A technical measure that allows merchants and others to identify an individual internet user based on aggregating data associated with the user’s browser and the device (web or mobile) used.
See also: Allow List
Commentary:
- Device fingerprinting may collect data such as the user’s IP address, geographic location and time zone, VPN, or operating system.
- Unlike web cookies, which can be deleted and are stored on the client side (e.g., on the user’s device), device fingerprinting is generally stored in a database on the server side of the transaction and is controlled by the party who is keeping it for identification purposes.
- Its uses include security as well as ad tracking.