of a browser to create a unique, identifiable fingerprint.
How does CreepJS work?
CreepJS works by leveraging JavaScript to probe various browser attributes. It probes features such as WebGL parameters, audio stack details, installed fonts, client screen resolution, and much more. By combining the results of these probes, CreepJS effectively creates a unique fingerprint for each browser.
How effective is CreepJS in browser fingerprinting?
CreepJS is exceptionally effective at browser fingerprinting due to the extensive amount of data it extracts. The fact that it can probe a wide range of features including but not limited to audio, canvas, CSS, fonts, client rects, DOM, Intl, JS, media, network, offscreen canvas, plugins, screen, speech, storage, SVG, user agent, WebGL, and WebRTC makes it highly precise and reliable.
What are the potential applications of CreepJS?
CreepJS can be used for a variety of purposes like online security, fraud detection, and personalized advertising. By identifying unique browser fingerprints, organizations can track and identify individual users and their behaviors, which can help in detecting fraudulent activities or delivering personalized content.
Is it possible to prevent CreepJS from fingerprinting a browser?
While it’s challenging to completely prevent CreepJS from fingerprinting a browser due to its extensive probing capabilities, certain steps can make fingerprinting more difficult. This includes using browser privacy add-ons, disabling JavaScript, or regularly clearing cookies and other stored site data. However, it’s important to note that these steps might impact the functionality of certain websites.