Company
Date Published
Author
Christoph Berger
Word count
4259
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Fraudulent behavior on websites, such as account takeovers or mass creation of fake accounts, can be damaging to site owners and users. To combat this, browser fingerprinting is a useful method, identifying unique browser and device characteristics to detect fraud. The article focuses on preventing fraudulent mass signups by using Go to build a web app that captures browser fingerprints along with sign-up data. By integrating the Fingerprint Pro JS library, the app can recognize if a device attempts multiple quick sign-ups, rejecting new ones that happen too soon after a previous signup. The setup involves creating a Go project with a minimal web server, using SQLite for storage, and incorporating Fingerprint Pro for precise device identification. This approach enhances security without adding friction for legitimate users, offering a robust solution against fraudulent activities. Browser fingerprinting, unlike cookies, provides a persistent form of identification, effective even with stringent privacy settings.