What is a Port Scan?
In the context of browser security, a Port Scan refers to a technique used by websites or anti-fraud systems to detect whether certain ports on a user’s local machine are open. This is often done using JavaScript or WebRTC to initiate stealthy network requests to localhost and determine if a service is running on specific ports.
For example, if a browser running on a user’s machine reveals that port 1080 is open, the website might infer that the user is using a SOCKS proxy. Similarly, the presence of open ports like 80 or 443 (which are typically associated with standard web servers, not end-user devices) can raise suspicion that the user is operating from an automated or non-standard environment.
Here’s a list of common ports and their typical uses:
| Port Number | Common Use | Risk Level for Account Association |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | HTTP web traffic | High (unusual for personal PCs) |
| 443 | HTTPS secure traffic | High (commonly used in servers) |
| 1080 | SOCKS Proxy | Medium-High (suggests proxy use) |
| 3000 | Development servers | Medium (indicates local development tools) |
| 8080 | Alternative HTTP Proxy | Medium (often used by testing tools) |
| 5000 | Local development/testing | Medium (suggests non-default usage) |
| 8000 | Local HTTP service testing | Medium |
Such port enumeration can be used to build a pattern of user behavior or detect automation tools, ultimately leading to account identification and possible bans.
The Role of Port Scanning Prevention in Preventing Account Association
Port scanning is a silent but powerful tool used by websites to peek into what’s running behind your browser. If a website successfully identifies multiple local ports across different browser sessions, it may recognize patterns associated with multi-account use or proxy virtual environments, flagging such behavior as suspicious.
FlashID is designed to mitigate this threat by blocking website attempts to scan local port statuses. It masks localhost behavior and disables access to internal network interfaces through the browser, preventing external scripts from detecting what’s running on your machine.
This layer of protection is crucial for managing multiple accounts across platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Facebook, or TikTok, where automated systems look for signals like unusual port activity or proxy usage to detect risk. By stopping port scan detection at the browser level, FlashID ensures that each user session remains isolated and indistinguishable from that of a standard user operating from a typical consumer environment.
With FlashID, you get full control over what your browser exposes to the web — and more importantly, what it hides. Protect your operations, one port at a time.
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