Why Proxies Don't Protect Against TLS Fingerprinting and How to Bypass Fingerprinting

You have set up a proxy for each Facebook Ads account, using different IP addresses, but you receive a chain ban on all profiles simultaneously. The reason is TLS fingerprinting, a digital fingerprinting technology that operates deeper than the IP address level. Platforms have learned to identify linked accounts based on TLS connection parameters that proxies do not change.

In this article, we analyze how TLS fingerprinting works, why regular proxies are powerless against this technology, and what tools actually protect arbitrageurs, SMM specialists, and sellers from being identified as multi-accounting.

What is TLS Fingerprinting and How it Detects Multi-Accounts

TLS fingerprinting is a technology for identifying a device or browser based on a unique set of parameters that are transmitted when establishing a secure HTTPS connection. When your browser connects to Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, it sends a set of technical parameters for negotiating encryption. These parameters form a unique "fingerprint" that remains the same regardless of which IP address you use.

Imagine a situation: an arbitrageur launches 20 Facebook Ads accounts, buying a separate residential proxy for each, working from different profiles. But all 20 accounts are opened in regular Chrome on one computer. The TLS fingerprint for all is identical because the browser is the same. Facebook sees 20 different IPs but one TLS fingerprint — and links all accounts together.

TLS fingerprinting operates at the encryption protocol level used for all HTTPS connections. This means that the technology identifies not only the browser but also the operating system, the version of SSL/TLS libraries, and even some network settings. The proxy server is "above" in the connection chain and does not affect these parameters — it only changes the data transmission route and substitutes the IP address.

The main danger for those working with multi-accounting: platforms collect databases of TLS fingerprints and build connection graphs. If two accounts have the same fingerprint — they are linked together, even if they have never logged in from the same IP. This leads to chain bans, where blocking one account automatically extends to all linked profiles.

How TLS Fingerprinting Works: Technical Details

When a browser establishes an HTTPS connection with a server, the first step is the TLS handshake — the process of negotiating encryption parameters. The browser sends a ClientHello message that contains dozens of parameters: supported TLS versions, a list of cipher suites (encryption algorithms), protocol extensions, the order of their listing, and other technical details.

The combination of these parameters forms a unique identifier — the TLS fingerprint. Different browsers and operating systems use different sets of parameters, making the fingerprint unique. Here are the main parameters that are included in the TLS fingerprint:

An important point: the order of listing parameters matters. Chrome may support the same cipher suites as Firefox but offer them in a different sequence. This makes the fingerprint unique even when the overall list of capabilities matches.

Services like JA3 create a hash from these parameters — a short string of 32 characters that uniquely identifies the combination of settings. For example, Chrome 120 on Windows 11 gives one JA3 hash, while Firefox 121 on the same system gives a completely different one. Platforms collect these hashes and link them to accounts.

771,4865-4866-4867-49195-49199-49196-49200-52393-52392-49171-49172-156-157-47-53,0-23-65281-10-11-35-16-5-13-18-51-45-43-27-21,29-23-24,0

For arbitrageurs and SMM specialists, this means the following: even if you use 50 different mobile proxies for 50 Facebook Ads accounts, but work from one browser — all accounts will have the same TLS fingerprint. Facebook will build a connection graph, and when one profile is banned, all others will be blocked.

Why Proxies Don't Protect Against TLS Fingerprinting

A proxy server operates at the network level — it redirects your traffic through an intermediary server and substitutes the IP address. When you connect to Instagram through a proxy, the platform sees the IP address of the proxy server, not your real one. But the TLS handshake occurs between your browser and the end server — the proxy simply transmits encrypted data without changing its content.

Imagine a proxy as a mailbox for forwarding letters. You send a letter, it passes through an intermediary address, and the recipient sees the forwarding address instead of yours. But the content of the letter, your handwriting, and writing style remain unchanged. The TLS fingerprint is your "handwriting," which the proxy does not change.

A typical mistake for novice arbitrageurs: buying expensive residential proxies hoping that changing the IP will solve the multi-accounting problem. You spend 500-1000 rubles on proxies for each account but use regular Chrome without modifications. The result is a chain ban of all profiles because the TLS fingerprint is the same.

Proxies are necessary for multi-accounting, but they solve only one task — separating IP addresses. For full protection against fingerprinting, a combination of proxy + anti-detect browser is needed, which changes the TLS fingerprint and other identification parameters. Only in combination do these tools provide real protection.

Which Platforms Use TLS Fingerprinting

TLS fingerprinting has been implemented by almost all major platforms that combat bots, multi-accounting, and fraud. The technology has become an industry standard since 2018-2019, when open libraries for extracting JA3 fingerprints appeared. Now even medium-sized services use ready-made solutions for fingerprinting.

Here are the platforms where TLS fingerprinting is definitely used and actively affects account bans:

Facebook and Instagram (Meta platforms) use the most advanced fingerprinting system. They collect not only TLS fingerprints but also dozens of other parameters: Canvas fingerprint, WebGL, AudioContext, device battery parameters, motion sensors on mobile devices. The system builds a multidimensional profile of each user and calculates the likelihood of connections between accounts.

TikTok is particularly aggressive regarding multi-accounting for advertising. The platform blocks accounts not only based on TLS fingerprints but also on behavioral patterns: if several profiles log in at the same time, perform similar actions, use the same creatives — this increases the risk of a ban even with different IPs and fingerprints.

Google Ads checks the TLS fingerprint when creating new advertising accounts and during suspicious activity. If you register 10 accounts from different IPs but with the same browser fingerprint — all accounts will undergo manual moderator review. This does not guarantee a ban but significantly increases the risk of blocking.

Anti-Detect Browsers Against TLS Fingerprinting

An anti-detect browser is a modified version of Chromium or Firefox that substitutes fingerprinting parameters, including the TLS fingerprint. Each profile in an anti-detect browser receives a unique set of parameters: its own TLS fingerprint, Canvas fingerprint, WebGL, User-Agent, screen resolution, time zone, and dozens of other characteristics. For platforms, each profile looks like a separate physical device.

The principle of operation: the anti-detect browser intercepts system calls and browser API at a low level, substituting returned values. When a site requests a Canvas fingerprint — the browser returns a pre-generated unique value. When the TLS handshake occurs — the anti-detect substitutes the list of cipher suites, extensions, and their order, forming a new fingerprint.

All listed anti-detect browsers can substitute the TLS fingerprint, but they do it differently. Dolphin Anty and AdsPower use ready-made databases of real fingerprints collected from millions of devices. When you create a new profile, the browser takes a random set of parameters from the database — resulting in a fingerprint of a real user from the USA, Germany, or another country.

Multilogin uses two proprietary browser engines: Mimic (based on Chromium) and Stealthfox (based on Firefox). Each engine has its own implementation for substituting TLS fingerprints. This provides deeper control over parameters but requires understanding technical details for fine-tuning.

An important point for Facebook Ads arbitrageurs: the anti-detect must generate not just unique but plausible fingerprints. If the browser creates a combination of parameters that does not occur on real devices — this is a red flag for protection systems. Quality anti-detects use databases of real fingerprints, making profiles indistinguishable from regular users.

GoLogin offers an interesting feature — cloud profiles that can be opened from different devices. The TLS fingerprint and other parameters are stored in the cloud and remain identical regardless of which computer you log in from. This is convenient for teams and working from different locations.

Proxy + Anti-Detect: Proper Setup

The anti-detect browser and proxy solve different tasks in the fingerprinting protection system. The anti-detect substitutes browser parameters and creates unique digital fingerprints. The proxy changes the IP address and geolocation. Only together do these tools provide complete account separation that platforms cannot detect.

A typical mistake: using one proxy for multiple anti-detect profiles or vice versa — different proxies but one browser profile. The correct scheme: one account = one anti-detect profile = one dedicated proxy. This creates an isolated digital identity that cannot be linked to other accounts.

It is important to understand the correspondence between the type of proxy and fingerprint. If you selected an iPhone 14 fingerprint with iOS 17 in the anti-detect but are using a proxy with geolocation in Germany — you need to ensure that the iPhone is sold in Germany and that such a combination looks natural. Parameter mismatches can raise suspicion with advanced protection systems.

For working with Facebook Ads, it is recommended to use residential proxies with geolocation in the country where the advertising will be launched. If you are driving traffic to the USA — take American residential proxies. Set the fingerprint in the anti-detect to Windows or MacOS (mobile fingerprints are perceived worse by Facebook for advertising accounts).

For Instagram and TikTok, mobile fingerprints are critically important. These platforms are originally mobile, and desktop fingerprints are trusted less. Use mobile proxies with a 4G connection and set the fingerprint in the anti-detect to iPhone or popular Android devices (Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi).

After creating a profile with the correct combination of proxy + fingerprint, it is important to "warm up" the account. For the first 3-5 days, work in the profile naturally: visit different sites, spend time on social networks, and avoid mass actions. This creates a browsing history and makes the profile more trusted by platforms.

How to Check Your TLS Fingerprint

Before launching advertising campaigns or working with multi-accounts, you need to ensure that the TLS fingerprint is indeed unique for each profile. There are special services that show your JA3 hash and other fingerprint parameters. The check takes 2-3 minutes but can save you from losing dozens of accounts.

Main services for checking TLS fingerprint:

Checking algorithm for an arbitrageur with 10 profiles:

1. Open the first profile in Dolphin Anty or another anti-detect
2. Go to browserleaks.com/ja3 — copy the JA3 fingerprint (a string of 32 characters)
3. Open pixelscan.net — check the overall uniqueness score of the profile
4. Save the JA3 hash in an Excel table along with the profile name
5. Close the profile, open the next one
6. Repeat the check for all profiles
7. Compare JA3 hashes — they should all be different
8. If you find matches — recreate the fingerprint in those profiles

On pixelscan.net, pay attention to the "Randomness" score — it should be high (green zone). If the service shows that your fingerprint occurs rarely and looks suspicious — that's a bad sign. Quality anti-detects generate fingerprints that fall into the "normal" user category.

JA3 Fingerprint: 771,4865-4866-4867-49195-49199-49196-49200-52393-52392-49171-49172-156-157-47-53,0-23-65281-10-11-35-16-5-13-18-51-45-43-27-21,29-23-24,0

JA3 Hash: a0e9f5d64349fb13191bc781f81f42e1

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36

An important point: check not only the TLS fingerprint but also WebRTC leaks. Even if the TLS fingerprint is unique, if WebRTC passes your real IP — platforms will see a mismatch with the proxy IP. On whoer.net, there is a special section for checking WebRTC — it should only show your proxy's IP, without mentioning the real address.

For teams working with hundreds of profiles, there are APIs for automatic fingerprint checks. Some anti-detect browsers (AdsPower, Multilogin) offer built-in tools for mass checking profile uniqueness. This saves time and helps identify duplicates before launching campaigns.

Common Mistakes in Protecting Against Fingerprinting

Even experienced arbitrageurs and SMM specialists make mistakes in setting up protection against fingerprinting that lead to chain bans and account losses. Let's discuss the most common problems and how to avoid them.

By avoiding these common mistakes and implementing the correct strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk of bans and maintain the integrity of your accounts while working with multiple profiles.

Conclusion

In today's digital landscape, understanding and effectively managing TLS fingerprinting is crucial for anyone involved in online marketing, especially those working with multiple accounts. By utilizing the right tools and strategies, such as a combination of proxies and anti-detect browsers, you can protect your accounts from being linked and banned. Always stay informed about the latest developments in fingerprinting technology and adapt your methods accordingly to ensure the longevity and success of your online endeavors.