In 2022, Google began changing the availability of the information available in User-Agent strings across their Chromium browsers. The change is to use the set of HTTP request header fields called Client Hints. Through this process, a server can request, and if approved by the client, receive information that would have been previously freely available in the User-Agent string. This change is likely to have an impact on publishers across the open web that may use User-Agent information today.
To explain what this change means, how it will impact the AdTech industry, and what you can do to prepare, we spoke with Nate West, our Director of Product.
What is the difference between User-Agents and Client Hints?
A User-Agent (UA) is a string, or line of text, that identifies information about a web server’s browser and operating system. For example, it can indicate if a device is on Safari on a Mac or Chrome on Windows.
Here is an example UA string from a Mac laptop running Chrome:

To limit the passive fingerprinting of users, Google is reducing components of the UA strings in their Chromium browsers and introducing Client Hints. When there is a trusted relationship between first-party domain owners and third-party servers, Client Hints can be used to share the same data.
This transition began in early 2022 with bigger expected changes beginning in February 2023. You can see in the above example, Chrome/109.0.0.0, where browser version information is already no longer available from the UA string on this desktop Chrome browser.
How can you use User-Agent device attributes today?
UA string information can be used for a variety of reasons. It is a component in web servers that has been available for decades. In the AdTech space, it can be used in various ad targeting use cases. It can be used by publishers to better understand their audience. The shift to limit access and information shared is to prevent nefarious usage of the data.
What are the benefits of Client Hints?
By using Client Hints, a domain owner, or publisher, can manage access to data activity that occurs on their web properties. Having that control may be advantageous. The format of the information shared is also cleaner than parsing a string from User-Agents. Although, given that Client Hints are not the norm across all browsers, a long-term solution may be needed to manage UA strings and Client Hints.
An advantage of capturing and sharing Client Hint information is to be prepared and understand if there is any impact to your systems and processes. This will help with the currently planned transition by Google, but also should the full UA string become further restricted.
Who will be impacted by this change?
Publishers across the open web should lean in to understand this change and any potential impact to them. The programmatic ecosystem supporting real-time bidding (RTB) needs to continue pushing for adoption of OpenRTB 2.6, which supports the passing of client hint information in place of data from UA strings.
What is Google’s timeline for implementing Client Hints?

Do businesses have to implement Client Hints? What happens if they don’t?
Not capturing and sharing with trusted partners can impact capabilities in place today. Given Chromium browsers account for a sizable portion of web traffic, the impact will vary for each publisher and tech company in the ecosystem. I would assess how UA strings are in use today, where you may have security concerns or not, and look to get more information on how to maintain data sharing with trusted partners.
We can help you adopt Client Hints
Reach out to our Customer Success team at tapadcustomersuccess@experian.com to explore the best options to handle the User-Agent changes and implement Client Hints. As leaders in the AdTech space, we’re here to help you successfully make this transition. Together we can review the options available to put you and your team on the best path forward.
About our expert

Nate West, Director of Product
Nate West joined Experian in 2022 as the Director of Product for our identity graph. Nate focuses on making sure our partners maintain and grow identity resolution solutions today in an ever-changing future state. He has over a decade of experience working for media organizations and AdTech platforms.
Latest posts

It's almost the start of a new year, so it's time to plan your 2025 marketing strategy. One-third of U.S. adults planned to make a New Year's resolution in 2024, with adults under 30 being the most likely to do so. From living healthier lifestyles to traveling more often, there is an opportunity to capture customers with well-targeted messaging. But how do you know which audiences are most interested in these goals? In this blog post, we’ll reveal audience segments designed for you to reach the most relevant shoppers for your New Year’s resolutions campaigns according to shoppers' goals and resolution categories. You can find the complete audience segment name in the appendix. Start the year strong with Experian's audience insights With the New Year almost upon us, it’s the perfect time for a fresh start. Utilize Experian’s syndicated audiences to ensure your marketing messages resonate with your ideal customers. 2,400+ syndicated audiences powered by marketing data ranked #1 in accuracy by Truthset offers advertisers the ability to reach people based on demographic, geographic, and behavioral attributes. Our audiences span 15 data categories including auto, retail purchases, lifestyles and interests, financial, and travel. Audiences are available on-the-shelf on 30+ major ad platforms, including TV, social, and programmatic, or distribute them to 200+ media platforms. Five New Year's resolution audience categories to embrace this new year There are many different types of New Year's Resolutions that people set come January 1st. Here are five common New Year's Resolutions: Healthy habits Get organized Explore new experiences Live life to the fullest New Year’s budgeteers Let's break down each resolution category and which audiences you can use to target consumers based on their New Year’s resolutions. Healthy habits A significant portion of consumers set their sights on adopting healthier lifestyles and maintaining newfound habits. Target audiences could include those who have recently purchased gym memberships and are shopping at health stores, demonstrating a commitment to their resolutions. Here are five audience segments that you can activate to target consumers focused on healthy habits in the new year: NEW! New Year's Health/Fitness/Gym Membership Shoppers NEW! Frequent Gym Goers Vitamins/Supplements Shoppers New Year's Food/Healthy Food Shoppers New Year's Vitamins/Diet Supplement Shoppers By strategically targeting these segments, your marketing efforts are more likely to resonate with those determined to make a year of lasting, healthy change. Get organized Many consumers pledge to declutter and get organized. One key target audience could consist of those who have recently purchased organizational tools or storage solutions. Additionally, consider reaching out to homeowners or individuals in the midst of a major life change, such as moving or expanding their families, as they often seek ways to simplify and organize their spaces. Here are seven audience segments that you can activate to target consumers focused on getting organized in the new year: NEW! Furniture and Home Decor: Deals Discounts Affordable High Spend Spenders Shoppers NEW! Post Holiday Shoppers Household Goods: Frequent Spenders Home Improvement/DIY: Frequent Spenders Furniture & Home Decor In Store: Frequent Spenders Garden & Landscaping Stores: Frequent Spenders Hardware & Home Improvement Stores: In Store Frequent Spenders To expand or reach new audiences, you can layer in purchase predictors to reach those who are likely to spend on home maintenance and improvement products or are expanding their families. Home Maintenance and Improvement Explore new experiences Many consumers want to embark on a journey of self-improvement by exploring new experiences, whether it's picking up a new hobby or visiting a place they've never been. One primary target audience could be vacation and leisure travelers, as they often seek new destinations and opportunities to make the most of their seasonal getaways. Additionally, sports enthusiasts are always looking to boost their outdoor adventures through fresh experiences and specialized equipment. Here are six audience segments that you can activate to target consumers focused on exploring new experiences in the new year: Play Golf Pickleball Enthusiast Wilderness Sports and Camping Enthusiasts Activities: Camping Summer Airline Travel Summer Travel: Vacation/Leisure Live life to the fullest A considerable number of individuals make resolutions aimed at embracing life to the fullest. One prime target audience includes those who have recently booked travel experiences or adventures, showcasing their commitment to exploring new horizons. Additionally, consider reaching out to individuals who are likely to visit sports stadiums and arenas. Here are seven audience segments that you can activate to target consumers focused on living life to the fullest in the new year: NEW! Budget Savvy Air Travelers Air Travel: Frequent Spenders Cruises: Frequent Spend NFL Stadium Visitors Ski Resort Visitors Vacation/Leisure Travelers: Weekend Getaways Culinary Experience To expand or reach new audiences, you can layer in purchase predictors to reach consumers who are likely to spend on travel and travel-related products. Travel New Year's budgeteers As the new year begins, many consumers are rethinking their finances and seeking smarter ways to spend and save. These audiences are focused on achieving their financial goals by utilizing budgeting tools, finding flexible payment options, and taking control of their debt. With financial wellness top of mind, they are ready to explore solutions that align with their resolution to be more financially savvy. Here are seven key audience segments that reflect the mindset of consumers eager to make 2024 a year of financial empowerment: In market for Buy Now Pay Later In market for Mortgage Refinance In market for Auto Loan Refinance Credit Card High Utilization Likely to Transfer Credit Card Balance Loyal Rewards Enthusiast, Low Credit Card Balance Secure, Savvy Credit User, High Home Equity Balance We can help you reach consumers in the new year Connect with consumers pursuing their New Year's resolutions to kick off 2025. Whether your audience seeks to embrace healthy habits, get organized, explore new experiences, budget their personal finances, or live life to the fullest, Experian Marketing Data provides a solid foundation for targeting, enrichment, and activation As we get ready for 2025, let the power of Experian’s data-driven insights guide your marketing strategies, helping consumers turn their resolutions into reality. Connect with our audience team You can activate our syndicated audiences on-the-shelf of most major platforms. For a full list of Experian’s syndicated audiences and activation destinations, download our syndicated audiences guide. Explore our other seasonal audiences that you can activate today. View now Appendix Here are the complete audience segment names (taxonomy path) for all audience segments discussed in this blog post. Healthy habits NEW! Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > New Year's Health/Fitness/Gym Membership Shoppers NEW! Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Health and Fitness > Frequent Gym Goers Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Health and Fitness > Vitamins/Supplements: Vitamins/Supplements Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > New Year's Food/Healthy Food Shoppers Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > New Year's Vitamins/Diet Supplement Shoppers Get organized NEW! Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Home Furnishings > Furniture and Home Decor: Deals Discounts Affordable High Spend Spenders Shoppers NEW! Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > Holiday Shoppers: Post Holiday Shoppers Purchase Transactions > Household Goods > Frequent Spenders Purchase Transactions > Home Improvement/DIY > Frequent Spenders Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Home Improvement & DIY > Furniture & Home Decor In Store: Frequent Spenders Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Home Improvement & DIY > Garden & Landscaping Stores: Frequent Spenders Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Home Improvement & DIY > Hardware & Home Improvement Stores: In Store Frequent Spenders Purchase Predictors > Shoppers All Channels > Home Maintenance and Improvement Explore new experiences Lifestyle and Interests (Affinity) > Activities and Entertainment > Play Golf Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Sporting Goods, Apparel > Pickleball Enthusiast Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Outdoor Activities > Wilderness Sports and Camping Enthusiasts Travel Intent > Activities > Camping Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > Summer Airline Travel Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > Summer Travel: Vacation/Leisure Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Travel > Vacation/Leisure Travelers: Summer Trips Live life to the fullest NEW! Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > Budget Savvy Air Travelers Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Travel > Air Travel: Frequent Spenders Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Travel > Cruises: Frequent Spend Mobile Location Models > NFL Stadium Visitors Mobile Location Models > Ski Resort Visitors Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Travel > Vacation/Leisure Travelers: Weekend Getaways Travel Intent > Activities > Culinary Experience Purchase Predictors > Shoppers All Channels > Travel New Year’s budgeteers Financial > In Market > Buy Now Pay Later Financial FLA Friendly > In Marketing Mortgage Refinance Financial FLA Friendly > In Market Auto Loan Refinance Financial FLA Friendly > Credit Card High Utilization Financial FLA Friendly > Likely to Transfer Credit Card Balance Financial Personalities > Credit Card Financial Personality > Loyal Rewards Enthusiast, Low Credit Card Balance Financial Personalities > Home Equity Financial Personality > Secure, Savvy Credit User, High Home Equity Balance Latest posts

Brands are increasingly focused on offering personalized experiences while respecting consumer privacy. Addressability enables them to reach specific audiences with relevant messages, and personalization crafts unique content that aligns with each audience's interests and needs. By combining these strategies, brands can create more relevant and effective marketing campaigns. With new regulations and signal loss reshaping the landscape, alternative identifiers like the ID5 ID and The Trade Desk's Unified I.D. 2.0 (UID2) are gaining importance. These tools give advertisers a more holistic view of consumers across channels, enhancing personalization and addressability even as traditional third-party cookies lose relevance. To shed light on this topic, we interviewed experts from Audigent, Basis Technologies, CvE, ID5, MiQ and others. They shared insights on navigating privacy, utilizing new identifiers, and enhancing personalization with consent. Drawing from their perspectives, we've identified five considerations to help brands adapt and succeed in this evolving landscape. 1. Embrace a privacy-centric approach With the increasing focus on consumer data protection, prioritizing privacy in your addressability efforts is essential. Implement strict data guidelines to protect personally identifiable information (PII) and maintain compliance with state-specific regulations. To achieve this, empower consumers by providing clear and transparent choices about data sharing and honoring their preferences. Avoid targeting based on protected categories or sensitive information. By adopting a privacy-first mindset, you can build consumer trust while still delivering relevant advertising experiences. “It's important to champion consumer privacy and the free internet. We need to strike a balance between the two. This balance is essential for our jobs, the economy, news, politics, and all the valuable content and information we rely on.”Drew Stein, Audigent 2. Personalize with consent Consumers are more willing to share their information when they see clear benefits. In fact, over half of shoppers—and two-thirds of Gen X and Millennials—express a desire to receive holiday shopping deals directly from their preferred brands1. By offering value through loyalty programs, special offers, or interactive platforms, you can personalize experiences without compromising privacy. To implement this strategy, encourage consumers to share their preferences and needs by being transparent and giving them control over their data. This approach builds trust, empowers your audience, and enhances personalization. “Building personalization based on the data consumers have consented to share should lead to a positive experience that drives better engagement because it's relevant to them.” April Weeks, Basis Technologies 3. Personalize with contextual targeting Contextual targeting involves delivering ads based on the content users are currently engaging with rather than user identifiers. By focusing on personalization through contextual targeting and dynamic content, you can align your strategies with your audience's real needs and interests. This approach allows advertisers to reach consumers on websites with more visitors matching the demographics, behaviors, or interests they want to target. “Personalization absolutely can thrive. We have various solutions, all utilizing IDs for targeting and personalization. Beyond that, we can also personalize using context, geo-contextual data, and creative strategies.” Georgiana Haig, MiQ 4. Use alternative identifiers As advertisers move beyond third-party cookies, exploring alternative identifiers offers reliable means to connect with consumers. Options like email addresses or device IDs provide direct connections, improving targeting accuracy. Utilize identity graphs to link different signals and identifiers to establish strong ties to individual users or households. This approach maintains, and can even enhance, your ability to reach the right audience and measure campaign performance. “It's not just about maintaining addressability. It's about massively improving addressability. When we run tests with some of our clients, they're seeing 30, 40, 50, 60% incremental reach by using ID5 versus cookies.” Mathieu Roche, ID5 5. Build partnerships Navigating the complexities of addressability doesn't have to be a solo effort. Partnerships between brands, publishers, and tech providers can lead to innovative solutions that benefit everyone. Consider engaging in data partnerships to access new audience segments without maintaining extensive data. Collaborations focused on your tech stack can enhance your ability to deliver personalized content effectively and at scale. “The rise of second-party data partnerships is going to be an interesting trend over the next couple of years. And if you need mass scale across the world, I think that's a much more cost effective and scalable way to do it.” Paul Frampton, CvE Steering toward success The future of addressability and personalization hinges on your ability to adapt to the changing privacy landscape while delivering meaningful, personalized experiences. By focusing on these five key considerations, you can navigate the complexities of modern advertising, build stronger relationships with consumers, and drive sustainable growth. Connect with our addressability experts Footnote Online survey conducted in June, 2024 among n=1,000 U.S. adults 18+. Sample balanced to look like the general population on key demographics (age, gender, household income, ethnicity, and region). Latest posts

Originally appeared on VideoNuze Connected TV (CTV) is a leading platform in digital advertising, combining the precise targeting of digital ads with the broad reach and storytelling power of traditional TV. This creates an immersive experience that offers full-funnel marketing results. As consumer time spent watching CTV has doubled over the past five years and linear TV viewing patterns have shifted, advertisers now see CTV as essential for reaching and engaging audiences. Of those CTV users, viewers increasingly choose to watch content with ads. By 2025, free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) viewers will increase to 49% of CTV users, further highlighting the opportunity for marketers to captivate audiences in ways standard digital display ads can't match. With the explosion of consumer time spent and advertising dollars following, making CTV more addressable and targeted requires a combination of identity and audience. Historically, the IP address has been the most popular way to target a household with a CTV (e.g., LG, Samsung, Vizio device) or streaming platform (e.g., Disney+, Paramount+, Roku, Amazon Prime, etc.). As IP addresses continue to fluctuate in terms of durability, consistency, and type, including the increased adoption of IPv6, we have seen a new incumbent enter the CTV ecosystem: Unified ID 2.0 (UID2). UID2 stands out as a particularly valuable tool for CTV advertisers. It provides a standardized way to identify and target users across CTV and traditional channels like display and mobile while respecting consumer privacy. Given that purchases might not occur on CTV, UID2's ability to link ad exposure on CTV to conversions on other devices is crucial for demonstrating a CTV campaign's true impact. Authenticated audiences are key to CTV's appeal A significant advantage of CTV is its high rate of logged-in, authenticated users. This provides marketers with reliable first-party data for targeting and measurement purposes. UID2 benefits from this since it's a universal identifier based primarily on first-party data, such as people’s email addresses and phone numbers. Authenticated viewers can also be connected across different devices, enabling marketers to understand the full customer journey, which helps attribute conversions more accurately to CTV ads. Key advantages of CTV for digital marketers Superior viewing experience: Larger screens and a captive audience watching high-quality on-demand content Authenticated users: Enables precise audience targeting, more personalized ad experiences, and enhanced cross-device attribution Value exchange: Viewers get cost-effective content with personalized ads, leading to higher engagement "Authenticated viewers and universal IDs like UID2 are revolutionizing CTV advertising, enabling the effective delivery of personalized content and ensuring strong engagement for marketers; Paramount is committed to optimizing across platforms and will continue to utilize tools and advancements that maximize reach for our partners and improve the user experience for our viewers."Travis Scoles, Executive Vice President, Paramount Advertising The role of universal IDs in CTV advertising Universal IDs, like UID2, play a critical role in CTV by ensuring consistent user identification across platforms while respecting privacy. Adoption of UID2 is gaining traction in the TV industry, with brands such as AMC Networks, Disney, Dish Media, FreeWheel, NBCUniversal, Roku, and Paramount integrating it into their digital advertising ecosystem. As authentication increases across traditional digital and mobile apps, especially CTV, universal IDs like UID2 enable cross-device and cross-channel identity strategies without cookies. This is especially important as traditional identifiers like third-party cookies and IP addresses face an uncertain future. Better understand and reach your audience with identity graphs For CTV ad spending to catch up to time spent with CTV, the industry must use these authenticated signals and universal IDs. Identity graphs, like Experian’s, integrate various identifiers (e.g., universal IDs, CTV IDs, IP addresses), allowing CTV platforms to understand relationships between households, individuals, and devices. This understanding enables: Publishers using universal IDs can make advertising on their platform more addressable, which will lead to higher demand. Marketers can achieve greater precision with cross-device targeting, cross-channel frequency management, and more holistic measurement since conversions often happen on non-CTV devices. Viewers receive a more personalized ad experience (without seeing the same ad repeatedly), which will increase engagement with a marketer's campaign. Watch our Ask the Expert video with The Trade Desk to deepen your knowledge on CTV advertising and UID2. Watch the video here Latest posts