From Fingerprints to Data Breaches: Mitigating the Cyber Threat of Browser Fingerprinting in Public Administration

With the continuous evolution of cyber threats, organizations today face increasingly sophisticated attack vectors capable of exposing sensitive information and disrupting critical services. An often overlooked yet emerging threat is that of Browser Fingerprinting, a technique that gathers unique information about a specific user’s browser and device without using cookies or other stored information. This allows attackers to uniquely identify individuals and tailor security threats accordingly. Understandably, this form of identification poses serious security risks, particularly within the realm of public administrations, where sensitive personal and financial data may be at stake.

This article is based on the project work I recently completed for the Advanced Course in Cybersecurity, Cyber Risk, and Data Protection, jointly organized by Università Politecnica delle Marche in collaboration with Università di Macerata (Read more here: https://shorturl.at/b9hfY). We will explore what Browser Fingerprinting is, its implications for cybersecurity, and the countermeasures necessary to protect public administration systems from this continuously evolving threat.

What is Browser Fingerprinting?

Browser Fingerprinting can be considered a stealth technique for tracking users by collecting detailed information about their browsers and devices, unbeknownst to them. Unlike cookies, which users often block or delete, fingerprinting techniques are harder to detect and prevent, leaving users with little to no control. By analyzing various elements such as the User-Agent String, Canvas Fingerprinting, WebGL, and AudioContext, attackers can generate a unique signature for a particular device. This data allows attackers to create a persistent and accurate profile of users across multiple sessions, even if they delete their browsing history or cookies.

Browser Fingerprinting collects various types of information, including:

• User-Agent String: Identifies the browser, operating system, and their versions.
• Canvas Fingerprinting: Uses the HTML5 canvas element to create a unique rendering based on the device’s hardware.
• WebGL and AudioContext: Gathers data on the graphical and audio capabilities of the device.

As it can be inferred, Browser Fingerprinting is a powerful tool for tracking users, which in the wrong hands can compromise privacy and security—particularly in public sector environments where sensitive data is regularly managed.

Why is Public Administration a Key Target?

Public administrations are highly attractive targets for cybercriminals due to the wealth of sensitive data they handle. These entities manage vast amounts of personal, financial, and government contract information, making them ripe for malicious exploitation. Key vulnerabilities include:

• Legacy Systems: Many public sector institutions rely on outdated systems that are not regularly updated, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. Legacy systems are especially susceptible to known vulnerabilities, such as those found in the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which is often used in public sector networks to allow employees to work remotely.
• Continuous Internet Access: Public sector systems are typically online 24/7 to provide essential services to citizens, increasing their exposure to cyberattacks.
• High-Value Targets: Public employees, particularly those in key positions, are often targeted by phishing and social engineering attacks. If compromised, the accounts of high-value targets can provide attackers with a treasure trove of sensitive data.

An example highlighting the potential devastating effects of a cyberattack targeting public administration is the ransomware attack that occurred in Italy in August 2021, affecting the Lazio Region, where the capital, Rome, is located. In this incident, cybercriminals exploited remote access via an employee’s compromised credentials, installing ransomware that locked down critical services, including those related to COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, the attackers gained access to sensitive health data of millions of citizens. Browser Fingerprinting can be a starting point for such attacks, where threat actors gather detailed information about potential target devices, making public administration systems much more vulnerable to exploitation.

Browser Fingerprinting in Cyber Attacks: A Scenario

A typical attack leveraging Browser Fingerprinting might start with a simple phishing email. The attacker, posing as an internal IT technician, sends an email to employees asking them to verify their credentials by clicking on a link that appears legitimate. The link redirects to a seemingly harmless page, but in the background, it runs scripts to perform browser fingerprinting and thus profile the device used.

Once the attacker gathers detailed information about the browser and device, he can associate this fingerprint with specific email accounts. This allows him to identify vulnerable or high-value targets within the organization by collecting, for example:

• Browser details: User-Agent, canvas rendering, WebGL, operating system data, and more.
• Hardware information: Graphics and audio data, as well as the drivers used by the operating system.
• Network data: IP addresses and geographic location.

By combining this data, the attacker can easily identify devices running outdated software, including outdated drivers or systems exposed to known vulnerabilities, such as BlueKeep (CVE-2019-0708)—a critical flaw in older versions of Windows. Using a combination of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and known software exploits, the attacker can launch a tailored attack against high-value targets within the organization, such as a finance officer or a human resources officer, potentially gaining access to sensitive systems and data.

Countermeasures: Protecting Public Administration from Fingerprinting Attacks

To protect against Browser Fingerprinting, public administrations must implement robust measures, including technical, organizational, and legislative strategies.

From a technical perspective, anti-fingerprinting tools such as Privacy Badger, Tor Browser, and uBlock Origin can offer essential protection by masking data that would otherwise be collected using fingerprinting techniques. Additionally, the use of corporate VPNs can obscure IP addresses, making it harder for external entities to track individual users. Keeping systems up to date is crucial. Legacy systems that are no longer supported with updates should either be replaced or segmented from critical networks, minimizing their exposure. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds another layer of security, ensuring that even if an attacker fingerprints a system and exploits it, accessing sensitive resources would still require a secondary verification step.

From an organizational standpoint, regular employee training is vital. Educating staff on how to recognize phishing attempts and social engineering tactics can significantly lower the success rate of such attacks. Public administrations should also implement network segmentation, identifying and isolating critical systems from less secure areas of the network. Strict access controls are equally important when it comes to limiting the use of tools like Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which can open systems to fingerprinting-based attacks using exploits tailored to specific systems.

Finally, legislative compliance is a key aspect of protection. The NIS-2 Directive, for example, sets higher security standards and mandates robust risk management for critical infrastructures, including public sector organizations. It requires the implementation of protective measures designed to prevent and mitigate cyberattacks. Similarly, GDPR compliance is essential to ensuring that personal data is adequately protected, reducing the risk of data breaches and the legal consequences that may follow a cyber incident.

Conclusion: A Call to Action for Public Administrations

The threat of Browser Fingerprinting and its associated cyberattacks is real and growing. As attackers become more sophisticated—leveraging OSINT and advanced AI platforms—public administrations must be proactive in addressing these risks. This means implementing a combination of technical solutions, employee education, and strict compliance with cybersecurity legislation, all of which can significantly reduce an organization’s exposure to these threats.

It is important to recognize that the responsibility of protecting sensitive data extends well beyond IT departments. It is a core obligation for the entire organization. Public administrations must view cybersecurity not only as a technical necessity but as an ethical duty to safeguard the trust and privacy of the citizens they serve.

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