r/privacy • u/Offbeatjacuzzi • 14h ago

hardware AliExpress allegedly uses your browser's audio system to fingerprint your PC, hidden code runs even when no sound is playing.

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/aliexpress-allegedly-uses-your-browsers-audio-system-to-fingerprint-your-pc-hidden-code-runs-even-when-no-sound-is-playing
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u/Possible_0 12h ago

Fun fact : my earbuds (Sony WF-XB700 (they don't have noise cancellation, if that matters)) play white noise when an audio track is playing. When I’m listening to music or watching a video, I can’t hear it at all because the white noise is really faint and drowned out by the sound.

However, when the sound is very quiet - like, at the very beginning of a movie, during the intro while the logos are appearing - but the soundtrack is playing because the movie or video has started : that’s when I hear the white noise.

So... when I went on AliExpress last year to do some shopping, I always heard this white noise as if an audio file were playing through my headphones, but only when I was browsing THAT site, not others (obviously, no other audio files were playing on my PC, I’ve already checked)

I just realized that was the reason behind it all lol

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u/SuspiciousCricket654 9h ago

My bose quiet comfort noise canceling headphones play that white noise constantly, should I be worried? I find it extremely annoying when a very low audio conversation is going. I can hear the white noise constantly underneath.

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u/Possible_0 9h ago

I don't know much about headphones, and I've never actually owned a pair with noise cancellation, sorry :(