Hi Reader,

The way your mouse scrolls can help a website identify you. Every mouse moves the page a slightly different number of pixels per notch, and that number stays consistent for your device. Add your screen size, your browser, and a few network settings, and a site can pick you out of a crowd without you ever signing in.

That's browser fingerprinting, and it's the subject of this week's episode of Technical Writing Uncensored. My guest is Seth Honda, an English and computer science teacher and the founder of 404 Privacy. We talked about:

• How identity resolution ties your browser, IP address, and accounts into one profile
• Why a crack in Seth's laptop screen made him easier to track
• What's at stake when that data reaches a lawyer working a sensitive case
• Practical first steps, from switching browsers to self-hosting your photos

Before we continue, a quick word from today's sponsor:

And now, back to Seth.

The part that stuck with me most was a story from his classroom. When Seth gives his students time to write on their own, they write something honest. When he stands behind them and watches, they stop taking risks. They won't write the true story, even if he'd never react badly to it. His point is that privacy isn't for people with something to hide. It's what makes free thought possible.

So why is a privacy expert on a technical writing channel? Because we explain complex systems for a living, and this system depends on people not understanding it. Being well-informed is being well-armed.

Seth's resources, including privacy-focused email and photo alternatives and Google's own privacy documentation, are in the video description. What's one thing you've changed to protect your privacy online? Hit reply and tell me.

Diana Payton