Which statement describes a benefit of device fingerprinting?

• A. It automatically deletes your browser history.
• B. It can be used to profile users for targeted ads.
• C. It can be used to help prevent identity theft.
• D. It guarantees complete anonymity online.

Answer: (C)

Device fingerprinting builds a profile of a device from its observable characteristics—things like browser version, fonts, screen resolution, time zone, and other settings—to recognize it across online activity. The benefit here is security: by detecting when a login or transaction comes from a device that doesn’t match the user’s usual fingerprint, systems can flag or block suspicious activity, trigger extra verification, and help prevent identity theft. This kind of risk-based authentication lowers fraud risk by adding a check that relies on the device’s identity.

These other statements don’t fit as benefits. Fingerprinting doesn’t automatically delete browser history, and it doesn’t guarantee complete anonymity online—in fact, it tends to reduce anonymity by enabling persistent device identification. While device fingerprinting can be used for targeted ads, that usage relates to privacy concerns rather than a security benefit.