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How to stop web pages to gather my system information (Linux i686, 2 Cores, notebook`s model 504U etc). I use Firefox. I know how to restrict the browser to access files I choose. Know that file /proc/cpuinfo has some info but not all info it has I want to be stopped gathered.

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  • You may look at a sandbox like firejail or something mentioned in this question: security.stackexchange.com/questions/56703/… this may be a starting point I am not sure.
    – student
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:02
  • Could you please add link to the page which shows all information about the system (such as number of cores, laptop model, etc.)? I suspect that Flash Player may know this info, but not sure about browser itself. For example my favorite site for such purpose - browserspy.dk does not show number of cores, CPU model and laptop model (tested with Chromium, Chrome and Firefox).
    – N0rbert
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:03
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    In google account ( login&security) earlier it was showing 504U. Or someone there. Now I can not find section. +browserspy.dk/os.php ... They know how = everybody know how. @N0rbert
    – user780975
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:11
  • I know. @student
    – user780975
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:13
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    See wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Firefox/Privacy
    – Panther
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:26

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One common "fingerprinting" method used by web sites to identify users involves querying your browser concerning what fonts are available. If you've installed any fonts that aren't in the base packages of your OS, the exact list greatly narrows the number of other characteristics a site can gather to say "This is the John Smith who lives at 1234 Home Lane in Anytown, USA." There are other queries that can be added to this, as well.

The obvious-seeming way to defeat this kind of "system fingerprinting" is to do your browsing with a 100% box-stock, unmodified install running in a VM. That way, all the sites will get is "This user is using Ubuntu 18.04 in English, on Eastern Standard Time and in US dollars, without any user modifications." Not, perhaps, as generic as "straight from the USB stick" Windows 10.1, but by this point even a dynamic IP address gives away more than the system fingerprint.

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    See wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Firefox/Privacy
    – Panther
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:26
  • @Panther Sounds like an alternative answer, to me.
    – Zeiss Ikon
    Aug 30, 2018 at 18:38
  • Whole books / wiki pages can be written on the topic. Ironically the more you hide this I formation the more you stand out, the number of browsers that send out nothing, as the OP envisions, is 3 to 4 orders of magnitude lower than firefox or whatever. You can test that.
    – Panther
    Aug 31, 2018 at 0:45

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