I have heard that web sites are using screen size (width, height) and depth to help track one. For example, they could make a fairly reasonable guess that somebody with screen information of 640x480x256 or 1920x1280x32 is in a certain income category. They can also store this information and your IP subnet and track one. I consider that my screen size and depth should be private. Is there a way to set these sorts of properties for javascript to my choosing?
That wouldn't be very reliable. Your screen resolution might be low because you are using a small format notebook computer or tablet computer. You resolution or color depth might be low to accomidate vision problems. You might be using a high screen resolution because you like a lot of open windows on your desktop, and have set a large font size to make the windows ledgible. They could learn more though an online vendor's purchase records, which would be gathered in a more open manner.
More reasonable measures:
Save data files for financial software, like tax preperation software, on removable media like floppies or CD-RWs instead of the default locations on your hard drive. This also applies to any correspondence or other documents that includes banking, credit or government account, license or tax numbers. Remember that if your computer malfunctions the computer technition will have access to EVEYTHING on your hard drive and might end up deleting all of it.
Make sure any automatic form filling feature is either password protected or disabled when making online purchases or accessing online financial sites.
If you travel with a notebook, laptop, tablet or PDA, configure it to refuse operation unless a password is entered. Don't use a computer to process sensitive information if any strangers might be using it later (places like libraries or those copy centers that rent time on their workstations). Make sure any data you produce while traveling is frequently backed up and seperately carried or transmitted back to your home or base of operations. Be prepared in case you are separated from your luggage, you may even be seperated from carry on luggage in some relatively minor emergency.
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