Abstract

Anonymity and privacy of a client device that fetches a content from a web server are improved by using an intermediate device located along the communication path between the client device and the web server. The primary or exclusive function of the intermediate device may be to serve as an intermediate device, and may be implemented as a stand-alone dedicated client device located at a residential premises, or may be integrated with another device, such as a router or a sensor unit, and may communicate using wired communication (such as LAN) or wireless communication (such as WLAN). The intermediate device may modify a content request from the client device in order to avoid identification or blocking by a web server that uses web tracking, such as fingerprinting. The modification may use a web browser, such as a headless browser, for emulating a different device or user.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06F 16/955 - Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• H04L 67/56 - Provisioning of proxy services
• H04L 9/40 - Network security protocols
• H04L 67/02 - Protocols based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]