Curl-impersonate: Special build of curl that can impersonate the major browsers (github.com)

Article summary

A special build of curl, called curl-impersonate, has been created to impersonate the four major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. This build can perform TLS and HTTP handshakes that are identical to those of a real browser, allowing it to bypass fingerprinting techniques used by some web services. The project aims to make the web more open and private by reducing the effectiveness of fingerprinting methods. The curl-impersonate build is available as a command-line tool or as a library that can be integrated into other applications.

Main themes

• Browser Fingerprinting
• TLS and HTTP Handshakes
• Web Privacy
• curl and libcurl
• Browser Engine Competition

What commenters say

• The use of fingerprinting techniques by web services is a major problem that needs to be addressed in order to make the web more open and private.
• The development of curl-impersonate is a step in the right direction, but it may not be a long-term solution as fingerprinting techniques can evolve to bypass it.
• Some commenters argue that the problem of fingerprinting is not with the browsers, but with the servers that use these techniques to discriminate against certain clients.
• Others believe that the focus should be on making the web protocol more robust and less dependent on client-specific details, rather than trying to circumvent fingerprinting techniques.
• There is a disagreement about the impact of fingerprinting on the web, with some arguing that it is a significant problem that affects many websites, while others believe that it is not a major issue.
• Some commenters suggest that the rise of new browser engines could potentially reduce the effectiveness of fingerprinting techniques, while others argue that this could lead to increased fingerprinting and exploitation of implementation-defined behavior.