Discourse Fingerprint - Browser Fingerprinting Plugin

anon23393886 · December 10, 2020, 12:42am

There are a lot of trolls out there who are tech competent compared to regular forum members. Some of them are like resilient cockroaches.

anon82467725 · March 11, 2021, 10:07pm

It seems like Google Chrome is about to follow in the footsteps of Mozilla Firefox. I remember seeing an article regarding Google Chrome and blocking fingerprinting, but I cannot find it at the moment. Regardless, this is a sign for things to come. Would that essentially be the death of this plugin?

kynic · May 16, 2021, 11:56am

Now, its not showing anything in latest matches,

Getting this in error log:

plugins/discourse-fingerprint/app/serializers/flagged_fingerprint_serializer.rb:30:in `data'

plugins/discourse-fingerprint/app/serializers/flagged_fingerprint_serializer.rb:51:in `include_is_common?'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:375:in `include?'

(eval):9:in `_fast_attributes'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:468:in `rescue in attributes'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:455:in `attributes'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:480:in `_serializable_hash'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:359:in `serializable_hash'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:89:in `block in _serializable_array'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:79:in `map'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:79:in `_serializable_array'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:73:in `serializable_array'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:53:in `as_json'

app/controllers/application_controller.rb:493:in `serialize_data'

plugins/discourse-fingerprint/app/controllers/admin/fingerprint_controller.rb:25:in `index'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/basic_implicit_render.rb:6:in `send_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:228:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/rendering.rb:30:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:42:in `block in process_action'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:117:in `block in run_callbacks'

app/controllers/application_controller.rb:395:in `block in with_resolved_locale'

i18n (1.8.10) lib/i18n.rb:314:in `with_locale'

app/controllers/application_controller.rb:395:in `with_resolved_locale'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:126:in `block in run_callbacks'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:137:in `run_callbacks'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:41:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/rescue.rb:22:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:34:in `block in process_action'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/notifications.rb:203:in `block in instrument'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/notifications/instrumenter.rb:24:in `instrument'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/notifications.rb:203:in `instrument'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:33:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/params_wrapper.rb:249:in `process_action'

activerecord (6.1.3.2) lib/active_record/railties/controller_runtime.rb:27:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:165:in `process'

actionview (6.1.3.2) lib/action_view/rendering.rb:39:in `process'

rack-mini-profiler (2.3.2) lib/mini_profiler/profiling_methods.rb:85:in `block in profile_method'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal.rb:190:in `dispatch'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal.rb:254:in `dispatch'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:50:in `dispatch'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:33:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:50:in `block in serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `each'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:842:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/engine.rb:539:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `public_send'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `method_missing'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb:20:in `block in <class:Constraints>'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb:49:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:50:in `block in serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `each'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:842:in `call'

lib/middleware/omniauth_bypass_middleware.rb:71:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/tempfile_reaper.rb:15:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/conditional_get.rb:27:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/head.rb:12:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/http/permissions_policy.rb:22:in `call'

lib/content_security_policy/middleware.rb:12:in `call'

lib/middleware/anonymous_cache.rb:355:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:266:in `context'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:260:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/cookies.rb:689:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:27:in `block in call'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:98:in `run_callbacks'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:26:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/actionable_exceptions.rb:18:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/debug_exceptions.rb:29:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/show_exceptions.rb:33:in `call'

logster (2.9.6) lib/logster/middleware/reporter.rb:43:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:37:in `call_app'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:28:in `call'

config/initializers/100-quiet_logger.rb:23:in `call'

config/initializers/100-silence_logger.rb:31:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb:81:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/request_id.rb:26:in `call'

lib/middleware/enforce_hostname.rb:23:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/method_override.rb:24:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/executor.rb:14:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/sendfile.rb:110:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/host_authorization.rb:92:in `call'

rack-mini-profiler (2.3.2) lib/mini_profiler/profiler.rb:249:in `call'

message_bus (3.3.5) lib/message_bus/rack/middleware.rb:61:in `call'

lib/middleware/request_tracker.rb:177:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/engine.rb:539:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `public_send'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `method_missing'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:74:in `block in call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:58:in `each'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:58:in `call'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:634:in `process_client'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:732:in `worker_loop'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:547:in `spawn_missing_workers'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:143:in `start'

unicorn (6.0.0) bin/unicorn:128:in `<top (required)>'

vendor/bundle/ruby/2.7.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `load'

vendor/bundle/ruby/2.7.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `<main>'

kynic · May 20, 2021, 1:39pm

Updated to 2.8.0.beta1

Still getting this error in the error log and nothing is showing on the plugin page.

plugins/discourse-fingerprint/app/serializers/flagged_fingerprint_serializer.rb:30:in `data'

plugins/discourse-fingerprint/app/serializers/flagged_fingerprint_serializer.rb:51:in `include_is_common?'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:375:in `include?'

(eval):9:in `_fast_attributes'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:468:in `rescue in attributes'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:455:in `attributes'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:480:in `_serializable_hash'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/serializer.rb:359:in `serializable_hash'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:89:in `block in _serializable_array'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:79:in `map'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:79:in `_serializable_array'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:73:in `serializable_array'

active_model_serializers (0.8.4) lib/active_model/array_serializer.rb:53:in `as_json'

app/controllers/application_controller.rb:493:in `serialize_data'

plugins/discourse-fingerprint/app/controllers/admin/fingerprint_controller.rb:25:in `index'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/basic_implicit_render.rb:6:in `send_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:228:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/rendering.rb:30:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:42:in `block in process_action'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:117:in `block in run_callbacks'

app/controllers/application_controller.rb:395:in `block in with_resolved_locale'

i18n (1.8.10) lib/i18n.rb:314:in `with_locale'

app/controllers/application_controller.rb:395:in `with_resolved_locale'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:126:in `block in run_callbacks'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:137:in `run_callbacks'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/callbacks.rb:41:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/rescue.rb:22:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:34:in `block in process_action'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/notifications.rb:203:in `block in instrument'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/notifications/instrumenter.rb:24:in `instrument'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/notifications.rb:203:in `instrument'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/instrumentation.rb:33:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal/params_wrapper.rb:249:in `process_action'

activerecord (6.1.3.2) lib/active_record/railties/controller_runtime.rb:27:in `process_action'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/abstract_controller/base.rb:165:in `process'

actionview (6.1.3.2) lib/action_view/rendering.rb:39:in `process'

rack-mini-profiler (2.3.2) lib/mini_profiler/profiling_methods.rb:85:in `block in profile_method'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal.rb:190:in `dispatch'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_controller/metal.rb:254:in `dispatch'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:50:in `dispatch'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:33:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:50:in `block in serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `each'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:842:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/engine.rb:539:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `public_send'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `method_missing'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb:20:in `block in <class:Constraints>'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/mapper.rb:49:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:50:in `block in serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `each'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/journey/router.rb:32:in `serve'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/routing/route_set.rb:842:in `call'

lib/middleware/omniauth_bypass_middleware.rb:71:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/tempfile_reaper.rb:15:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/conditional_get.rb:27:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/head.rb:12:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/http/permissions_policy.rb:22:in `call'

lib/content_security_policy/middleware.rb:12:in `call'

lib/middleware/anonymous_cache.rb:355:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:266:in `context'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/session/abstract/id.rb:260:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/cookies.rb:689:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:27:in `block in call'

activesupport (6.1.3.2) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:98:in `run_callbacks'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:26:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/actionable_exceptions.rb:18:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/debug_exceptions.rb:29:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/show_exceptions.rb:33:in `call'

logster (2.9.6) lib/logster/middleware/reporter.rb:43:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:37:in `call_app'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:28:in `call'

config/initializers/100-quiet_logger.rb:23:in `call'

config/initializers/100-silence_logger.rb:31:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb:81:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/request_id.rb:26:in `call'

lib/middleware/enforce_hostname.rb:23:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/method_override.rb:24:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/executor.rb:14:in `call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/sendfile.rb:110:in `call'

actionpack (6.1.3.2) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/host_authorization.rb:92:in `call'

rack-mini-profiler (2.3.2) lib/mini_profiler/profiler.rb:249:in `call'

message_bus (3.3.5) lib/message_bus/rack/middleware.rb:61:in `call'

lib/middleware/request_tracker.rb:177:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/engine.rb:539:in `call'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `public_send'

railties (6.1.3.2) lib/rails/railtie.rb:207:in `method_missing'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:74:in `block in call'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:58:in `each'

rack (2.2.3) lib/rack/urlmap.rb:58:in `call'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:634:in `process_client'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:732:in `worker_loop'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:547:in `spawn_missing_workers'

unicorn (6.0.0) lib/unicorn/http_server.rb:143:in `start'

unicorn (6.0.0) bin/unicorn:128:in `<top (required)>'

vendor/bundle/ruby/2.7.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `load'

vendor/bundle/ruby/2.7.0/bin/unicorn:23:in `<main>'

codinghorror · May 20, 2021, 8:48pm

This probably needs some love @sam to bring it up to date. Should we mark it as broken for now?

I think it is semi-deprecated from my point of view since what it is trying to do is so difficult. What do you think @dan?

Full30 · July 6, 2021, 2:47pm

Either mine is now working or I’m missing something, do fingerprints not show even if there’s no conflict?

(also the text reads odd “No similar signature were found.”)

no results

and setting made about a week back

Am I in error in how this works or do I need to address something?

Anyone?

WorldIsMine · July 10, 2021, 7:12am

Not working on 2.7.4. Been checking every day for over 2 weeks now, it shows the same list of users every time.

anon73664359 · July 10, 2021, 5:29pm

This is the nail in the coffin.

kynic · July 11, 2021, 3:35pm

Same issue.

Not working in 2.8.0.beta2 also. It shows last seen when I seen of the user 26 may when I see in this plugin.

I thought it was only me.

dan · July 12, 2021, 11:47am

Fingerprintjs2 script did not load after I updated it to the latest version. I pushed a fix and it should work fine now. Sorry for the issues!

Over the time, there have been many nails in the coffin and there are still ways to fingerprint browsers. From quickly skimming through the article you linked it looks like it is just a way to hide user’s IP and unfortunately that means fingerprinting is still a possibility (as it relies more on browser’s characteristics rather than the IP).

Full30 · July 12, 2021, 11:56am

Did I miss enabling a permission or?

Mine’s not worked to date

Thank you for your help

volas · July 12, 2021, 1:16pm

There is a way to repurpose plugin to something that will work with only server side information.

I was recommended this plugin in Discourse check the user IP for block list only on login. Discourse don’t really care about users IP, don’t ban user by IP by default (you need to do it manually), and about new user with same IP as banned one you can find only accidentally. Fingerprinting plugin not really helped me, because don’t check IP too.

Some overview page with users that have matching IP with banned accounts would be useful.

And also there is services like https://ip-api.com/ that allow to check if IP is proxy/vpn, can be another useful tool.

Besides IP discourse also have user email. I often see trolls with email from temporary email services, this can be indicator of a bad user too.

anon73664359 · July 12, 2021, 1:45pm

Regardless, fingerprinting is becoming harder and harder these days. I cannot imagine it’ll be possible for much longer due to companies and people that are cautious about their privacy.

kynic · July 12, 2021, 4:50pm

Thanks for the fix. Working now.

GVG · August 15, 2021, 6:21am

Hello, please, clarify - can Admin see an all 20 characteristics for each user? Or only a mixed incomprehensible fingerprint numbers?

RGJ · May 26, 2023, 6:46am

Would a PR be welcome that makes this plugin (optionally) available to moderators as well?

packman · December 7, 2023, 2:52pm

I’m seeing an Ember deprecation warning for this plugin. I think I have the latest version (2.0) Is this something that will be fixed before Ember5 Day?

deprecate-shim.js:33 DEPRECATION: [PLUGIN discourse-fingerprint-d4cc6751d9767c7e2e47d32cf0625d104e932618df8bdc6b57c6c1fb69c667ac] Usage of the Ember Global is deprecated. You should import the Ember module or the specific API instead. [deprecation id: ember-global] See Ember.js - Deprecations for more details.
(anonymous) @ deprecate-shim.js:33

Aaron_Walsh · April 21, 2024, 3:51pm

Hi,

I’m not too sure if it was the whole discourse update. However, there used to be a part where it automatically found users using the same IP address, etc., as intended. However, it is now blank, and I have to manually search for users. With over 8,000 consumers, this isn’t great.

Could this be looked at, please, or is it going to fall into the category of broken?

Mr.X_Mr.X · April 22, 2024, 11:01am

Also interested in this plugin working to identify socket puppets.

Jumanji · April 25, 2024, 4:42pm

Do you mean the plugin, or Discourse Admin features? We’re on 3.1.4 and Discourse continues to show us members using the same IP address using the IP lookup tool. Is that what you mean by manual search?

I’m more interested to know whether this plugin still runs on 3.1.

Topic		Replies	Views
Introducing Discourse Chat (BETA) announcements chat , new-feature	149	24041	August 3, 2022
Firefox experiences Network Protocol Violation on Discourse based Websites support	75	11013	October 29, 2018
Mitigate XSS Attacks with Content Security Policy announcements security	32	22208	June 13, 2023
Discourse not loading on legacy browsers bug	56	4547	May 16, 2022
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Discourse Fingerprint - Browser Fingerprinting Plugin

Updated to 2.8.0.beta1

Related Topics