Post #3664344

2026-07-08 04:58 UTC

There was just a thread on the community about how Linux’s machine-id can similarly be used to identify you. Far from a Linux power user, so I don’t know the veracity of that claim or how far it goes, and at least it isn’t tied directly to a company that you know is tracking you. Just point out that Linux generally has a similar machine-id it presents to browsers with a lot of information that could be used to identify you.

Replies (3)

@cecinestpasunecommunication@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2026-07-08 08:29

We need a workaround for this.

Open ##3667496
@0x0@infosec.pub 2026-07-08 09:53

systemd huh

Open ##3669120
@lilith267@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2026-07-08 20:45

A lot of people overblowing this in the replies right now. Machine-id is mainly used to generate system application keys or tag logs (and yes systemD provides this file, but so does dbus and many non systemD applications depend on it). Chrome and Firefox might access your machine-id but their also tracking you in much worse ways by default aswell, if you care about privacy your probably already using an alternative browser that dosent use your machine-id The problem isnt windows or linux having a machine-id but that your applications are not properally sandboxed (flatpak does not sandbox /etc by default, so no, flatpak is not a solution) or that your using applications that handle security poorly

Open ##3680314