this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2026
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Microsoft is running one of the largest corporate espionage operations in modern history. Every time any of LinkedIn’s one billion users visits linkedin.com, hidden code searches their computer for installed software, collects the results, and transmits them to LinkedIn’s servers and to third-party companies including an American-Israeli cybersecurity firm.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47613981

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[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 26 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Here's the information a web server needs to deliver content to a browser:

  • The requested resource
  • An IP address
  • User credentials (sometimes)

Everything else is a fucking security hole. There's no good reason for servers to know what extensions you have installed, what OS you're running, the dimensions of your browser window, where your mouse cursor is positioned, or any one of a thousand other data points that browsers freely hand over.

[–] Dnb@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

If the site doesn't know the window width of can't react to mobile or desktop users automatically or scale elements/ change to best for your display.

You need mouse input for hovering effects as well

[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 7 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

That can all be done 100% client side. The server does not need this information.

[–] 3abas@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

If you can do it client side, you can send it to a server...

The difference is intent.

[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

you can send it to a server

Yes, because web browsers, under current web architecture, allow this.

This is entirely my point.

[–] msage@programming.dev 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

They will always allow it as long as you have javascript or any other code.

[–] Madrigal@lemmy.world 1 points 3 minutes ago

That much is true.

[–] Dnb@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Ah I read as the Brower doesn't need that data. I'd say it needs width (maybe height) but that's it

But this info talked about in OP is done via client sending the data to a server not the server getting it all the time

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 8 points 10 hours ago

There are absolutely reasons. Firefox is done by a reasonable job of anti-fingerprinting, and it's a fine line to walk to disable as many of those indicators as possible without breaking sites.

Browsers do give away too much, but at least Firefox is working on it. And it's not extremely straightforward.