Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn my four-browser run of EFF’s Cover Your Tracks test, only one browser stood apart. That is an observation from my test, not a universal browser ranking: the available test record does not identify the browsers, their versions, the devices and settings used, or the result fields. Those details are essential for anyone trying to reproduce the comparison.
What Cover Your Tracks measures
EFF’s Cover Your Tracks shows some of the characteristics trackers can observe and uses them to assess how distinctive a browser appears. A browser fingerprint is a combination of attributes, not a verdict based on one setting. Depending on the browser and test conditions, the visible measures can include user-agent and other HTTP headers, time zone, screen size, fonts, language, platform, touch support, cookie behavior, canvas and WebGL characteristics, and hardware-related values. EFF describes the tool as both a public-facing test and part of an ongoing research project.
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Its result is not a complete privacy score. EFF warns: “because tracking techniques are complex, subtle, and constantly evolving, Cover Your Tracks does not measure all forms of tracking and protection.” A result describes the characteristics this test measures; it cannot establish that a browser is anonymous or protected from every form of tracking. See EFF’s results and limitations and learning guide.
What it means that one browser stood apart
In a four-browser comparison, “stood apart” should describe what the test showed under the recorded conditions—not a claim that one browser is always more private. The result could reflect a more identifiable combination of characteristics, different values exposed or blocked, or behavior that varied between runs. Without the browser names, result pages, and test setup, it is not possible to say which explanation applies or identify a winner.
#1 Best Overall
- 🛡 Automatic VPN + Tor Routing All internet traffic is automatically routed through VPN and Tor for enhanced anonymity.
- 🔎 Privacy-Focused Linux Environment Designed specifically for secure browsing, privacy protection, and online anonymity.
- ⚡ Bootable Plug-and-Play USB System Run the entire operating system directly from the USB drive without modifying your computer.
- 🧰 Built-in Security & Monitoring Tools Includes network monitoring dashboards, encryption tools, and privacy utilities.
- 🌐 Secure Web Browsing Preconfigured browsers and privacy tools help reduce tracking and increase online protection.
For a useful comparison, read each browser’s results side by side and keep the conditions consistent. Browser version, operating system and device, settings, extensions, and test conditions can all affect what is exposed. Record the test date and the specific output fields rather than reducing the results to a single label.
Useful comparison axes
- Uniqueness or identifiability: note how the test characterizes each browser’s fingerprint, and treat that estimate as a session result rather than a lasting population statistic.
- Exposed and blocked characteristics: compare the fields the test reports, not just its summary wording.
- Repeatability: compare results across repeated runs only if you actually ran them under documented conditions.
- Usability: note whether privacy settings or blocking interfere with the sites and features you need.
How to test your browser fingerprint fairly
- Open EFF’s test: visit Cover Your Tracks in the browser you want to assess.
- Record the setup: write down the browser name and version, operating system and device, relevant privacy settings, installed extensions, and test date. Use the same device and comparable settings for each browser if you want a controlled comparison.
- Save the measured outputs: record the fields and summary shown by the results page. Do not substitute an overall score for the underlying characteristics.
- Repeat only with a stated purpose: if you want to check stability or randomization, run the test again and record when and under what conditions. Do not infer that a changing result proves protection against all tracking.
- Review the limits and data policy: read EFF’s test limitations and privacy policy before drawing conclusions.
What you can change—and what may break
Tracker blockers and built-in browser privacy settings can reduce some tracking, but blocking tracker requests does not necessarily prevent fingerprinting. EFF identifies browsers designed to resist fingerprinting, including Tor Browser and Brave, while emphasizing that approaches differ; no browser should be treated as a guarantee of anonymity.
Rank #2
- Online Privacy Protection: AVG AntiTrack shields your online privacy by thwarting websites and advertisers from tracking your online behavior.
- Advanced Anti-Tracking: Employs sophisticated technology to block various tracking methods like cookies and pixels used by websites and advertisers.
- Data Encryption: Encrypts your online data to ensure the safety of your personal information.
- Identity Theft Prevention: Reduces the risk of identity theft, bolstering your digital security.
- Customizable Privacy Settings: This empowers you to tailor privacy settings, deciding which data to share and which to keep private.
EFF also cautions against changing a single fingerprint characteristic just to make that one value look more common. A less-common value can make the overall combination more distinctive. Disabling JavaScript may limit information available to fingerprinting scripts, but it can also break or restrict website features. Evaluate the whole fingerprint and the practical tradeoff, rather than chasing a better-looking individual field. EFF’s self-defense guidance explains these options.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →EFF’s Privacy Badger is one example of a tracker-blocking extension. Its 2025 flyer lists supported browsers, but the extension’s presence should not be interpreted as protection from every fingerprinting method. See the EFF Privacy Badger flyer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What information the test handles
Running the test sends browser and device characteristics to EFF. Its privacy policy describes information that may include user agent and headers, screen properties, time zone, plugin or extension information, fonts, JavaScript availability, cookie behavior, canvas and WebGL hashes, language, and platform. EFF also describes limited housekeeping information and its purposes for collection. The project page says anonymous test results contribute to research. Review the current privacy policy before running the test; do not assume the test collects nothing.
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