Periodic reports, Linux and User Agents

cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/10615572

Hello,

I’ve been using GNU/Linux as my primary operating system for several years. Every year, various websites release statistical reports on their users, detailing the operating systems they use.

I’ve noticed that many privacy add-ons spoof the User Agent to make the browser appear as if it’s on Windows. Despite using GNU/Linux, my browser presents itself as if it were on Windows 10.

My dilemma is whether I should switch the User Agent to Linux. By spoofing, I’m potentially decreasing the statistics for Linux in these regular reports, which might lead to Linux not being taken seriously due to a falsely low userbase.

However, on the flip side, pretending to be on Windows helps reduce my web fingerprint. What are your thoughts on this?

joborun,

How to choose a browser - see link in bottom

If MS was to sell less licenses than there out there, or claims more than actual, I would suspect there would a tax-ivasion liability against them. So if they have claimed sales of 3bil then they brag of 4bil users, someone would notice.

On the other hand, in terms of anonymity of browsing you’d rather be identified as one of the many with the exact same setup than being unique. TB actually used this to even the mozilla version that was most popular, and even advised not to adjust the default screen size or window size to merge with the “croud”.

But you have a valid concern, when rags come out and say 97% don’t use linux/bsd when in fact 14% do.

Using vanilla ff or chrome is the worst possible way to protect your personal information. digdeeper.neocities.org/articles/browsers

rollmagma,

No one cares. Adoption of operating systems in the real world is not done based on popularity charts. Those only serve for memes and flamewars.

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