this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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Privacy

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Browser Timezone & Privacy Concerns (lemmy.world)
submitted 21 hours ago by happeningtofry99158@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
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Browser Timezone & Privacy Concerns

How can I hide my "timezone" from sniffing sites?

From my understanding, websites can access both the timezone of my browser (without using javascript) and the timezone of my local machine (using javascript). my question being

  • If a website has access to my local machine's timezone, does it mean it has access to other information on/about my local machine?
  • According to Privacy - How can I hide my "timezone" from sniffing sites? - Super User, we must disable JavaScript to block timezone access. However disabling javascript is not really feasible as it breaks most of websites. Is there a workaround that allows us to block JavaScript from running specific commands?
  • Maybe my understanding of JavaScript is incorrect, but if a website has the privilege of running any program on my computer through the web browser, it can retrieve all the information it needs. If I don't disable JavaScript while using the browser, I don't see the point in resisting fingerprinting, like spoofing my device info.

appreciate any help!

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[–] hellfire103@lemmy.ca 10 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

I believe Librewolf and Mullvad Browser change your timezone, either to UTC or to Atlantic/Reyjavik (for some reason; probably a bug on my end). Tor Browser likely does the same, but I'm not sure.

[–] slackness@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Browsers (except for Tor) doing this in the name of privacy is so dumb. Our timezones are already apparent due to our IP addresses. Not only does this not hide the timezone but also makes the user more fingerprintable. Now I'm the dumbass from Ohio who's browser reports UTC timezone for some reason.

[–] sxan@midwest.social 6 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Not so dumb for a bunch of us using VPNs with exit nodes in other time zones.

[–] slackness@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 hours ago

The user not having a choice is dumb either way. VPN users are the minority.