AliExpress Caught Using Inaudible Audio for Device Fingerprinting

• •AliExpress uses inaudible audio for device fingerprinting without user consent.
• •The technique interferes with Bluetooth audio functionality for some users.
• •Privacy-focused browsers can block the tracking scripts employed by AliExpress.

AliExpress has been accused of employing inaudible audio signals through the WebAudio API to fingerprint users' devices. This technique was uncovered by developer Matt Callaghan, who noticed that his Bluetooth headphones stopped functioning properly when an AliExpress tab was open. The site generates inaudible audio waves at zero volume, which are processed by the browser to identify unique device characteristics. This method allows AliExpress to track users without their consent, as it collects various hardware and software data. Although this fingerprinting technique can help detect fraudulent activities, it raises significant privacy concerns due to a lack of transparency. Users can mitigate this tracking by using privacy-focused browsers like Firefox or Brave, which block such scripts. The incident has sparked discussions about the ethical implications of such tracking methods.