:

CHROMIUM 148 MATH.TANH CREATES NEW OS FINGERPRINT

INDUSTRY DESK1 MIN READ
SUN, JUL 12, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

A new browser fingerprinting vector has emerged in Chromium 148, where the Math.tanh function produces different results across operating systems. This discrepancy can be exploited to identify a user's underlying OS without explicit permission.

The Math.tanh JavaScript function, which calculates hyperbolic tangent values, now returns slightly different floating-point results depending on the host operating system. These variations stem from differences in CPU instruction implementations and mathematical libraries across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Browser fingerprinting works by collecting small identifying details about a user's system. While individual data points seem insignificant, combining multiple signals creates a unique profile that can track users across websites—even with cookies disabled or in private browsing mode. The discovery highlights how low-level mathematical operations can become privacy leaks. Developers and security researchers are discussing mitigation strategies on Hacker News, where the post generated significant engagement with 127 points and 52 comments. This joins a growing list of fingerprinting techniques exploiting browser APIs. Users concerned about privacy may consider browser extensions that spoof or randomize fingerprinting signals, though no universal solution currently exists.

■ SOURCES

Hacker News

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE SECURITY DESK

U.S. federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against three Russian nationals accused of operating a bulletproof hosting service that supported ransomware gangs responsible for over $62 million in damages worldwide.

2H AGOIndustry Desk

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that attackers are actively exploiting three vulnerabilities in Internet-exposed on-premises SharePoint Server instances. Organizations running affected versions must patch immediately.

2H AGOSecurity Desk

Tailscale disclosed a critical vulnerability in its SSH implementation that allowed attackers to gain root access through insecure argument handling. The flaw has been patched in recent versions.

5H AGOAI Desk

A new study found that social media platforms referred over 5.7 million visits to nonconsensual deepfake pornography sites between December 2025 and March 2026, with YouTube and X accounting for the majority of traffic.

8H AGOIndustry Desk

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

ONE EMAIL, 5 STORIES, 06:00 UTC. UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME.