h.online-metrix.net: How ThreatMetrix Tracks Your Device

LexisNexis’s tracker, h.online-metrix.net, profiles your device and behavior for fraud detection through its ThreatMetrix system. This invasive monitoring strips away your privacy for risk assessment. Here’s what it collects and how to resist.

What Is h.online-metrix.net?

ThreatMetrix, operated by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, uses h.online-metrix.net to monitor your online activity and device details for fraud prevention. It gathers extensive data, undermining your anonymity. As Privacy Auditors, we’re troubled by this surveillance.

Data It Collects

When you interact with a site using ThreatMetrix, it logs:

• IP Address: Pinpoints your location, often to city level.
• Browser Fingerprint: Combines settings to identify you uniquely.
• Device ID: Tags your hardware for persistent tracking.
• User ID: Assigns a tag for long-term monitoring.
• Session ID: Connects actions in a single visit.
• Page URL: Records pages you access.
• Referrer URL: Tracks where you came from.
• Timestamps: Captures actions with millisecond timing.
• Cookie IDs: Uses identifiers for ongoing tracking.

This builds a detailed device profile for risk scoring.

Who Gets Your Data?

LexisNexis shares your information with:

• Business client: Uses ThreatMetrix for fraud prevention.
• Third-party analytics provider: Processes data for risk insights.
• Cloud hosting service: Stores device profiles.
• Legal authority: Accesses data under legal demands.

How to Protect Yourself

At Privacy Auditors Institute, we’re committed to safeguarding your privacy. Here’s how to block ThreatMetrix tracking:

• Use Tracker Blockers: Deploy Privacy Auditor tools to stop h.online-metrix.net scripts.
• Mask with a VPN: Hide your IP with a VPN like Mullvad to obscure location.
• Switch to Privacy Browsers: Use Firefox with strict settings or Tor Browser.
• Disable JavaScript: Prevent tracking scripts, though sites may break.
• Clear Cookies Often: Wipe tracking cookies to disrupt profiling.

Combine these defenses to limit exposure to trackers like ThreatMetrix.

Sources

Data is sourced from:

• LexisNexis Privacy Policy: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/privacy-policy
• ThreatMetrix Overview: https://risk.lexisnexis.com/products/threatmetrix

This is a legal disclaimer. All information is provided for educational purposes only.