Fingerprints Are the New Cookies

The article discusses how fingerprints are becoming a new way to track users online, similar to cookies. The author, Roy Fisher, argues that fingerprints are a more accurate and reliable method of tracking users compared to cookies. He explains that fingerprinting involves identifying a user's device's unique characteristics, such as the type of browser, operating system, screen resolution, and language settings, to create a unique identifier. This can be done without collecting any personally identifiable information and can even work when cookies are blocked. The article highlights the use of fingerprinting in various industries, including advertising, analytics, and security, and raises concerns about its potential misuse. Fisher also notes that fingerprinting is not regulated by the same laws as cookies and that there is a lack of transparency around its use.