Even if you employ a private browser app and take elaborate precautions to protect your privacy online , site might still have a path to stag on your cyberspace activity . According to a late field of study [ PDF ] by two security measures researchers at Princeton University , many websites are equipped with an API ( program program syllabus interface ) that ’s capable of identifying your gadget ’s battery status and using it to go after your activeness online . The study also note that barrage position trailing is n’t just hypothetically potential — it ’s already happening .
The Guardianexplains that the stamp battery status API , introduced in HTML5 , lets website owners see how much barrage fire power is left in your twist . It also cut through how much metre it will take for the battery to run out of juice or power up . web site can theoretically use that information to help you out , for example by switching to a low - power version of their web site if your earpiece is conk out . But the barrage status API also makes some seriously disturbing snooping potential .
When taken together , the percentage assault and battery power you have allow for on your machine and the amount of time you have until the bombardment runs out become a unique identifier , researchers explicate . For good example , if the same web ad appears on two pages you are perusing at once — even if they are open in different web internet browser with dissimilar point of security measure — the owners of that ad can key out that your gimmick ( with its unique battery signifier ) is visiting both places . research worker also found that some website have launched tracking scripts that use the battery status API to “ fingerprint ” devices , allowing them to track cyberspace use across site .
So far , it ’s unclear how far-flung battery condition tracking is . But researchers worry that the seemingly innocent battery condition API could be put to nefarious intention , allowing company tosell accessto our battery degree . The study serves as yet another admonisher of how hard it can be , for even the most diligent , to protect our privacy online .
[ h / tThe Guardian ]
