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2025, Digital Security

APT28 spear-phishing France: targeted attacks across Europe

Posted on by FMTAD
APT28 spear-phishing France: cyberattack warning on Russian APT threats targeting European and French institutions, shown on a laptop and smartphone.
30
Apr
APT28 Spear-Phishing Tactics: A Persistent European Cyber Threat — Jacques Gascuel analyzes the evolving spear-phishing campaigns of APT28 targeting European entities, including France. Understand their sophisticated methods and discover essential strategies to bolster defenses against this persistent state-sponsored espionage.

APT28 spear-phishing France: targeted attacks across Europe

APT28 Spear-Phishing: Russia’s Fancy Bear Targets Europe APT28, also known as Fancy Bear or Sofacy Group, a notorious Russian state-sponsored cyber espionage group, has intensified its spear-phishing campaigns against European entities. These meticulously crafted attacks primarily target government bodies, military organizations, and energy companies, aiming to extract sensitive information and potentially disrupt critical operations. This article delves into the evolving spear-phishing techniques employed by APT28 and provides essential strategies for effective prevention.

Table of Contents : • APT28 spear-phishing France • Historical Context: The Evolution of APT28 • Priority targets for APT28 spear-phishing campaigns • Spear-phishing and electoral destabilization in Europe • APT28 attribution and espionage objectives • Observed campaigns and methods (2022–2025) • Mapping APT28 to the Cyber Kill Chain • Tactics and Infrastructure: Increasing Sophistication • Coordination spear-phishing & disinformation: The two faces of APT28 • Official Report – CERTFR-2025-CTI-006 • Tactical Comparison: APT28 vs APT29 vs APT31 vs APT44 • Timeline of APT28 Spear-Phishing Campaigns • ANSSI’s operational recommendations • Regulatory framework: French response to spear-phishing • Exclusive availability in France via AMG Pro • Sovereign solutions: DataShielder & PassCypher against spear-phishing • Threat coverage table: PassCypher & DataShielder vs APT groups • Towards a European cyber resilience strategy

APT28 spear-phishing France: a persistent pan-European threat

APT28 spear-phishing France now represents a critical digital security challenge on a European scale. Since 2021, several European states, including France, have faced an unprecedented intensification of spear-phishing campaigns conducted by APT28, a state-sponsored cyber-espionage group affiliated with Russia’s GRU. Also known as Fancy Bear, Sednit, or Sofacy, APT28 targets ministries, regional governments, defense industries, strategic research institutions, critical infrastructure, and organizations involved with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In a tense geopolitical context across Europe, APT28’s tactics are evolving toward stealthy, non-persistent attacks using malware like HeadLace and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities such as CVE-2023-23397 in Microsoft Outlook. This vulnerability, detailed in a CERT-FR alert (CERTFR-2023-ALE-002), allows an attacker to retrieve the Net-NTLMv2 hash, potentially for privilege escalation. It is actively exploited in targeted attacks and requires no user interaction, being triggered by sending a specially crafted email with a malicious UNC link. This trend mirrors tactics used by APT44, explored in this article on QR code phishing, underscoring the need for sovereign hardware-based tools like DataShielder and PassCypher. European CISOs are encouraged to incorporate these attack patterns into their threat maps.

Historical Context: The Evolution of APT28

APT28 (Fancy Bear) has been active since at least 2004, operating as a state-sponsored cyber-espionage group linked to Russia’s GRU. However, its most heavily documented and globally recognized operations emerged from 2014 onward. That year marks a strategic shift, where APT28 adopted more aggressive, high-visibility tactics using advanced spear-phishing techniques and zero-day exploits.

Between 2008 and 2016, the group targeted several major geopolitical institutions, including:

• The Georgian Ministry of Defense (2008)
• NATO, the White House, and EU agencies (2014)
• The U.S. presidential election campaign (2016)

This period also saw extensive exposure of APT28 by cybersecurity firms such as FireEye and CrowdStrike, which highlighted the group’s growing sophistication and its use of malicious Word documents (maldocs), cloud-based command-and-control (C2) relays, and coordinated influence operations.

These earlier campaigns laid the foundation for APT28’s current operations in Europe — especially in France — and illustrate the persistent, evolving nature of the threat.

Priority targets for APT28 spear-phishing campaigns

Target typology in APT28 campaigns

PT28 targets include:

  • Sovereign ministries (Defense, Interior, Foreign Affairs)
  • Paris 2024 Olympics organizers and IT contractors
  • Operators of vital importance (OVIs): energy, transport, telecoms
  • Defense industrial and technological base (BITD) companies
  • Research institutions (CNRS, INRIA, CEA)
  • Local governments with strategic competencies
  • Consulting firms active in European or sensitive matters

Spear-phishing and electoral destabilization in Europe

Political and geopolitical context of APT28 campaigns

APT28’s campaigns often precede key elections or diplomatic summits, such as the 2017 French presidential election, the 2019 European elections, or the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. These are part of a broader hybrid strategy aimed at destabilizing the EU.

Some spear-phishing attacks are synchronized with disinformation operations to amplify internal political and social tensions within targeted nations. This dual tactic aims to undermine public trust in democratic institutions.

Reference: EU DisinfoLab – Russia-backed disinformation narratives

Germany and NATO have also reported a resurgence of APT28 activities, particularly against NATO forces stationed in Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia. This strategic targeting of European institutions is part of a broader effort to weaken collective security in the EU.

APT28 attribution and espionage objectives

  • Attribution: Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), Unit 26165
  • Key techniques: Targeted phishing, Outlook vulnerabilities, compromise of routers and peripheral devices
  • Objectives: Data exfiltration, strategic surveillance, disruption of critical operations

APT28 also coordinates technical operations with information warfare: fake document distribution, disinformation campaigns, and exploitation of leaks. This “influence” component, though less covered in mainstream reports, significantly amplifies the impact of technical attacks.

Observed campaigns and methods (2022–2025)

Date Campaign Targets Impact
March 2022 Diplomatic phishing EU ministries Theft of confidential data
July 2023 Military campaign French and German forces Access to strategic communications
Nov. 2024 HeadLace & CVE exploit Energy sector Risk of logistical sabotage
April 2025 Olympics 2024 operation French local authorities Compromise of critical systems

🔗 See also: ENISA Threat Landscape 2024 – Cyberespionage Section

Mapping APT28 to the Cyber Kill Chain

Kill Chain Step Example APT28
Reconnaissance DNS scanning, 2024 Olympic monitoring, WHOIS tracking
Weaponization Doc Word piégé (maldoc), exploit CVE-2023-23397
Delivery Spear-phishing by email, fake ..fr/.eu domains
Exploitation Macro Execution, Outlook Vulnerability
Installation Malware HeadLace, tunnels cloud (Trello, Dropbox)
C2 GitHub relay, DNS Fast Flux
Actions on Obj. Exfiltration, disinformation coordinated with DCLeaks

Tactics and Infrastructure: Increasing Sophistication

APT28 Obfuscation and Infrastructure Methods

APT28 campaigns are distinguished by a high degree of stealth:

  • Domain spoofing via homographs (e.g. gov-fr[.]net).
  • Real-time payload encryption.
  • Using legitimate cloud services like GitHub, Dropbox, or Trello as a C2 relay.
  • Hosting on anonymized infrastructures (Fast Flux DNS, bulletproof hosting).
  • Non-persistent attacks: ephemeral access, rapid exfiltration, immediate wipe. This approach makes detection particularly complex, as it drastically reduces the window of opportunity for forensic analysis, and the attacker’s infrastructure is often destroyed rapidly after compromise.

This mastery of technical obfuscation makes detection particularly complex, even for the most advanced SIEM systems and EDRs.

Coordination spear-phishing & disinformation: The two faces of APT28

APT28 is not limited to digital espionage. This group orchestrates coordinated disinformation campaigns, often leveraging platforms like DCLeaks or Guccifer 2.0, in sync with its spear-phishing operations. These actions aim to weaken the social and political cohesion of targeted countries.

Fake news campaigns exploit leaks to manipulate public opinion, amplify mistrust, and relay biased narratives. These tactics, as detailed in the CERT-EU Threat Landscape Report, highlight the sophisticated efforts deployed to influence perceptions and sow division.

APT28 in figures (source: ENISA, Mandiant, EU DisinfoLab)

  • More than 200 campaigns recorded in Europe between 2014 and 2025
  • More than 10,000 spear-phishing emails identified
  • 65% of campaigns coordinated with influencer operations
  • 8 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited since 2021

Weak Signals Before APT28 Attacks

Here are the warning signs identified by the CERTs and CSIRTs:

  • Public DNS Recognition Campaigns
  • Targeted scans of critical infrastructure
  • Fraudulent domain registrations close to official names (e.g., counterfeit .gouv.fr)
  • Malicious office files posted on forums or as attachments

Monitoring these indicators enables an active cyber defense posture.

Official Report – CERTFR-2025-CTI-006

Ciblage et compromission d’entités françaises au moyen du mode opératoire d’attaque apt28

Activités associées à APT28 depuis 2021

Published by CERT-FR on April 29, 2025, this report provides an in-depth analysis of APT28 spear-phishing France campaigns and cyber intrusions. Key highlights include:

  • Attribution to APT28, affiliated with Russia’s GRU, using stealthy infection chains and phishing tactics;
  • Systematic targeting of French government, diplomatic, and research institutions from 2021 to 2024;
  • Continued threat amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, extending to Europe, Ukraine, and North America;
  • Strong alignment with prior spear-phishing and disinformation tactics analyzed in this article.

Download the official PDF (in French):

View official CERT-FR page – CERTFR-2025-CTI-006.pdf – Full Report

This official warning reinforces the strategic need for sovereign hardware-based solutions like DataShielder and PassCypher to counter APT28 spear-phishing France campaigns effectively.

Tactical Comparison: APT28 vs APT29 vs APT31 vs APT44

While APT44 leverages QR codes to hijack platforms like Signal, APT28 stands out for its “quick strike” attacks, relying on disposable infrastructure.

Unlike APT29 (Cozy Bear), which favors persistent software implants for long-term monitoring, APT28 adopts stealth operations, supported by anonymous cloud relays and targeted social engineering campaigns.

Each of these groups reflects an offensive strategy of Russia or China, oriented against European strategic interests.

APT Group Affiliation Main objective Key tactics Infrastructure Peculiarity
APT28 (Fancy Bear) GRU (Russia) Espionage, influence Spear-phishing, zero-day, cloud C2 Disposable, Fast Flux Coupled with fake news operations
APT29 (Cozy Bear) SVR (Russia) Persistent espionage Software implants, stealthy backdoors Infrastructure stable Long-term monitoring
APT31 (Zirconium) MSS (China) IP Theft, R&D Email spoofing, maldoc, scan DNS Chinese Proxy Recycling of open source tools
APT44 (Sandworm) GRU (Russia) Sabotage, disruption QR phishing, attaques supply chain External Hosting Use of destructive techniques

Timeline of APT28 Spear-Phishing Campaigns (2014–2025)

APT28 spear-phishing France is not an isolated threat but part of a broader, long-running offensive against Europe. This timeline traces the evolution of APT28’s major campaigns—from initial credential theft to advanced zero-day exploits and coordinated cyber-influence operations. It highlights the increasing sophistication of Russian GRU-aligned operations targeting national institutions, think tanks, and infrastructure across the continent.

APT28 spear-phishing France – Timeline showing major cyberespionage campaigns from 2014 to 2025.

Evolution of APT28 Campaigns (2014–2025): This timeline outlines the key cyberattacks conducted by the Russian GRU-affiliated group APT28, highlighting spear-phishing operations targeting European institutions, critical infrastructure, and high-profile diplomatic events.

ANSSI’s operational recommendations

  • Apply security patches (known CVEs) immediately.
  • Audit peripheral equipment (routers, appliances).
  • Deploy ANSSI-certified EDRs to detect anomalous behavior.
  • Train users with realistic spear-phishing scenarios.
  • Segment networks and enforce the principle of least privilege.

For detailed guidance, refer to the ANSSI recommendations.

Regulatory framework: French response to spear-phishing

  • Military Programming Law (LPM): imposes cybersecurity obligations on OIVs and OESs.
  • NIS Directive and French transposition: provides a framework for cybersecurity obligations.
  • SGDSN: steers the strategic orientations of national cybersecurity.
  • Role of the ANSSI: operational referent, issuer of alerts and recommendations.
  • EU-level Initiatives: Complementing national efforts like those led by ANSSI in France, the NIS2 Directive, the successor to NIS, strengthens cybersecurity obligations for a wider range of entities and harmonizes rules across European Union Member States. It also encourages greater cooperation and information sharing between Member States.

Sovereign solutions: DataShielder & PassCypher against spear-phishing

Sovereign solutions: DataShielder & PassCypher against spear-phishing

DataShielder NFC HSM: An alternative to traditional MFA authentication

Most of APT28’s spear-phishing publications recommend multi-factor authentication. However, this MFA typically relies on vulnerable channels: interceptable SMS, exposed cloud applications, or spoofed emails. DataShielder NFC HSM introduces a major conceptual breakthrough:

Criterion Classic MFA DataShielder NFC HSM
Channel used Email, SMS, cloud app Local NFC, without network
Dependency on the host system Yes (OS, browser, apps) No (OS independent)
Resistance to spear-phishing Average (Interceptable OTP) High (non-repeatable hardware key)
Access key Remote server or mobile app Stored locally in the NFC HSM
Offline use Rarely possible Yes, 100% offline
Cross-authentication No Yes, between humans without a trusted third party

This solution is aligned with a logic of digital sovereignty, in line with the recommendations of the ANSSI.

DataShielder HSM PGP can encrypt all types of emails, including Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, LinkedIn, Yandex, HCL Domino, and more. It encrypts messages end-to-end and decrypts them only in volatile memory, ensuring maximum privacy without leaving a clear trace.

PassCypher HSM PGP enhances the security of critical passwords and TOTP/HOTP codes through:

  • 100% offline operation without database or server
  • Secure input field in a dedicated tamper-proof sandbox
  • Protection native contre les attaques BITB (Browser-in-the-Browser)
  • Automatic sandbox that checks original URLs before execution
  • Secure management of logins, passwords, and OTP keys in a siloed environment

En savoir plus : BITB attacks – How to avoid phishing by iframe

These solutions fit perfectly into sovereign cyber defense architectures against APTs.

🇫🇷 Exclusive availability in France via AMG Pro (Regulatory Compliance)

To comply with export control regulations on dual-use items (civil and military), DataShielder NFC HSM products are exclusively distributed in France by AMG PRO.

These products are fully compliant with:

  • French Decree No. 2024-1243 of December 7, 2024, governing the importation and distribution of dual-use encryption systems.
  • Regulation (EU) 2021/821, establishing a Union regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items (updated 2024).

Why this matters:

  • Ensures legal use of sovereign-grade encryption in France and across the EU.
  • Guarantees traceability and legal availability for critical infrastructures, ministries, and enterprises.
  • Reinforces the sovereignty and strategic autonomy of European cybersecurity frameworks.

DataShielder NFC HSM: a French-designed and Andorran-manufactured offline encryption and authentication solution, officially recognized under civil/military dual-use classification.

Threat coverage table: PassCypher & DataShielder vs APT groups

Evaluating sovereign cyber defenses against APT threats

Faced with the sophisticated arsenal deployed by APT groups such as APT28, APT29, APT31 or APT44, it is becoming essential to accurately assess the level of protection offered by cybersecurity solutions. The table below compares the tactics used by these groups with the defense capabilities built into PassCypher, HSM, PGP, and DataShielder. This visualization helps CISOs and decision-makers quickly identify the perimeters covered, residual risks, and possible complementarities in a sovereign security architecture.

Threat Type APT28 APT29 APT31 APT44 Couverture PassCypher DataShielder Coverage
Targeted spear-phishing ✅ ✅ ✅ ⚠️ ✅ ✅
Zero-day Outlook/Microsoft ✅ ✅ ⚠️ ❌ ✅
(sandbox indirect)		 ✅
(memory encryption)
Cloud relay (Trello, GitHub…) ✅ ⚠️ ✅ ❌ ✅
(URL detection)		 ✅
QR code phishing ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅
BITB (Browser-in-the-Browser) ✅ ⚠️ ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅
Attacks without persistence ✅ ❌ ⚠️ ✅ ✅ ✅
Disinformation / fake news ✅ ⚠️ ❌ ✅ ✅
(scission login/data)		 ⚠️
(via partitioning)
Compromise of peripheral equipment ✅ ✅ ✅ ⚠️ ❌ ✅
(via HSM)
Targeting elections/Olympics ✅ ⚠️ ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅

✅ = Direct protection / ⚠️ = Partial mitigation / ❌ = Not directly covered

Towards a European cyber resilience strategy

APT28, APT29, APT44: these are all groups that illustrate an offensive escalation in European cyberspace. The response must therefore be strategic and transnational:

  • Coordination by ENISA and the European CSIRT Network
  • IOC sharing and real-time alerts between Member States
  • Regulatory harmonization (NIS2 revision, Cyber Resilience Act)
  • Deployment of interoperable sovereign solutions such as DataShielder and PassCypher

See also: Cyber Resilience Act – EU 🔗 See also: APT44 QR Code Phishing – Freemindtronic

CISO Recommendation: Map APT28 tactics in your security strategies. Deploy segmented, offline authentication solutions like DataShielder, combined with encrypted questionnaire tools such as PassCypher to counter spear-phishing attacks.

2025, Cyberculture

Stop Browser Fingerprinting: Prevent Tracking and Protect Your Privacy

Posted on by FMTAD
A woman looking at a computer screen displaying a fingerprint, the words 'Cookieless' and 'PassCypher Data Privacy Security', along with the date 'February 16, 2025', symbolizing Google's fingerprinting policy shift. The image highlights the importance of stopping browser fingerprinting and protecting online privacy
02
Feb

Stop Browser Fingerprinting: What You Need to Know in 2025

Stop Browser Fingerprinting is more critical than ever in 2025, as Google officially enforces fingerprinting-based tracking. Online tracking has evolved, and browser fingerprinting has become a dominant method for tracking users without consent. Unlike cookies, which can be deleted, fingerprinting creates a unique identifier based on your device and browser characteristics, making it nearly impossible to block using conventional privacy tools like VPNs or ad blockers. With Google officially allowing fingerprinting-based tracking from February 16, 2025, users will lose even more control over their online identity. This guide explains what fingerprinting is, why it’s dangerous, and the best tools to protect yourself.

Stop Browser Fingerprinting: Jacques Gascuel delves into the growing threats of digital surveillance and the legal challenges shaping the future of online privacy. This analysis explores how fingerprinting is redefining cybersecurity risks and what countermeasures can help individuals and IT providers reclaim control over their digital identity. Join the discussion and share your thoughts to navigate this evolving cyber landscape together.

Stop Browser Fingerprinting: Google’s New Tracking Strategy & Privacy Risks (2025)

From Condemnation to Enforcement

Google initially condemned fingerprinting, stating in 2019 that it “subverts user choice and is incorrect.” However, in December 2024, the company reversed its stance, announcing that advertisers can now use fingerprinting for tracking as Chrome phases out third-party cookies.

Why Google’s Shift to Fingerprinting Endangers Privacy

  • Cookieless Tracking: As users block cookies, Google seeks persistent alternatives.
  • Ad Revenue Protection: Advertisers need reliable tracking methods.
  • Privacy Illusion: While Google claims to enhance privacy, fingerprinting is far more invasive than cookies.

Regulatory Pushback: The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has criticized this decision as “irresponsible,” arguing it removes user control over their personal data.

Google’s Contradiction: From Condemnation to Approval

In 2019, Google condemned browser fingerprinting as a violation of user choice, calling it a method that “subverts user choice and is incorrect.”

🔗 Official Sources:

However, in December 2024, Google reversed its position, announcing that starting February 16, 2025, it will officially allow advertisers to use fingerprinting-based tracking, replacing cookies as the primary method of user identification.

This shift has sparked strong criticism from privacy advocates and regulators. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) condemned this decision as “irresponsible,” stating that it “removes user choice and control over personal data collection.”

Why Has Google Changed Its Position on Fingerprinting?

The shift towards fingerprinting-based tracking is driven by:

  • The Death of Cookies – With Chrome phasing out third-party cookies, advertisers need new tracking methods.
  • Fingerprinting’s Persistence – Unlike cookies, fingerprinting cannot be deleted or blocked, making it perfect for tracking users across devices.
  • Mass Surveillance & Data Monetization – Fingerprinting enables governments and corporations to build detailed behavioral profiles, bypassing traditional privacy protections.

By officially approving fingerprinting, Google presents itself as a leader in privacy while simultaneously endorsing an even more invasive tracking method.

Stop Browser Fingerprinting Now: How It Affects You & What to Do

Browser fingerprinting is more than a privacy risk—it directly impacts security, fairness, and even personal safety:

  • 💰 Algorithmic Discrimination – Websites dynamically adjust prices based on your device. Studies show that Mac users often see higher travel fares than Windows users.
  • 🕵️ Mass Surveillance – Governments and corporations use fingerprinting for predictive policing, targeted advertising, and even social credit scoring, removing user consent from the equation.
  • 📢 Threats to Journalists & Activists – Unique browser fingerprints allow regimes to track dissidents despite their use of VPNs or private browsing.
  • 🚫 Inescapable Tracking – Even if you clear cookies or change IPs, fingerprinting allows advertisers to track you across multiple devices.

How PassCypher HSM PGP Helps Stop Browser Fingerprinting

PassCypher HSM PGP disrupts indirect fingerprinting by blocking iFrame-based tracking scripts before they execute—a common method used by advertisers and trackers.

For maximum protection:

  • PassCypher HSM PGP Free with EviBITB
  • Mullvad Browser or Tor for standardizing fingerprints
  • uBlock Origin + CanvasBlocker to block tracking scripts

Stop Browser Fingerprinting: Regulations and Privacy Protection Laws You Need to Know

Regulators and privacy organizations have raised concerns over browser fingerprinting due to its impact on digital rights, online privacy, and mass surveillance. While some laws attempt to regulate fingerprinting, enforcement remains weak.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR – Europe)

  • Fingerprinting is considered personally identifiable information (PII) under GDPR.
  • Websites must obtain explicit consent before collecting fingerprinting data.
  • Fines for non-compliance can reach up to €20 million or 4% of global annual revenue.

🔗 GDPR Official Guidance

Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR – UK)

  • Works alongside GDPR to regulate electronic communications tracking.
  • Covers cookies, tracking pixels, link decoration, web storage, and fingerprinting.
  • Requires transparent disclosure & user consent.

🔗 ICO Guidance on Fingerprinting

The Role of the ICO & EDPB

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has strongly opposed fingerprinting, calling Google’s 2025 update “irresponsible” due to its removal of user control.
Meanwhile, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has issued guidelines reinforcing that all tracking technologies, including fingerprinting, require consent under the ePrivacy Directive.

🔗 ICO’s Statement on Google’s Fingerprinting Policy
🔗 EDPB Guidelines on Fingerprinting & Consent

Takeaway

While regulations exist, enforcement is weak, and companies continue fingerprinting without user consent. Users must adopt proactive privacy tools to protect themselves.

Google’s New Privacy Strategy: Why Stop Browser Fingerprinting is Essential

Google claims to prioritize privacy, yet fingerprinting offers deeper tracking than cookies ever did. This move benefits advertisers, ensuring that:

  • Users remain identifiable despite privacy tools.
  • Ad targeting remains profitable.
  • Companies can bypass traditional data protection regulations.

It’s about profits, not privacy.

  • Safari, Firefox, and Brave block third-party cookies.
  • More users rely on VPNs and ad blockers.
  • Google seeks a more persistent tracking alternative that cannot be blocked.

The Privacy Illusion

Google presents third-party cookie removal as a privacy enhancement. However, by replacing cookie-based tracking with fingerprinting, it introduces an even more invasive method. This shift aligns with the transition to a cookieless web, where advertisers must adapt by using alternatives like cookieless tracking.

Google, Cookieless Tracking, and Fingerprinting

Google justifies this transition as necessary to sustain web monetization while respecting user privacy. However, unlike cookies, which users can delete or block, fingerprinting is persistent and much harder to evade.

Stop Browser Fingerprinting: Essential Actions to Protect Your Privacy in 2025

To mitigate the risks posed by Google’s new policy:

  • Use privacy-focused browsers (Mullvad, Brave, or Tor)
  • Install fingerprinting-blocking extensions (PassCypher HSM PGP Free, uBlock Origin, CanvasBlocker)
  • Employ anti-fingerprinting authentication solutions like PassCypher HSM PGP Free with EviBITB protection

💡 As the internet moves toward a cookieless future, new tracking methods like fingerprinting will dominate digital advertising. Users must adopt privacy-enhancing tools to regain control over their online footprint.

How to Stop Browser Fingerprinting and Why It’s Dangerous for Your Privacy

What is Browser Fingerprinting and How to Stop It?

Fingerprinting collects hardware and software details to create a unique ID. Unlike cookies, it cannot be deleted or blocked easily.

What Data Is Collected?

  • Canvas & WebGL Rendering → How your browser processes graphics.
  • TLS Handshake & Encryption Settings → Unique security protocols.
  • Audio Fingerprinting → How your sound card interacts with software.
  • User-Agent & Hardware Details → OS, screen resolution, installed fonts, browser plugins.

Even if you block some tracking methods, fingerprinting combines multiple data points to reconstruct your identity.

Cover Your Tracks – Browser Fingerprinting Protection Test

Cover Your Tracks (EFF) → Analyzes your fingerprint uniqueness.

Am I Unique? → Provides detailed fingerprinting insights.

If your browser has a unique fingerprint, tracking remains possible despite privacy tools.

Best Anti-Fingerprinting Tools in 2025 – Full Comparison

Solution Blocks iFrame Tracking? Fingerprinting Protection BITB Protection? Blocks Script Execution? Ease of Use ✅ Cost 💰
PassCypher HSM PGP Free + Mullvad Browser ✅ Yes ✅ High ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Easy Free
Tor Browser ❌ No ✅ High ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Complex Free
Mullvad Browser (Standalone) ❌ No ✅ High ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Easy Free
Brave (Aggressive Mode) ❌ No 🔸 Moderate ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Easy Free
Disabling JavaScript ✅ Yes ✅ High ❌ No ✅ Yes ❌ Complex Free
VPN + Proxy Chains ❌ No 🔸 Moderate ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Complex Paid
uBlock Origin + CanvasBlocker Extension ❌ No 🔸 Low ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Easy Free
Changing User-Agent Regularly ❌ No 🔸 Low ❌ No ❌ No ❌ Technical Free
Incognito Mode + Multiple Browsers ❌ No 🔸 Very Low ❌ No ❌ No ✅ Easy Free

Optimal Security Setup

PassCypher HSM PGP Free + EviBITB → Bloque les scripts de fingerprinting avant leur exécution
Mullvad Browser → Standardise l’empreinte digitale pour réduire l’unicité
uBlock Origin + CanvasBlocker → Ajoute une protection supplémentaire contre le fingerprinting passif

Test Results: PassCypher HSM PGP BITB Protection

PassCypher HSM PGP Free with EviBITB is the only solution that prevents fingerprinting scripts from executing inside iFrames before they can collect any data.

Test 1: Without EviBITB (PassCypher HSM PGP Disabled)

Problems detected:

  • Tracking ads are not blocked ❌
  • Invisible trackers remain active ❌
  • Fingerprinting scripts fully execute, allowing websites to recognize the browser ❌

🔎 Result: Without EviBITB, the browser fails to block fingerprinting attempts, allowing trackers to profile users across sessions and devices.

Test results showing a browser with no protection against tracking ads, invisible trackers, or fingerprinting.

🔎 Without EviBITB, the browser fails to block tracking ads, invisible trackers, and remains fully identifiable through fingerprinting.Beyond theoretical solutions, let’s examine real-world testing of browser fingerprinting protection using Cover Your Tracks.

Test 2: With EviBITB Activated (PassCypher HSM PGP Enabled)

Protection enabled:

  • BITB Protection blocks tracking ads and prevents phishing attempts✅
  • iFrame-based fingerprinting scripts are blocked before execution✅
  • However, static fingerprinting elements (Canvas, WebGL, fonts, etc.) remain detectable⚠️

Test results showing improved protection with BITB activated, blocking tracking ads and invisible trackers but still having a unique fingerprint.

Key Findings:

EviBITB effectively blocks iFrame-based fingerprinting, preventing indirect tracking.
However, it does not alter static browser characteristics used for direct fingerprinting (Canvas, WebGL, user-agent, etc.).
For full protection, users should combine EviBITB with a dedicated anti-fingerprinting browser like Mullvad or Tor.

Comparison of Anti-Fingerprinting Solutions

Solution Blocks iFrame Tracking? Fingerprinting Protection
PassCypher HSM PGP Free with EviBITB ✅ Yes ✅ High
Mullvad Browser ❌ No ✅ High
Tor Browser ❌ No ✅ High
Brave (Aggressive Mode) ❌ No 🔸 Moderate

For optimal security, combine PassCypher HSM PGP Free with Mullvad Browser for full anti-fingerprinting protection.

Final Thoughts: Stop Browser Fingerprinting and Take Back Your Privacy

Even with BITB Protection, fingerprinting remains a challenge. To achieve maximum privacy:

  • Use a dedicated anti-fingerprinting browser like Mullvad or Tor ✅
  • Install CanvasBlocker to disrupt common fingerprinting techniques ✅
  • Combine BITB Protection with other privacy tools like uBlock Origin ✅

By implementing these measures, users can significantly reduce their online footprint and stay ahead of evolving tracking techniques.

The Fingerprinting Paradox: Why It Can’t Be Fully Eliminated

Despite advancements in privacy protection, browser fingerprinting remains an unavoidable tracking method. Unlike cookies, which users can delete, fingerprinting collects multiple device-specific attributes to create a persistent identifier.

Can You Stop Browser Fingerprinting Completely? Myths vs Reality

Fingerprinting relies on multiple static and dynamic factors, making it difficult to block entirely:

  • IP address & Network Data → Even with a VPN, passive fingerprinting methods analyze connection patterns.
  • Browser Type & Version → Each browser has unique configurations, including default settings and rendering quirks.
  • Screen Resolution & Device Specs → Screen size, refresh rate, and hardware combinations create a distinct profile.
  • Installed Plugins & Fonts → Specific browser extensions, fonts, and system configurations contribute to uniqueness.
  • WebGL & Canvas Rendering → Websites extract graphic processing details to differentiate devices.

Even if users restrict or modify certain attributes, fingerprinting algorithms adapt, refining their tracking models to maintain accuracy.

How PassCypher HSM PGP Free Disrupts Fingerprinting at Its Core

PassCypher HSM PGP Free with EviBITB is a game-changer. Unlike traditional fingerprinting blockers that only randomize or standardize user data, EviBITB prevents fingerprinting scripts from executing inside iFrames before they collect data.

  • Blocks tracking scripts before execution✅
  • Prevents iFrame-based fingerprinting & Browser-in-the-Browser (BITB) phishing✅
  • Works across multiple privacy-focused browsers✅

Key Takeaway

While completely eliminating fingerprinting is impossible, combining EviBITB with anti-fingerprinting browsers like Mullvad or Tor, and tools like uBlock Origin and CanvasBlocker, significantly reduces tracking risks. Stop Browser Fingerprinting before it starts—neutralize it before it executes.

PassCypher HSM PGP Free: The Ultimate Defense Against Fingerprinting & BITB Attacks

Understanding Browser-in-the-Browser (BITB) Attacks

BITB attacks exploit iframe vulnerabilities to create fake login pop-ups, tricking users into submitting their credentials on seemingly legitimate pages. These phishing techniques bypass traditional security measures, making them a growing cybersecurity threat.

How EviBITB Protects Against BITB & Fingerprinting

  • ✅ Blocks fingerprinting scripts before execution
  • ✅ Eliminates malicious iFrames that simulate login pop-ups
  • ✅ Prevents advertisers & trackers from embedding tracking scripts
  • ✅ Gives users full control over script execution (Manual, Semi-Auto, Auto)

Why EviBITB is Superior to Traditional Anti-Fingerprinting Tools

While browsers like Mullvad & Tor aim to reduce fingerprinting visibility, they don’t block scripts before execution. EviBITB neutralizes fingerprinting at its core by preventing iFrame-based tracking before data collection begins.

Live Test: How PassCypher HSM PGP Stops Fingerprinting & BITB Attacks

PassCypher Security Suite: Multi-Layered Protection

PassCypher HSM PGP offers multi-layered protection against fingerprinting, BITB attacks, and phishing attempts. Unlike browsers that only standardize fingerprints, PassCypher actively blocks fingerprinting scripts before they execute.

EviBITB – Advanced BITB & Fingerprinting Protection

  • ✅ Proactive iframe blocking before execution
  • ✅ Neutralization of fake login pop-ups
  • ✅ Blocking of hidden fingerprinting scripts
  • ✅ Real-time phishing protection

Customizable Security Modes

PassCypher HSM PGP offers three security levels, allowing users to choose their preferred protection mode:

  • 🛠️ Manual Mode → Users manually approve or block each iframe.
  • ⚠️ Semi-Automatic Mode → Detection + security recommendations.
  • 🔥 Automatic Mode → Immediate blocking of suspicious iframes.

Why This Matters?
Unlike browsers that only standardize fingerprints, PassCypher actively blocks scripts before they execute, preventing any tracking or phishing attempts.

PassCypher HSM PGP settings panel with BITB protection options

🔑 PassCypher NFC HSM – Enhanced Security with Hardware Protection

For even stronger security, pair PassCypher HSM PGP with a PassCypher NFC HSM device.

  • ✅ Passwordless Authentication → Secure logins without typing credentials.
  • ✅ Offline Encryption Key Storage → Keys remain fully isolated from cyber threats.
  • ✅ Automatic Decryption & Login → Credentials decrypt only in volatile memory, leaving no traces.
  • ✅ 100% Offline Operation → No servers, no databases, no cloud exposure.

Why Choose PassCypher?

PassCypher Security Suite is the only solution that stops fingerprinting before it even begins.

  • ✅ Neutralizes tracking attempts at the script level
  • ✅ Removes malicious iframes before they appear
  • ✅ Prevents invisible BITB phishing attacks

🔗 Download PassCypher HSM PGP Free
Best Anti-Fingerprinting Extensions in 2025 – Stop BITB & Online Tracking

Best Anti-Fingerprinting Extensions in 2025

Many tools claim to protect against tracking, but not all are truly effective. PassCypher HSM PGP Free stands out as the ultimate defense against fingerprinting and phishing threats, thanks to its advanced BITB (Browser-in-the-Browser) protection.

PassCypher HSM PGP detecting a Browser-In-The-Browser (BITB) attack and displaying a security warning, allowing users to manually block malicious iframes.
⚠️ PassCypher HSM PGP Free detects and blocks BITB phishing attacks before they execute.

How PassCypher HSM PGP Free Protects You

This proactive security tool offers real-time protection against tracking threats:

  • ✅ Destroy the iframe → Instantly neutralize any malicious iframe attack.
  • ✅ Destroy all iframes → Eliminate all potential threats on the page.
  • ✅ Custom Security Settings → Choose whether to allow or block iframes on trusted domains.

Take Control of Your Privacy Now

PassCypher HSM PGP Free ensures complete protection against fingerprinting and BITB phishing—before tracking even starts!

🔗 Download PassCypher HSM PGP Free Now

Stop Browser Fingerprinting: Key Takeaways & Next Steps

Fingerprinting is the future of online tracking, and Google’s 2025 update will make it harder to escape. To fight back:

1️⃣ Install PassCypher HSM PGP Free with EviBITB 🛡️ → Blocks iFrame-based fingerprinting & BITB attacks.
2️⃣ Use a privacy-focused browser 🌍 → Mullvad Browser or Tor for best results.
3️⃣ Block fingerprinting scripts 🔏 → Use CanvasBlocker + uBlock Origin.
4️⃣ Adopt a multi-layered defense
🔄 → Combine browser protections, script blockers, and a VPN for maximum security.

📌 Take Control of Your Privacy Now!

To truly Stop Browser Fingerprinting, users must adopt proactive privacy tools and strategies.

FAQs – Browser Fingerprinting & Privacy Protection

General Questions

No, private browsing (Incognito mode) does not stop browser fingerprinting. This mode only prevents your browser from storing cookies, history, and cached data after you close the session. However, browser fingerprinting relies on collecting unique characteristics from your device, such as:

  • Graphics rendering (Canvas & WebGL)
  • Installed fonts and plugins
  • Operating system, screen resolution, and hardware details
  • Browser version and user-agent string

Since Incognito mode does not alter these attributes, your digital fingerprint remains the same, allowing websites to track you across sessions. For stronger protection, consider using privacy-focused tools like PassCypher HSM PGP Free, Mullvad Browser, or Tor.

Websites collect fingerprinting data to build user profiles and track behavior across multiple sites, even if cookies are blocked. This data is shared with advertisers to deliver highly personalized ads based on browsing history, location, and device information.

Under GDPR, websites must obtain user consent before using fingerprinting techniques, as they collect identifiable personal data. However, enforcement varies, and many companies use workarounds to continue fingerprinting users without explicit permission.

No, fingerprinting is not exclusively used for advertising. It is also utilized for fraud detection, identity theft prevention, and user authentication. However, its use for tracking users without consent raises significant privacy concerns.

Fingerprinting does not directly reveal a user’s identity. However, it creates a unique digital fingerprint that can track a specific device’s activity across multiple websites. If this fingerprint is linked to personal information, it can potentially identify an individual.

Yes, cross-device tracking is possible. While fingerprinting is primarily device-specific, advertisers and trackers use advanced techniques like:

  • Correlating browser fingerprints with IP addresses
  • Detecting Bluetooth & Wi-Fi network information
  • Analyzing behavioral patterns across devices

For example, if you use the same browser settings on your phone and laptop, a tracker may recognize that both belong to you.

  • Using different browsers on each device helps, but isn’t foolproof.
  • A better option is a privacy-focused browser like Mullvad or Tor.
  • PassCypher HSM PGP Free blocks fingerprinting scripts before they execute.

Fingerprinting operates in the background without visible indicators, making it difficult to detect. However, tools like Cover Your Tracks (by the Electronic Frontier Foundation) can analyze your browser and assess its uniqueness and vulnerability to fingerprinting.

Technical & Protection Methods

Yes, some browser extensions can help mitigate fingerprinting. For example, CanvasBlocker prevents websites from accessing canvas data, a common fingerprinting technique. However, adding extensions may alter your digital fingerprint, so it’s essential to choose privacy-focused extensions wisely.

Using different browsers for different online activities can reduce complete tracking. For instance, you could use one browser for sensitive activities and another for general browsing. However, if these browsers are not protected against fingerprinting, websites may still link your activities across them.

Letterboxing is a technique that adds gray margins around browser content when resizing the window. This conceals the exact window size, making it harder for websites to collect precise screen dimensions—a common fingerprinting metric. Firefox implements this method to enhance user privacy.

No, a VPN only hides your IP address, but fingerprinting gathers other device-specific data such as browser type, screen resolution, and hardware details. To enhance privacy, use a combination of anti-fingerprinting tools like PassCypher HSM PGP Free, Tor, or Mullvad Browser.

The best approach is using a multi-layered defense:

  • Privacy-focused browsers like Tor or Mullvad.
  • Extensions such as PassCypher HSM PGP Free, uBlock Origin, and CanvasBlocker.
  • JavaScript blocking tools like NoScript.
  • Regularly changing settings like user-agent and browser resolution.

Disabling JavaScript can block many fingerprinting techniques, but it also breaks website functionality. Some tracking methods, such as TLS fingerprinting and IP-based tracking, do not rely on JavaScript and can still be used to identify users.

Not really.

Changing your user-agent (e.g., making your browser appear as Chrome instead of Firefox) or screen resolution may add some randomness, but it does not significantly reduce fingerprintability.

Fingerprinting works by analyzing multiple attributes together, so even if you change one, the combination of hardware, fonts, and other details still makes you unique.

  • A better approach is using a browser that standardizes your fingerprint, like Mullvad or Tor.
  • PassCypher HSM PGP Free blocks tracking scripts before they collect data.

Some websites use battery APIs to track users based on their **battery percentage, charging status, and estimated time remaining**. Although this technique is less common, it can still contribute to building a unique fingerprint.

To mitigate this risk, consider using:

  • A browser that blocks access to battery APIs (e.g., Firefox, Mullvad, Tor)
  • Privacy-enhancing tools like PassCypher HSM PGP Free, which block JavaScript-based tracking techniques.

No, but it’s still good practice.

Fingerprinting is a cookieless tracking method, meaning it works even if you block cookies. However, blocking third-party cookies still improves privacy, as it prevents advertisers from combining fingerprinting with cookie-based tracking for more accurate profiling.

For the best protection, use a multi-layered approach:

  • Block third-party cookies
  • Use anti-fingerprinting browsers (Mullvad, Tor, Brave in Aggressive mode)
  • Install extensions like CanvasBlocker & uBlock Origin
  • Use PassCypher HSM PGP Free for script-blocking & BITB protection

Letterboxing is a privacy technique used by Firefox and Tor to reduce fingerprinting risks. Instead of revealing your exact window size, letterboxing adds empty space around the browser content, making your screen resolution appear more generic.

This helps prevent fingerprinting based on window dimensions, which is a common tracking method.

To enhance protection, combine letterboxing with other privacy measures, like:

  • Using PassCypher HSM PGP Free with EviBITB
  • Blocking iFrames with CanvasBlocker
  • Using Mullvad or Tor for standardized fingerprints

Future of Online Privacy & Google’s Role

With the elimination of third-party cookies, Google and advertisers need new ways to track users for targeted ads. Fingerprinting allows persistent tracking across devices without requiring user consent, making it an attractive alternative for data collection.

Currently, no mainstream browser completely blocks fingerprinting. However, some browsers provide strong protection:

  • Tor Browser: Standardizes fingerprints across users.
  • Mullvad Browser: Focuses on reducing fingerprinting techniques.
  • Brave: Offers randomized fingerprints.
  • Firefox (Strict Mode): Blocks known fingerprinting scripts.

Fingerprinting-based tracking is expected to become more common, making it harder for users to remain anonymous online. This shift may lead to **increased regulatory scrutiny**, but in the meantime, privacy-focused tools will become essential for protecting online identity.

Google’s move to fingerprinting is a business-driven decision. Since third-party cookies are being phased out, Google needs an alternative tracking method to maintain ad revenue. Fingerprinting offers:

  • Persistent tracking (harder to delete than cookies)
  • Cross-device profiling (better for targeted ads)
  • Circumvention of privacy laws (harder to detect and block)

While Google markets this as a “privacy improvement,” it’s actually an even more invasive tracking method.

This is why privacy advocates recommend using browsers and tools that block fingerprinting, like PassCypher HSM PGP Free, Mullvad, and Tor.