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Safari  - Privacy and Security in Safari

Safari  -, privacy and security in safari, safari privacy and security in safari.

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Safari: Privacy and Security in Safari

Lesson 5: privacy and security in safari.

/en/safari/bookmarking-in-safari/content/

Safari privacy and security

Safari has several security features , including security indicators and malware protection . Because of its advanced security features , Safari offers a safe browsing experience. Safari also allows you to control what information you share online, keeping your personal information private.

Watch the video below to learn the basics of privacy and security in Safari.

Website security indicators

Whenever you navigate to an encrypted website, Safari will display a security indicator to the left of the web address in the address bar.

safari and privacy

Understanding this indicator can help you stay safe when entering personal information online.

SSL icon

  • If no indicator appears, this means the site is not using a secure connection. This is not important for many websites, like a news source or weather forecast, but you should avoid entering sensitive personal information on these pages.

Safari offers a high level of protection from malicious websites, but you should still use your best judgement when browsing online. Review our Internet Safety tutorial to learn more about staying safe online.

Maintaining your privacy in Safari

Safari takes great care to keep your personal information private. It offers many ways to control your privacy, like modifying your privacy settings , deleting your history , and browsing in a private window.

Privacy settings

Safari allows you to control some of the information you share online, which you can modify in your privacy settings . We recommend not changing Safari's default selections, as they allow for the best balance of privacy and security while browsing. However, you can modify them if you want.

To modify your privacy settings:

safari and privacy

Deleting browsing history

Like all browsers, Safari keeps a record of every website you visit in your browsing history . You may want to remove some or all of your browsing history for the sake of privacy.

To remove specific sites from history:

safari and privacy

  • A new History tab will appear with your full browsing history .

safari and privacy

To clear all browsing data:

Safari makes it easy to delete some or all of your history. For example, sometimes you might want to remove only your history from the past hour instead of removing your entire history. You might also want to remove all of your saved pages and cookies but keep your saved passwords.

safari and privacy

  • The selected browsing history will be cleared.

Private browsing

For added privacy, Safari also offers private browsing , which allows you to browse the web without recording your history or storing cookies. This is a great way to keep your browsing history secret when planning a party or buying a gift for someone who shares your computer.

To create a private window:

safari and privacy

Private browsing does not make Safari more secure —it only stops Safari from saving history and cookies for that session. Don't use a private window to view any websites you wouldn't feel safe viewing in a regular Safari window.

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How to manage privacy and security settings in Safari on Mac

safari and privacy

Apple continues to add new features to Safari on a regular basis to try to make our web browsing experience faster, easier, and—above all—more secure.

You can open up a private browser window anytime you want in Safari's file menu and Safari won't save your browsing history and will ask websites you visit not to track you. But there are a few more steps you might want to consider taking.

The place to go for most of these things is in Safari's preferences window, accessed from the Safari menu.

How to guard against unsafe files

How to identify fraudulent websites, how to disable javascript, how to prevent cross-site tracking, how to block all cookies in safari, how to remove website data, how to clear your browsing history, how to check for apple pay on websites, how to allow or deny camera, microphone, and location access, how to block pop-up windows.

As with all things related to security, there's a balancing act between convenience and safety. Safari will automatically open certain types of "safe" files you download from the web as a matter of convenience. But because a malicious file could be disguised as a "safe" file, it's a good idea to guard against unsafe files—and it's as easy as checking a box.

  • Launch Safari . If it's not in the Dock, you can find it in the Applications folder.
  • From the Safari menu, choose Preferences... .
  • Click the General button.
  • Uncheck the box to Open "safe" files after downloading .

Downloads will occur as they usually do, and to the location you have chosen, but the files won't automatically open.

Safari already identifies websites that use encryption (indicated by a padlock icon in the address bar) and an EV certificate which indicates a more extensive identity verification of the website operator (indicated in green). Safari also uses Google Safe Browsing technology--which is simply a list of websites that may contain malware, unwanted software, or phishing scams.

If it's not already on, here's how to do so:

  • Click the Security button.
  • Check the box to Warn when visiting a fraudulent website .

If you happen to run across one of these sites, Safari will put up a full-screen warning about the site before you can proceed.

Many—if not all—webpages contain JavaScript, which enables certain functionality for web pages, such as displaying the time and date or displaying an image from a set of options.

You can disable JavaScript if you like, but it may impact the functioning of the web page.

  • Uncheck the box to disable JavaScript .

If you've been using Safari and suddenly seen a plethora of lawnmower ads not long after doing some web research about lawnmowers, then congratulations: you've discovered crop-site tracking. It's a way of keeping track of your behavior on one part of the internet to show you ads while using a different part of the internet. If you prefer, you can turn it off.

  • Click the Privacy button.
  • Check the box to Prevent cross-site tracking and check the box to Ask websites not to track me .

Keep in mind that while you can ask websites not to track you, it's up to the website creator to honor your request.

Cookies are small text files a website may store on your Mac to help identify you or your Mac when you visit the website in the future. Examples of content stored in a cookie are your name, site browsing history, and preferences. If you don't want Safari to use cookies, you can shut it off.

  • Uncheck the box to Block all cookies .

If you ever decide to remove website data from your Mac, you can do it selectively for certain websites or remove all the data.

  • Click the Manage Website Data... button.
  • Select a website and click the Remove button to remove the site's cache, cookies, or local storage or click the Remove All button to delete data for all websites.

Rather than root around through a set of checkboxes and pop-up menus, you can clear your browsing history, cookies, and website data with a menu command.

  • From the Safari menu, choose Clear History... .
  • From the Clear pop-up menu, choose how far back you want to go.
  • Click Clear History .

In addition to the history of the website pages you've visited, you'll also give the heave-ho to recent searches, a list of items you have downloaded, the frequently visited site list, and other information.

If your Mac and other devices have Safari turned on in iCloud preferences, the clear history command will remove the browsing history from Safari on those other devices.

You can enable Safari on your Mac to show you websites that can accept payments via Apple Pay. You can then make the payments from your Apple Watch or iPhone, or using Touch ID if it's built into your Mac.

  • Check the box to Allow websites to check if Apple Pay is set up .

Safari includes the ability to determine whether or not websites ask can use your Mac's camera and microphone. Here's how to set it up.

  • Click the Websites button.
  • From the General section of the sidebar, click Camera .
  • Click the pop-up menu for "When visiting other websites" and choose Ask, Deny, or Allow , depending on your preference.

The settings work in exactly the same way for your Mac's microphone and your location. Simply click Microphone or Location in the sidebar. Similarly, you can change the setting for currently open websites to suit your preference.

Some web pages that you visit will automatically display a pop-up window that will block content—often with an ad—that you're trying to view. While this can be annoying, there are some sites that require pop-up windows to work properly. Fortunately, Safari provides fine-grained control of these pop-up windows.

  • From the General section of the sidebar, click Pop-up Windows .
  • Click the pop-up menu for "When visiting other websites" and choose Block and Notify, Block, or Allow , depending on your preference.

Similarly, you can change the setting for currently open websites to suit your preference.

If you choose Block and Notify, a small icon will appear on the right side of the Smart Search field. Click it to display the pop-up windows for the web page.

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safari and privacy

VPNoverview.com Privacy Anonymous Browsing Everything You Need to Know About Safari Private Browsing

Everything You Need to Know About Safari Private Browsing

Chris Bluvshtein

Ever wondered what Safari Private Browsing does exactly? Chances are it might not be giving you the level of online privacy you expect. Safari Private Browsing does have some perks, including:

  • Stopping Safari from remembering the websites you’ve visited
  • Not storing any new usernames, passwords, payments cards, and other information you input into private browsing
  • Forgetting any search engine queries you’ve run
  • Allowing you to save money by avoiding marketing cookies that might inflate prices

However, this is pretty much all the privacy that you’ll get with Safari Private Browsing. This incognito mode  won’t cloak your IP address, encrypt your internet traffic, or make you safe on public Wi-Fi . Private browsing still leaves you pretty exposed to a lot of the risks that come with connecting to the internet.

For true online anonymity, you’ll need to use a VPN to change your IP address . We’re big fans of ExpressVPN, one of the fastest VPNs in the industry.

Below, you’ll find more information on how to use Safari Private Browsing on all your Apple devices, as well as more details on how this incognito mode does and doesn’t protect your privacy.

If you use a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, then chances are you’ve encountered Safari Private Browsing before. Whether you’re shopping for a partner’s gift or want to snoop on a long-lost colleague’s LinkedIn, there are many reasons why you might want to use private mode in Safari.

In this article, we answer the question, what is Safari Private Browsing ? We’ll also tell you what this handy tool can’t  do to save you any embarrassment or risk to your online security.

What is Safari Private Browsing?

Use anonymous search engine icon

There’s a little more to this method of browsing than meets the eye, but we’ll go into specifics further down in this article. The point is, for a more private experience, you can use Safari’s incognito mode . You’ll be logged out of all accounts, and Safari won’t autofill user logins, passwords, or payment information. When you turn on private browsing, Safari won’t remember :

  • Your search engine history
  • Webpages you’ve visited
  • Browsing activity or history

You should, however, be aware of a major drawback of this tool on Macs: your browsing activity likely isn’t as hidden as you might think. Websites you visit can still see who you are and what you’re doing . You can read more about this in our general incognito mode article .

With Macs, Private Browsing information is logged in a different place, as well: your Terminal archive.

Beware the Mac Terminal archive

On Macs, there’s something called the Terminal archive , and it’s as scary as it sounds — well, for fans of privacy at least. It’s a treasure trove for snoops. The Terminal archive contains all of the websites you visit , whether you’re using Safari Private Browsing or not. This is because your Mac stores static images and other files when you visit a website for the first time. This makes future visits to these sites and page loading much faster, as your Mac pulls the relevant files from the Terminal archive.

This command-line function also lets you make systemic changes to your Mac . For most users, there’ll never be a need to make any changes in the Terminal archive, and you shouldn’t if you don’t know what you’re doing. You could end up breaking something critical in your computer’s operating system if you tinker with the Terminal.

Screenshot of iOS user interface, Access Terminal app

However, it is good to know that, even when you’re using Safari’s Private Browsing mode, your online activity is logged here.

Make your Safari Private Browsing truly private

By now, you might be asking yourself: how do I clear the cache on my Mac? Well, today’s your lucky day.  Below, you’ll find a brief, step-by-step guide to clearing the cache on a Mac . Just make sure not to do anything else while inside the Terminal.

  • Open “ Finder ,” then search for “ Terminal ” in the search bar.
  • Run the  Terminal  application.
  • Paste the following text into the Terminal and hit enter: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

You may have to enter your Admin password to proceed. This is going to flush the DNS cache.

Remember that you shouldn’t do anything else inside of the Terminal application unless you know what you’re doing. It only takes a short command to nuke files or entire directories in this app forever! So, tread carefully.

Why You Should Use Safari Private Browsing on Macs and iOS

We can hypothesize all we want, but you’ve probably got a good idea of why you  use private browsing. According to a 2018 research study , the most common reason people use private browsing is so others that are using a shared device can’t see what they’re doing. This comes down to protecting two things from other users of your device:

  • Their personal data
  • Their browsing activity

Fortunately, these are two things that Safari Private Mode manages to do wonderfully. Below, you can read more about what else Safari Private Browsing does for you .

Online privacy

Privacy browser icon

  • Your browser won’t remember what websites you’ve visited.  Anything you browse while you’re in private browsing mode won’t be remembered by Safari. So, if you start shopping online for gifts or a product that you find embarrassing, you won’t usually have to worry about your friends or family coming across your browsing history.
  • Safari won’t suggest usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and so   on.  You’ve probably noticed that Safari can remember usernames, passwords, credit cards, and other information when you use it for the first time. If you tell your Mac, smartphone, or tablet to remember those details, they’ll be automatically filled in the next time you visit the website. With Safari Private Mode enabled, these kinds of details won’t be stored: you won’t be prompted to save or autofill them at all.
  • Your search engine queries won’t be remembered . If you’ve been shopping for gifts or trying to self-diagnose, you probably don’t want other users of the computer to see what you’ve searched for . Normally, you’ll see suggested searches popping up in search engines like Google. Based on your past searches and clicks, some links might be colored purple instead of blue, too. In private browsing mode, these won’t appear, nor will any new searches be stored.

How to pay less with Safari Private Browsing

There’s more to private mode options than just online security. You could also save money with Safari Private Browsing, as you won’t be quoted higher prices for products you’ve already viewed. When you visit a website, cookies (small text files) are stored on your computer by your browser.

These kinds of cookies aren’t delicious or rewarding at all. Instead, they allow the site to track you and figure out that you’re interested in, for example, a particular holiday destination. This can result in you seeing higher airfares, hotel booking fees, and more. Just turn on Safari’s Private Browsing to s top cookies from being stored on your browser and avoid hiked prices.

How to Go Incognito on Safari

Incognito mode icon

Safari Private Browsing on a Mac

Using  Safari Private Browsing  on a Mac is simple. If you’re reading this on a Mac, you can skip step one in our step-by-step guide below:

  • Open Safari on your Mac.
  • Click on “ File ” in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  • Select “ New Private Window .” This will open a new private tab, but you can open as many private tabs in your tab bar as you need.

Screenshot how to open a New Private Window on Safari

It’s that simple. Now, any new tab you open within this new private browsing window will be a private browsing tab. Give it a whirl by opening some new private tabs and navigating to a website you frequently log into. You’ll notice that your username and password aren’t suggested for autofill as they usually would be .

Also, you’ll know that you’re in private browsing, as the URL bar will have a gray background rather than the usual white. Just remember to ignore or close your existing browser window if you had any open. If in doubt, check the background color of the URL bar.

Finally, to  turn off private browsing in Safari , simply click the red cross in the corner of the browser window as you usually would.

Safari Private Browsing on an iPhone

Using  Safari’s private browsing mode on an iPhone or iPad is fairly straightforward and could increase your privacy on an iPhone . If you’re running  iOS 14 or earlier , simply follow the steps below:

  • Open  Safari on your phone.
  • Tap on the “ Tabs ” button. That’s the two small squares in the bottom-right corner of your Safari window on iPhone.
  • A new option called “Private” should appear.
  • Tap “ Private ” and you’ll be taken to a blank screen confirming that you’re using Private Browsing Mode . You’ll notice that it’s using the same gray color scheme as Safari for Mac.
  • Lastly, click on the small “ + ” (plus) icon to launch a private browsing window.

Screenshots of iOS Access Private Browsing mode

If you’re using  Apple’s latest iPhone update, iOS 15.1.1 , you’ll need to follow a slightly different (and hey, we’ll say it — more confusing) set of steps:

  • Tap on the “ Tabs ” button.
  • Tap where it says “ X Tab(s) ” – this number will reflect the number of windows you have open.
  • Tap “ Private .”
  • Now, you’re in Private Browsing mode and can click the small “ + ” (plus) icon to launch a new private window.

Screenshots of iOS Access Private Browsing mode latest Apple update

Again, turning off private browsing in Safari for iPhones or iPads is simple. Just press the same “ Private ” button that you used to enable the feature. Don’t forget, if you have multiple private tabs open, they won’t close automatically. Swipe each tab closed before you exit private mode if you want to leave no trace.

How to Set Safari Private Browsing as the Default

If you’d rather always browse privately, you can also set Safari Private Browsing as your default, so that it opens automatically whenever you open a new tab or window. Check out the step-by-step instructions below for a Mac :

  • Make sure your active application is Safari, then select “ Safari ” from your Mac’s toolbar at the top of your screen. Click on “ Preferences ” next, which can also be accessed using the keyboard shortcut “ Command ” + “ , ” (that’s Command, plus a comma).
  • Now, you should see the Privacy window for Safari. Click on the “ General ” tab.
  • Next to “Safari opens with”, select “ A new private window ” from the drop-down list.

While you  can’t automatically use Safari Private Browsing by default on mobile , there are some options for minimizing what’s remembered, stored, or recommended. Here’s how you get there:

  • Open the “ Settings ” application.
  • Scroll down until you see “ Safari ” and tap on that option.

Now, you’ll have the choice to use a number of features. You can:

  • Disable search engine suggestions
  • Disable Safari suggestions specifically
  • Turn off autofill for Safari , either for personal information, payment information, or both
  • Disable “ Favorites “, which you can save in your Safari app’s home screen
  • Turn off “ Frequently Visited Sites “, which appear below your favorites

In this menu, you can also  prevent cross-site tracking and  block all cookies on the websites that you visit. In the event that you forget to launch Safari Private Browsing, these options should give you at least a little more privacy whenever you go online.

Is Safari Private Browsing Safe?

Question mark over padlock icon

That last risk is surprisingly common on public Wi-Fi networks  too. Bear in mind that private browsing doesn’t protect you against malware (malicious software) either, nor does it protect your payment information or other personal details . For true online anonymity and to  improve your online security , you should give serious thought to using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) .

How to use a VPN with Safari Private Browsing

Using a VPN along with Safari Private Browsing should give you the online security you’re looking for. In addition to avoiding any logged browsing history or search history , you’ll be much harder to track and enjoy greater online anonymity. You can check out the many advantages of a VPN for more information. Want to get started right away? The following steps will only take a few minutes of your time:

  • Choose a VPN provider and create an account. We recommend checking out our list of the best VPNs if this is new ground for you. Alternatively, ExpressVPN is a market-leading VPN provider that we’re always happy to recommend.
  • Download and install  the VPN software onto your Mac. You can also download ExpressVPN for mobile on your iPhone. Other premium providers like NordVPN, CyberGhost, and Surfshark all offer really slick mobile apps for iOS, too.
  • Log into your account , either in the desktop software or the mobile app.
  • Choose a VPN server in a country of your choice. If you’re purely interested in online security, then the location you choose isn’t  too  important (though some will be faster than others). However, if you want to  save money on subscriptions , for example, you should give it some more thought.
  • Connect to the VPN server . When you connect, you’ll be  changing your IP address to mirror the VPN server’s IP. It’s safe, legal ( in most countries ), and best of all, it’ll give you far greater online security than simply using Safari Private Browsing alone.

Safari Private Browsing is perfect for hiding those Christmas or birthday purchases from your family before the big day. It’s also a great way to save money on flights, hotels , or other purchases. However, it won’t do much for your online security. If you want  truly private browsing , then use a VPN along with Safari private mode.

Interested in exploring other private browsers? Check out these articles below:

  • How Anonymous Is DuckDuckGo?
  • Is Vivaldi Browser Safe?
  • How to Set Up Firefox as an Anonymous Browser

Do you want to know how to enable private browsing on Safari? Are you wondering how much privacy Safari Private Browsing actually gives you? You’ll find these answers and more in our frequently asked questions below.

To turn on Private Browsing in Safari for Mac, follow these simple steps:

  • Make sure Safari is the active application that you’re using.
  • Click on  File in the menu bar along the top of the screen.
  • Click on  New Private Window to switch to private browsing mode.

To turn on Private Browsing in Safari for iPhone or iPad, the process is much the same:

  • Open the  Safari application.
  • Tap on the  Tabs icon (the two small squares in the lower-right corner of your screen).
  • Tap on  Private to switch to private browsing.
  • Click on the small  + (plus) icon to open a new private browsing tab.

Check out our full article for more information on Safari Private Browsing.

No. Safari Private Browsing, like any browser’s private mode, won’t protect you against a lot of online threats. Your IP address will still be visible to many third-party individuals and organizations. For example, your ISP will know what websites you’ve visited, and hackers could determine your location using your IP (though some private modes do limit location tracking). For true online privacy and anonymity, you’re safer using a VPN like ExpressVPN .

With Private Browsing, it’s more difficult for websites to track you, since cookies are cleared the moment you close the browser — but it’s not impossible. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider), employer, school, or college could still see your internet history . That is, unless you use a VPN along with the incognito mode.

Yes. The owner of an internet connection can absolutely check up on your browsing session if they have the right technical knowledge. Some routers can be set up to remember all URLs a device accesses. So, if you’re trying to fly under your parents’ radar, for example, they could potentially bust you using the family router, even if you’re exclusively using private browsing modes.

For true anonymity , you’ll want to use a VPN. With a VPN connection, all of your internet traffic is encrypted, which gives you far better anonymity and privacy than using private browsing on its own.

Chris Bluvshtein

Chris Bluvshtein Author

Senior journalist.

Chris is a tech journalist with many years’ experience covering online privacy and cybersecurity. He’s also a published author and works as a Product Manager for some of the most innovative software development companies.

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Hi Chris , I’m finding while using private mode in safari my sound is being cut out and I have not been able to find a way to reconnect it. I use it on a iPad with a vpn and trend anti spam for protection as much as it can in private mode. I have not been able to find any reason as to why this is happening.

Hey Wayne, I've done a bit of digging, and I've found something that might be worth a try. It seems that recent versions of Safari have a built-in feature that can prevent audio from playing when you visit a website; it's enabled by default too. Give this a try and let me know if the issue goes away: 1. Open the Safari menu and click preferences 2. Click on the websites tab 3. Look for the setting: "When visiting other websites", which has a drop-down selection beside it 4. Change this setting so that it allows websites with media to play sound. You can alternatively add individual websites to this list if you'd rather have control over which ones can play sound by default.

Hi Chris Just tried your Terminal Commands, I am running macOS Monterey The Terminal Commands Below are not working dscacheutil -cachedump -entries Host dscacheutil -flushcache

You're right. Thank you for pointing it out to us! There is a new terminal command you'll now need instead: "sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder". We've adjusted the article to reflect this. Hope this helps!

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Eight Privacy and Security Improvements in iOS 17: Safari, Shared Passwords, URL Tracking Removal and More

The iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates include a number of privacy and security improvements that make your devices safer than ever, with Apple restricting access to photos and calendar events and cutting down further on how websites track you across the web.

iOS 17 Privacy and Security Improvements Feature

Private Browsing Upgrades in Safari

In Safari, Private browsing windows are now locked and require secondary authentication to unlock and access. If you hand your phone over to someone and they attempt to open your Safari private browsing tab, access will be denied without a Face ID / Touch ID scan or a passcode.

safari private browsing ios 17

Tracking URL Removal

Opening up a URL in a private browsing window automatically strips all tracking information added to the URL, plus unknown trackers are completely blocked so companies aren't able to track your browsing across multiple sites.

safari tracking all browsing ios 17

  • Open up the Settings app.
  • Scroll down to Safari.
  • Tap on Advanced.
  • Tap on Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection.
  • Toggle on "All Browsing."

Turning this on will ensure that all URLs opened in Safari will strip additional tracking information that's pasted on to the end of a URL.

Shared Passwords

With ‌iOS 17‌, ‌iPadOS 17‌, and macOS Sonoma , you can securely share passwords and passkeys with friends and family members using a new shared password function. Using this feature, passwords for shared media accounts, utilities, bills, and more can be provided to multiple people.

ios 17 shared passwords

Passcode Resets

If you change the passcode on your iPhone and then accidentally forget the new passcode that you chose, you now have a 72-hour grace period to fix it without getting locked out of your device.

iOS 17 Passcode Reset Feature

When you enter an incorrect passcode after making a change, you can tap on the "Forgot Passcode?" option at the bottom of the display to use the "Try Passcode Reset" option. Tapping it allows you to use your old passcode to create yet another new passcode.

For protection in case someone has learned your passcode, there is an "Expire Previous Passcode Now" setting that you can turn on.

Photo Library Access

The Photos picker in ‌iOS 17‌ is designed to allow users to share specific photos with apps while the rest of the Photo Library stays private. Apps must ask to access the user's entire photo library, and users will be shown additional information on the photo information they are sharing, such as number of photos and videos and the metadata included like location and captions.

photos security ios 17

  • Limited Access - Apps can see only the images that you can select, and you can review the selected images anytime either in the app or by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > ‌Photos‌.
  • Full Access - Apps can see all of the images and videos in your Photo Library, and your device will tell you exactly how many photos and videos you're giving access to.
  • None - No access to the Photo Library at all.
  • Add ‌Photos‌ Only - The app can add images to your library, but not view them. This setting depends on the app, and is not available for all apps.

If you open up the Settings app and then go to the Privacy and Security section and choose ‌Photos‌, you can see the ‌Photos‌ access that all apps have access to. You can change the settings from here, and it's a good idea to go through the list to see exactly which apps can see your images. You can also opt to remove information like location and caption, and change photo format.

Downloading a new app that wants Photo Library access will bring up options to give limited or full access. In the past, apps had the option to just ask for blanket Photo Library access, which gave them the entire library, rather than just chosen images. There's much more control over what apps can see in terms of photos in ‌iOS 17‌.

Your ‌iPhone‌ will also periodically remind you about apps that have access to your full Photo Library, offering up the option to change access to limited.

Calendar Access

Apps can add an event to the Calendar app without being able to view your Calendar through the "Add Events Only" option.

calendar app privacy ios 17

Apps that have full Calendar access can see location, invitees, attachments, and notes, according to Apple.

‌iOS 17‌ automatically assigns a passkey to an Apple ID , which is a more secure password alternative. With a passkey, users can sign into an ‌Apple ID‌ with ‌Face ID‌ or ‌Touch ID‌ instead of their password, with the feature available on icloud.com, appleid.apple.com, and other Apple websites.

iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ID Feature 3

With ‌iOS 17‌, ‌macOS Sonoma‌, and ‌iPadOS 17‌, when you sign into an Apple website, you'll use biometric authentication rather than your password. Passkeys will eventually be adopted by many sites, replacing passwords.

Home Activity History

The Home app now includes an activity history for up to 30 days, so you can see who accessed door locks, garage doors, contact sensors, and alarm sensors, and when. It can be accessed by tapping on the "Security" button at the top of the Home app and then choosing "Activity History."

home app activity history

More information on all of the new features in the ‌iOS 17‌ update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup .

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iOS 17 Safari makes private browsing more secure — here's how

You can use Face ID to lock private browsing tabs in Safari

how to use locked private browsing in ios 17 safari

The private browsing feature in iOS 17 Safari gets an extra layer of privacy, as the your private browsing tabs can now lock when you're not using the feature. But to make sure prying passersby don't see your browsing activity, you've first go to turn on locked private browsing in iOS 17 .

When you turn on locked private browsing, you're setting things up so that your open tabs can only be unlocked with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. The advantage of having that safeguard in place should be clear — no one will be able to see your private browsing tabs except for you. That way, you can keep those tabs open when you need to move on to other things, secure in the knowledge that whatever sites you've visited in Safari will remain private.

Here's how to turn on locked private browsing in iOS 17, as well as as a guide to the updated interface for private browsing in mobile Safari.

How to turn on locked private browsing

1. go to safari settings.

Launch the Settings app , and scroll down until you find Safari. (It's in the block of settings that contain the other built-in iOS apps.) Tap Safari .

2. Turn on locked private browsing

In the Safari setting screen, scroll down to the Privacy & Security section. There's an entry for Require Face ID to Unlock Private Browsing. Move the slider right to turn on the feature.

For phones without Face ID — essentially the iPhone SE, at this point — the menu item lets you require Touch ID instead.

Once that slider is set, your private browsing sessions will now require you to unlock the page using Face ID (or Touch ID) before you can view any open tabs. You can also unlock pages by tapping Unlock and entering your passcode.

As a reminder, here's how to enter private browsing in Safari on your iPhone.

1. Go to the tabs page

In Safari, tap the tabs button . (It's the one on the far right of Safari's menu bar at the bottom of the screen.)

2. Launch private browsing

Swipe right on the tab menu so that the private browsing tab now appears on the center of the page. Tap Done to begin private browsing.

3. Turn on iCloud Private Relay (optional)

If you subscribe to iCloud Plus, you've got access to Private Relay . That's a a VPN-esque proxy service that encrypts your data and masks your IP address and DNS requests. That way, website and network operators can't build a profile using your browsing history.

Safari was just one of the apps to get an update as part of iOS 17, as you can see in our iOS 17 review . We can also show you how to take advantage of other new iOS 17 features, such as how to download offline maps in iOS 17 Maps , how to use the new Check In features in Messages and how to use gestures in FaceTime video chats.

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Philip Michaels

Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

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How to use Safari's new Privacy Report in macOS Big Sur

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Safari has a new Privacy Report

safari and privacy

Apple's new Privacy Report in Safari is a feature that you will use constantly — and yet rarely ever look at. Simply by using Safari in macOS Big Sur , you get the benefits of this feature and it will improve your browsing experience.

It aims to do this specifically so that companies who attempt to uniquely identify your Mac, and so track your web usage. Every site you visit requests some information — such as which browser you're using — but that's to give you an optimized web page.

Safari's Privacy Report, and previous features including Intelligent Tracking Protection , blocks everything.

You can ignore it all, you can choose to never even click on the Privacy Report icon that's permanently next to Safari's address bar. If you do view it, though, you can make informed decisions about what you want to allow.

How to view Safari's Privacy Report

  • Click on the shield-like icon immediately to the left of Safari's address bar
  • Optionally, click on Trackers on this Web Page
  • Or click on the i for information icon

Privacy report is presented with a series of increasing information, so you can choose how much you want to know. Just clicking on the shield icon will display options, but it will also show a large icon with the number of trackers on your current site that it has blocked.

Click on the Privacy Report icon to see how many trackers Safari has blocked.

Clicking on Trackers on this Web Page , gives you a drop down list that specifies which sites have attempted to track you. Most of these will be advertisers, but you'll commonly also see google-analytics.com listed.

That's a tracker that sites use to assess the traffic they're getting and you might be fine with them doing that, but you can't allow that one tracker access. You can't actually change any settings at all in this drop down list.

If you click on the information icon, Safari opens a separate window with all the detail it has. You can also go straight to this fuller report by choosing Privacy Report... in the Safari menu.

Safari's Privacy Report

Safari's Privacy Report also shows a number of trackers that it has prevented. However, rather than just for the current site and your current visit there, it lists how many trackers it has blocked over the last 30 days.

It also splits out the results into how many websites you visited that had trackers blocked, and how many trackers there were. It singes out the most-contacted tracker, too.

Optionally, Privacy Report can give you more information

The use of 30 days is significant. When Apple added Intelligent Tracking Protection to Safari in 2018, it included making the browser count how long it is since you clicked yes to allow a site to place a cookie on your Mac.

If you've given this permission and you keep using the site, nothing changes. But if you stop using it, then after 30 days, the Mac now removes the cookie.

So if you're concerned about a site, you can now open Privacy Report. It will show you what sites have been attempting to use trackers in the last 30 days.

You can't change any settings in Privacy Report itself, and really there isn't a great deal you can do anywhere. But you can choose to remove a site's ability to track you if you change your mind about its cookies.

How to remove cookies

  • Open Safari and choose Preferences
  • Choose on Privacy
  • Click on Manage Website Data...
  • After a moment, the Mac will list all sites you've agreed to cookies with
  • Scroll to choose the one you're concerned about, then click to select it
  • Click the Remove button
  • Alternatively, click the Remove All button

Apple does not ask if you're sure when you choose a site and click Remove . However, before you even go to press Remove All , it does caution against removing any cookie data without care.

Safari's Preferences section lets you see and remove any sites you've agreed to have cookies from

"These websites have stored data that can be used to track your browsing," it says about the list. "Removing the data may reducing tracking, but may also log you out of websites or change website behavior."

How to get the best out of Privacy Report

Just let Privacy Report do its thing. If you have reason to dislike Apple doing this, you can go to Safari , Preferences , Privacy , and untick Prevent cross-site tracking .

Alternatively, you can use a different browser. But note that Google is expected to implement this similar third-party cookie blocking by 2022 .

Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube , Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.

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safari and privacy

How to Configure Safari for Privacy on iOS Devices (UPDATED FOR iOS 16.2)

This post was originally published on 2 OCT 2020 ; it has since been updated and revised.

Though Safari is a closed-source browser, some users may wish to use with their Apple devices.

This how-to guide will show you how to increase your data privacy and security while using Safari. This guide tries to balance of privacy and security versus convenience.

"Points of decision," exist in this guide, where users should choose between security/privacy and convenience at their own discretion. where you pretty much choose between security/privacy or convenience at your own discretion, throughout this guide.

Safari has a privacy "ceiling." Users seeking the most privacy possible in their browsers should consider installing and using a privacy-oriented browser for iOS.

Update Safari and iOS

One of the best ways to maintain security (and by extension, privacy) is to keep software like browsers updated to the latest stable version available.

Keeping Safari and the iOS operating system updated is an “easy” method to make sure you are at least protected from exploits of known vulnerabilities. For most users, it’s highly recommended to turn on automatic updates so future updates and be downloaded and installed when they’re released.

Consider using a different browser

While generally secure, browsers like Edge, Chrome, and Safari have an important matter in common: there’s a “ceiling” to how private you can configure them - especially when compared to privacy-oriented mobile browsers like Brave, Firefox Focus, and SnowHaze.

Therefore, users may want to consider using a privacy-oriented browser over using Safari if privacy is their main concern.

Siri and Search

To keep it short and simple: Siri can be a double-edged sword when it comes to maintaining privacy.

Apple has found itself in hot water of Siri “overstepping,” and consequently violating user privacy. For example, in 2019, Apple confirmed that Siri was recording confidential information from users. This confidential information was made available to the company’s contractors.

Now, Apple has since apologized and addressed those concerns with Siri , but the damage is done.

search options and suggestions for siri setting screen on iphone

Ultimately, as the user, it’s up to you to decide how much you want Siri involved in your web habits. The settings here govern how Siri gathers information related to your search history, both online and off. Users should take a look at Apple’s “Safari Search and Privacy.”

Safari uses Google as the default search engine, which is not at all a privacy-friendly search engine.

You should pick a default search engine that is more privacy friendly than Google or Bing. The options on iOS are limited, so users may want to consider bookmarking privacy-friendly search engine options, like Mojeek.

Safarisearch

For better privacy, you should disable “Search Engine Suggestions” and “Safari Suggestions,” which helps to limit the data sent to the search engine itself and Apple.

You should also disable “Preload Top Hit.” When enabled, Safari will automatically load the top hit in the the Safari address bar. However, this can cause unwanted and and intended behavior, such as connecting to websites the user hasn’t actively clicked/tapped on.

You should enable the pop-up blocker (which is enabled by default.) Pop-ups can be woefully annoying and could cause you to accidentally click on something you did not intend to.

Safarigeneral

Turn off autofill.

If you have any saved contact information or credit cards (that aren’t saved specifically in Apply Pay) on Safari, then you should delete them.

Autofill can easily make mistakes and potentially compromise your privacy in the process. For example, autofill might accidentally captured (and later paste) parts of your social security number, thinking it was part of a credit card number. It may also mistakenly paste saved credit card information into a field not designated for credit card information.

Safariautofill

Keep in mind that some websites enable features/include code that can allow them to see what was typed/pasted into a firm field without the user ever hitting “submit.”

Malicious actors can “trick” Safari into divulging stored autofill contents with a variety of methods such as an XSS attack or any variety of phishing attacks. This could put your payment information and other personal identifiable information (PII), like full name and address at risk.

Privacy and Security

Generally, you should enable the fraud website warning and prevention of cross-site tracking here.

Blocking cookies

This is a point of decision.

Blocking cookies rejects “cookies” (bits of information) from being stored in the browser. Websites use cookies for a variety of things, such as session management (login) or as part of tracking mechanisms.

Safariprivsec

For example, if you enable blocking all cookies, log into a website, then close Safari and subsequently return to that same website, then you will have to login again. This could also apply to sites with personalization options.

If you don’t use Safari often, then it’s recommended to block all cookies so when you do use it, these bits of information are not stored.

This is another point of decision.

When enabled, websites can check whether you have Apple Pay enabled. Apple Pay is fairly secure (and relatively privacy-friendly to boot), so the issue is not so much unknowingly giving out card/payment details.

The main issue is websites may use this information to fingerprint your device. Websites will now 1) you use Apple Pay (or at least have it enabled) and 2) can use this “known” for fingerprinting and/or tracking purposes.

However, Apply Pay is a more secure alternative to giving your card details directly to an online merchant.

Settings for websites

Most settings in this section are dedicated to accessibility. However, we can also modify content blockers, camera, microphone and location permissions in this section.

safari settings screen showing content blockers camera and microphone and location

If you have any third-party content blockers integrated with Safari, then you should go ahead and enable them for all sites you visit.

Generally, it’s recommended to automatically deny any website access to your device’s camera and microphone by default.

With GPS location, we’ve encountered another point of decision.

More privacy-conscious users may want to err on the side of caution (rightfully so) and always deny location details to any website that asks.

However, some users who want to maintain a little bit of convenience, may want to set this to “ask.” There may be times where the user deems legitimate to grant a website access to their GPS-enabled location.

JavaScript is executed on the client (your) side, on your device. In most cases, there is no obvious notification to the user when JavaScript is executed; it can be executed “silently” and without direct user input.

While JavaScript can certainly be used for malicious and privacy-invasive purposes (such as pulling a user’s IP address from behind a VPN in the case of a WebRTC leak), many legit websites run legit scripts to function. As such, disabling JavaScript could break these websites and tank the user experience.

As a very general rule of thumb, users should consider disabling JavaScript only if they are “planning” to visit shadier/untrusted portions of the web.

Experimental Features

Most of the experimental webkit features are for developers. They also change frequently with different releases of iOS and updates to the Safari app. In most cases, “regular” users do not have to tamper with experimental features to configure Safari for better privacy.

Lockdown mode

The launch of iOS 16 saw the introduction of Lockdown Mode for the entire device on which it is enabled. Per Apple, “when Phone is in Lockdown Mode… apps, websites, and features will be strictly limited for security…”

iphone lockdown mode with warning caveat

According to Apple, Lockdown Mode is an “extreme” protection mechanism for iPhone that should only be used if the user thinks they may be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack - think, an attack by an advanced persistent threat (APT) backed by a nation-state entity.

With Lockdown Mode enabled, some web technologies are automatically blocked. Some web fonts and images on websites may not display at all. users can configure apps or websites in Safari to be excluded from the limitations enforced by Lockdown Mode.

According to Cryptee’s proof-of-concept (PoC), Lockdown Mode may make users more susceptible to fingerprinting techniques - for example, Cryptee’s PoC can “tell” whether the user is using Safari in Lockdown Mode. Cryptee also believes apps can detect whether Lockdown Mode is enabled as well.

Should you use Lockdown Mode to harden Safari? It depends on the user. However, users should be aware that Lockdown Mode is a security feature versus a privacy one.

Final thoughts

While Safari can be configured to be reasonably privacy-oriented, it is ultimately a closed-source browser by a Big Tech entity. Safari also engages in telemetry on the “back-end,” which may transmit usage data to Apple.

Also like its competitors, Edge and Chrome, Safari suffers from a “privacy ceiling.” Other privacy-oriented browsers do a better job in respecting and improving user privacy. Users looking for "maximum" privacy from the browsers on their iOS devices should download a privacy-oriented browser.

With that said, stay safe out there!

Next Post Previous Post

5 Features in Safari for Mac That Boost Privacy and Security

If you use Safari, you should know about these features that keep your data safe and secure online.

When you’re browsing the internet, it’s easy to forget about safety and privacy issues. You might not always think about how much personal information you’re sharing, or how often you use the same passwords on different sites.

If you use Safari on a Mac computer, it’s actually OK to forget this a bit, because the browser handles some of this for you.

Safari is chock-full of features that keep your data private and your web experience extremely safe. We’re here to tell you all about these, so you can make sure you’re using them smartly.

Safari Features to Protect Your Privacy

Websites love to track users to learn more about them, then market to people effectively by showing them personalized ads. This can be fairly innocuous, but the data accumulated on you can reveal where you live, how old you are, and other information you may not want everyone to know.

How websites do this, as well as when and where the tracking takes place, can be pretty tricky to spot. We’ve written about different ways to check who is tracking you online , which can help you get a clearer picture of online privacy.

But Safari also has many built-in features that help you keep your browsing data to yourself. You can thus better maintain your privacy just by using Safari as your browser and making sure certain settings are turned on in it.

1. Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention

One of these features is the Intelligent Tracking Prevention built into Safari. Through machine learning, the browser spots where websites and companies obtain user data, then blocks that data from carrying over onto other sites.

This means any information obtained about you on one site can’t be spread all over the internet. Your data and personal information stay limited to individual sites.

The tracker also minimizes third parties from accessing any data Apple collects on you as a user. And you have a say over how much data Apple can collect from you when you use its devices and software. You can request your personal data from Apple to see how much the company accesses, and alter how much information apps send back to Apple.

The privacy tracker is automatically enabled in the latest versions of Safari. If you want to check that it is, or alter its behavior, head to Safari > Preferences and click on the Privacy tab. Make sure the Prevent cross-site tracking box is checked to keep the protection activated.

2. Privacy Reports in the Smart Search Field

The privacy reports in the Smart Search field at the top of Safari are another feature keeping your information private. The Smart Search field is the address bar in Safari. It’s where you type in or paste URLs to access websites.

And like address bars in most modern browsers, you can also enter text to search the web using your preferred search engine, chosen at Safari > Preferences > Search . Consider choosing a privacy-focused search engine to reduce data collection as you search.

Aside from URL-related suggestions, the search field has a major privacy feature. It can tell you if anything is trying to track your data when you’re on a particular site. This also lets you know if that entity was blocked from getting the information or not.

This information is found in the privacy report. Privacy reports can tell you about active trackers on sites you’re currently browsing, as well as trackers that have been blocked in the past.

To get a privacy report on active trackers, open a website in Safari. Then, click on the shield icon to the left of the Smart Search field. You’ll see a list of any trackers found on the site.

To see a history of data trackers Safari has blocked, and what sites they’ve been on, click on Safari > Privacy Report . You’ll see how many trackers Safari successfully blocked in the last 30 days, the percentage of websites you went to that contacted trackers, and more information you can use to help keep your data private in the future.

3. Private Browsing Windows

Safari also allows you to browse the internet using Private Browsing windows . Private Browsing windows work as default Safari windows do, except they hide even more information from websites and data trackers.

In a Private Browsing window, no search or website information is saved—any sites you visit or terms you search in these windows won’t appear in your Safari history. Autofill information isn’t saved, and webpages can’t be shared or accessed via iCloud or Handoff.

Any data you create while browsing in one private tab won’t affected or be accessible to other private tabs or windows you keep open. This means that even if you log into Facebook in one private tab, you’d have to log in again if you opened Facebook in a second private tab. So you deal with even less tracking than Intelligent Tracking Prevention on its own.

Related: Ways You Can Be Tracked in Incognito or Private Browsing Mode

To open a Private Browsing window in Safari, click on File > New Private Window . If you want Safari to default to private windows, go to Safari > Preferences > General . In the Safari opens with dropdown menu, select A new private window .

Safari Features for Better Security

In addition to keeping your information private, Safari also keeps you safe from hackers and malware as you browse the internet.

4. Safari's Password Manager

One of its major security features is its built-in password manager. Like other password managers, there are some steps to complete before you start using it fully. But Safari will safely save passwords for you as you use them on different websites.

Read more: How to Start Using a Password Manager

Those passwords only auto-fill when you log in with your credentials. On Mac computers with Touch ID, your fingerprint can protect autofill for your usernames and passwords. This means not just anyone can log in to your email, social media, or banking sites.

To see your passwords without auto-filling them, you can go to Safari > Preferences > Passwords . Here, you need to input your Touch ID fingerprint or enter your computer password.

In your Safari password list, you can see if any passwords have been compromised or exposed, as long as have the Detect passwords compromised by known data leaks box checked.

If your passwords have appeared around the web, Safari will show a yellow triangle icon that has an exclamation point in it to the right of the password. Seeing this icon usually means you should change that password, which you can do on your account page for the website. Safari will then update its password manager to match.

Safari’s password manager can also help you create strong passwords. Whenever you sign up for a new website, Safari will offer to create and store a super-strong password that’s near-impossible to guess.

If you’re worried about not being able to make strong passwords on your own , this is a fantastic option that keeps your internet experiences safe and secure. And with iCloud, these strong passwords are easy to pass on to iPhone and iPad. Touch ID and Face ID ensure that only you can see your passwords.

5. Popup Blocking in Safari

Safari also offers extensive popup blocking, giving you a less annoying web experience that's also safer. Popup ads can contain all sorts of seedy links, including those that download malware to your Mac.

While macs aren’t known for getting viruses, Mac-specific malware definitely exists. We’ve written before about how to tell if your Mac has a virus , but it's better to make sure you don’t get malware, rather than having to deal with removing it.

Safari has several settings for popups, including blocking all of them outright. You can also have Safari let you know when it blocks one, in case you actually need a popup from a particular site.

To set Safari’s pop-up settings, go to Safari > Preferences and click on the Websites tab. Scroll down the left menu to Pop-up Windows , then set your preferences for various websites using the dropdown menus on the right.

For a default popup setting, set the When visiting other websites dropdown to your preference at the bottom of the window.

For a Private and Secure Browser, Use Safari

Safari comes with many features that keep your personal information and user data well hidden, as well as settings that let you browse the internet safely. It’s a great browser already built into Mac computers, and worth using for these and many other reasons.

Start using Safari regularly, and you can make it your own by learning how to customize some of its elements.

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

Best secure browsers to protect your privacy online

charlie-osborne

Web browsers have become flooded with ad-sponsored content, making browsers a key battleground for end-user privacy. While Chrome is the most widely-used browser in the world, there are also alternative browsers and ways to improve your security available to help you stay anonymous online.

Data is one of today's key ingredients for generating revenue. Online advertising companies can use web browsing histories to fingerprint individual browsers over time, creating shadow user profiles to reveal information including a user's interests, product searches, and more -- which can lead to targeted advertising. 

Also:   The best VPN services (and why you need one to protect your privacy)

Researchers from Firefox-maker Mozilla  conducted a study in 2020 with 52,000 Firefox users  that revealed it is more complicated than ever to ensure total privacy online. They warned Google and Facebook's tight grip on online advertising makes re-identification through browsing histories an even more pressing privacy problem today.

When you look for a privacy-focused browser, you will want to investigate how advertising trackers and cookies are managed, whether or not search histories are stored or shared, and whether or not the browser developer has a transparent privacy policy in place. 

Best browser for privacy overall

  • Not in the traditional online ad business
  • Privacy-focused by default
  • Chromium challenger
  • Previous issues show it isn't perfect

Brave f eatures: Chromium-based | Blocks third-party ad trackers | Blocks cookies | Incognito windows | Onion routing

Brave is a Chromium-based browser that blocks ads, fingerprinting, and ad trackers by default.

Brave supports millions of users worldwide. The organization's business model relies on privacy-protecting ads that pay publishers and users when users pay attention to ads. The company is transparent about this revenue stream, and it is optional -- with users rewarded in crypto tokens if they opt in to ad viewing.

Brave has several privacy-enhancing settings, including options to block third-party ad trackers, upgrade unsecured connections to HTTPS, as well as block cookies and fingerprinting. Invasive ads and trackers are disabled, which the company says then improves loading times on desktop and mobile.

Also: The best web hosting services for building your dream website

Brave  removed Google code  from its Chromium to improve user privacy, including some account integration, background sync, and inline extensions. There is also a "Tor mode" available for use, which provides anonymized onion network routing. 

The browser developer also offers a VPN and firewall service which protects sessions even outside of the browser.

Brave is now shipping a new feature called Unlinkable Bouncing. According to the developer, when you're about to visit a privacy-harming or suspicious website, your session is routed through temporary browser storage to prevent the site from identifying you -- instead, you will appear as a unique, first-time visitor, which helps to anonymize your visit.

Brave is also due to start rolling out a feature called " Off the Record ," (OTR), developed with users who may be the victims of intimate partner violence. The browser developer says the feature "aims to help people who need to hide their browsing behavior from others who have access to their computer or phone."

Mozilla Firefox

Most secure browser for tracking protection.

  • Enhanced tracking prevention
  • Focus on accessibility
  • Trusted by millions of users
  • Strict tracking protection may break websites

Mozilla Firefox f eatures: Enhanced tracking protection | Firefox Focus for mobile | Strict privacy standards |   DNS queries sent to a secure resolver service | Focus on accessibility

Firefox is a must-have for individual browser privacy across multiple devices. 

One of Firefox's most important privacy features is enhanced tracking protection. Mozilla has also borrowed Tor techniques to block browser fingerprinting , and Firefox developers are constantly seeking to improve tracking-prevention features.

Firefox is rich with choices to customize the browser for privacy The standard enhanced tracking prevention blocks social media trackers, cross-site tracking cookies, and blocks tracking in private windows, crypto miners, and fingerprinting scripts. There is a "strict" mode, too, that might break some sites when trackers are hidden in content -- but there are ways to allow enhanced tracking protection for trusted sites. 

Also:  What is Firefox Nightly and should you be using it?

The other option for Firefox fans is Firefox Focus, a privacy-focused browser for iOS and Android that blocks trackers and has a built-in ad blocker.    

Mozilla also offers a VPN , with the option to connect up to five devices to over 500 servers in more than 30 countries.

The release of Firefox 113 comes with a boost to accessibility. The release includes code upgrades to allow screen readers and other assistive technologies to have faster access to the content they need.

The Tor browser

Best for anonymous browsing.

  • High levels of anonymity
  • DuckDuckGo integration
  • Learning curve to use
  • Can be slow

The Tor browser f eatures : Onion routing | DuckDuckGo integration | Access to websites outside of the clear web

Another great choice for improving your privacy on the web is the Tor browser, a non-profit project focused on anonymizing users online.

Its proprietary web browser disguises a user's IP address and activity by relaying it through a network of servers (nodes) run by volunteers. By bouncing your information around so much, it makes things exceptionally difficult to track, which is great if you don't want your ISP or anyone else spying on your online activity. 

Tor can be a crucial tool for whistleblowers, journalists, activists, and people avoiding censorship. The Tor browser is also a popular choice for accessing the deep web: A collection of websites and pages that are inaccessible through traditional means, like search engines, in what is known as the "clear" web. 

Also:  How to use Tor browser (and why you should)

The Tor browser's default search engine is DuckDuckGo, which will not log or store your search queries.

While it isn't a mainstream browser choice, the Tor browser is a well-regarded browser for people who don't want to be tracked across the web, and it gets updated frequently by  the Tor Project . The developers are currently working on infrastructure updates . 

Page loads in the Tor browser can be slower and some sites might not work well due to the architecture of the Tor network. Nonetheless, the Tor browser is a privacy-preserving browser worthy of consideration.

Best mobile browser for privacy and searches

  • Supported on Chrome, Chromium-based browsers, and Firefox
  • Solid commitment to user privacy
  • Full browser not yet available on desktop

DuckDuckGo f eatures: Chrome and Firefox supported | Mobile private browser | Does not collect user data | AI experiments

When it comes to DuckDuckGo, user privacy comes first. 

The privacy-focused search engine is a vocal supporter of consumer privacy rights and now handles millions of user search queries daily.

DuckDuckGo and the rise of the encrypted messaging app Signal show there is a growing appetite for privacy-focused alternatives to tech giants like Facebook and Google. DuckDuckGo's Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome , Firefox , and Microsoft's Edge  has also proven popular. Its reputation is built on the idea that it does not collect user data but can provide the same search results as those that do. 

Also:  DuckDuckGo brings its privacy-focused browser to Macs

DuckDuckGo is a search engine rather than a full browser, but the software is still recommended as an extension or as a mobile solution. The organization's mobile app provides a private search, website protection and blockers, web encryption, and more.

There has been some past controversy concerning Microsoft web tracking protections in the past, but following an outcry, DuckDuckGo pledged greater transparency and changes to third-party tracker loading protection.

A Mac browsing app is currently being developed and is in the beta stage . There is also a closed beta for Windows machines. DuckDuckGo is also experimenting with AI-assisted technologies to improve its search experience.

Mullvad Browser

Best for use with a vpn.

  • Two heavyweight privacy developers
  • Fingerprint, tracker blocks
  • New, so less thoroughly tested

Mullvad Browser f eatures : Fingerprint masking approach | Removes online identifiers | Private mode enabled by default | Blocks trackers, cookies

Mullvad is a new entry to the secure browser market.

Not to be confused with the Tor browser, the Mullvad Browser is marketed as the "Tor Browser without the Tor network." The browser is built by the Tor Project team and distributed by Mullvad, a well-respected Swedish virtual private network provider. 

The idea behind the browser is to emulate the Tor network by creating a similar fingerprint for all users, improving anonymity. Furthermore, the browser comes with a private mode out of the box, tracking and cookies are blocked, and online functions used to extract information from visitors -- such as device identifiers -- are prevented.

You can use the browser as a standalone product, or you can combine it with Mullvad VPN . 

However, you should keep in mind that Mullvad was recently subject to a search warrant by the National Operations Department (NOA) of the Swedish Police. 

The visit was connected to a "blackmail attack that hit several municipal institutions in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in October 2021," and "during the investigation, which is still ongoing, an IP address was found that led to the VPN service Mullvad," according to the organization.

Mullvad staff say that as the customer data did not exist, law enforcement was left with nothing (and no customer information). 

"Since Mullvad VPN by law is not required to collect any data related to our users' activities online -- and since the pure purpose of our service is to protect users from collection of such data -- it is in our interest, our customers' interest, all our employees and owners' interest to not collect any data and therefore there is no reasonable grounds to doubt that we do not collect any data about our users' activities online," Mullvad said.

What is the best browser for privacy?

Brave is our top pick for the best browser for privacy based on my analysis of specs such as cookies stored, privacy settings, and speed of the top browsers. However, no browser is perfect, so you must decide which option suits you best.

Which is the right browser for privacy for you?

Not one size fits all, so be sure to reference the table below to better understand which browser suits your use case.

How did we choose these browsers for privacy?

We compared each of these browsers and extensions to determine what makes them different and which is best for different use cases. 

The balance between managing user privacy and funding a business can be a tricky one for companies to manage, but as we've shown, many developers are willing to wave the security flag on behalf of users over potential opportunities to generate more revenue.

How does a privacy browser work?

A privacy browser works by automatically erasing your browsing and search history and cookies. It also may limit web tracking, and some even help hide your location (IP address). Privacy-focused browsers may also promote virtual private network (VPN) usage and may include features designed to bypass censorship blocks and keep users as anonymous as possible, such as access to onion routing and refusing to log site visits or web searches.

Do I need a privacy browser?

If you are concerned about your online privacy, you should install a privacy browser or at least an extension. We have to take responsibility for our own privacy online these days, and you can't rely on companies to do the job for you. 

Also:  How to delete yourself from internet search results and hide your identity online

We can recommend a few basic steps to take: Download one of the privacy-first browsers listed above that doesn't log your queries and activities, install a VPN, and use messaging apps with end-to-end encryption. Furthermore, if you want to keep your email communications private, you should consider an encrypted email service like Proton Mail.

Does using a private browsing window hide my IP address?

If you're using Chrome, an incognito window doesn't hide your IP address. It simply doesn't store your browser history, information you've entered into forms, or what permissions you've given to sites you've visited. Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Opera all use a similar form of "anonymous" web window for browsing, but they aren't truly hiding your online identity. 

Also:   The best VPN services (and whether it's worth trying free VPNs)

If you want to block your IP address from being viewed or tracked, you can download a VPN , which masks your IP address so your service provider (or anyone else, for that matter) can't see what you're doing.

What is the most common personal web security risk?

Honestly? Putting your personal or contact information on social media. If you have your full name, phone number, address, or place of work anywhere on your social media, someone can use it to wreak havoc on your personal accounts. 

To prevent this, avoid using your real name online where possible, turn off location tracking, and don't post about your place of work if you can help it. All it takes is a single piece of personal information for someone with very bad intentions to get ahold of your entire online presence -- and so if you're posting photos of you away from home and on holiday, for example, you're letting people know your home is vulnerable.

Also:  The best security keys

Those innocent-looking name generator memes are another big issue; the ones that have you type out your first pet's name and your childhood street name (or something similar) to make up a gnome (or whatever) name. These are answers to common password recovery questions, so by letting the world know that your Christmas elf name is Fluffy Elm Street, you could be handing over all of your personal accounts to internet criminals. 

Are there other browsers worth considering?

Online privacy and security are hot topics today. The amount of data quietly collected on each and every one of us is staggering -- and beyond targeted advertisements, you may not realize it. 

The browsers we've recommended above can help tighten up your defenses against tracking and online monitoring, but as no browser is a perfect solution, you may also want to consider the alternatives below:

ZDNET Recommends

The best vpn services of 2024: expert tested, the best travel vpns: expert tested, the best vpns for iphone and ipad: expert tested.

safari and privacy

Vip Wilderness – Elevating Experiences With Private Tanzania Safari Packages

I n the untamed wilderness expanse of Tanzania lies an opportunity for extraordinary exploration! i.e. booking Private Tanzania Safari Packages . Imagine a journey where every featured aspect of the tour is tailored to your desires, from thrilling encounters with wildlife to serene moments under the vast African sky.

Let’s take a close look at the several advantages, cost-related factors, and exclusive experiences of VIP Tanzania Safari Packages amenities, where experiences are elevated to new heights of luxury and adventure.

Advantages Of Booking Private Tanzania Safari Packages

The Best Tanzania Safari Packages tailored specifically for private experiences in the wild offer numerous advantages that enhance the overall safari experience. Some of the most notable advantages being:

The Flexibility They Provide – With private Tanzania Tours and Packages , you have the flexibility to tailor the itinerary according to your interests. This customization allows for a more personalized Tanzania Safari Experience .

Immersive Wildlife Viewing – Since you're not part of a large group, you can enjoy quieter and more secluded Tanzania Wildlife encounters without the distractions that come with larger Tanzania Safari Trip groups.

Inclusion of Luxury Accommodations and Amenities – Whether it's a luxury tented camp in Serengeti or a lavish lodge overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater, private Tanzania Safari Packages offer unparalleled comfort and relaxation after a day of thrilling wildlife sightings.

Flexibility in terms of timing and pace – You can spend more time at specific Tanzania Safari Destinations , such as a picturesque watering hole or a scenic viewpoint, without feeling rushed.

These factors combine to create a truly unforgettable safari experience – all while being tailored to individual preferences.

Cost Breakdown Of Private Tanzania Safari Packages

By understanding the Tanzania Safari Cost of private packages, travellers can choose the one that best fits their budget and preferences. Here’s a detailed look at the associated costs:

COST COMPONENT > APPROXIMATE COST

Accommodation

$1000 - $5000 per person (depending on level)

Transportation

Included in package

$50 - $100 per day per person

Guide Services

Top of Form

Note – Some Tanzania Safari Tour Packages may include additional services such as airport transfers, gratuities, and optional excursions.

Tailoring The Safari Experience, Benefits Of Customization

One of the significant highlights of booking Private Tanzania Safari Packages is that one gets to benefit from the ability to customize itineraries as per their liking.

ü  Customized Tanzania Safari Tours also offer flexibility in terms of travel dates, duration, and activities.

ü  You have the freedom to choose when and where you want to go, allowing you to maximize your time.

ü  These packages often include exclusive experiences that are not typically available in standard safari packages.

ü  Examples include private game drives, guided nature walks, visits to remote wilderness areas, or interactions with local communities.

Overall, customizing Tanzania Vacation Packages provides the flexibility, personalization, and exclusivity needed to create a fulfilling adventure in Tanzania's diverse and spectacular wilderness areas.

Exclusive Destinations And Private Safari Opportunities

Private Tanzania Safari Travel Packages often grant access to remote and exclusive areas of Tanzania National Parks , where wildlife roams freely and tourist crowds are scarce. This allows safari-goers to explore pristine landscapes and observe wildlife without the distractions of the crowd factor.

With the guidance of experienced Tanzania Safari Guides , you can track elusive predators, witness animal behaviours, and capture stunning photographs of Tanzania's iconic wildlife species. Moreover, with exclusive access to Tanzania Safari Accommodations , vehicles, and activities, you can relax and unwind in a secluded and protected setting, free from the crowds and distractions often associated with group travel.

Private safaris let you see stunning sunrises over the Serengeti, watch elephants in Tarangire, and unwind under Ngorongoro's stars, all in a special way!

Experiencing Tanzania Safaris with VIP Treatment!

To bring things to a natural close, Private Tanzania Safari Packages are probably the best option to pick if you want luxury and solitude out of Tanzania Safari Tours. From the advantages of personalized experiences to the breakdown of Tanzania Safari Costs and the benefits of tailoring packages, we've explored the many ways in which private safaris elevate your journey.

Ready to experience the thrill of a safari in Tanzania? Don't wait any longer – book your Tanzania Safari Package today!

Vip Wilderness – Elevating Experiences With Private c Safari Packages

Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

safari and privacy

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Performance

More with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

safari and privacy

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

safari and privacy

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

safari and privacy

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

safari and privacy

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

  • JetStream /
  • MotionMark /
  • Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

safari and privacy

Privacy is built in.

Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect. That’s why Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. Upgrading to iCloud+ gives you even more privacy protections, including the ability to sign up for websites and services without having to share your personal email address.

safari and privacy

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

safari and privacy

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

safari and privacy

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

safari and privacy

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

safari and privacy

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

safari and privacy

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

safari and privacy

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

safari and privacy

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

safari and privacy

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

safari and privacy

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

safari and privacy

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

safari and privacy

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

safari and privacy

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

safari and privacy

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

safari and privacy

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

safari and privacy

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

I went on a budget and a luxury safari in Africa. Here's how they compare — and the one thing you really need to look for when booking.

  • I have been on two glamping safari trips in Africa on two very different budgets.
  • My all-inclusive stay was great but my cheaper glamping experience was fine, too. 
  • Private game reserves are actually the most important thing to splurge on, not accommodations. 

Insider Today

I've been on two African safari trips . Both involved glamping but on completely different budgets.

My first more affordable trip, a lodge in South Africa with separate safari excursions, cost me about $1,100. My second, an all-inclusive lodge in Tanzania, cost me about $4,000 after a 50% off deal.

Here's how the two compare and what I think you should look for before you plan an African safari .

My affordable safari experience was at Jackalberry Ridge, where some tents cost $80 a night.

safari and privacy

The first time I went on a safari, I went to Kruger National Park in South Africa. I didn't book a tour package, instead opting to stay at affordable lodging and book safari day trips to the park.

I stayed five nights near Kruger and one night in Johannesburg before my flight home. I spent around $1,100 for lodging, safari tours, a rental car, and food (not including flights).

After landing in Johannesburg, I rented a car ($130 for five days) to drive to my lodging in Marloth Park, a town bordering the edge of Kruger National Park.

I was staying at Jackalberry Ridge , a self-catering accommodation with no on-site restaurant, no room service, and limited housekeeping.

The one-bedroom tents at Jackalberry Ridge go for as low as $80 a night, and two-bedroom tents go for $135.

When I checked in late, there was no one at the reception desk — just an envelope with my name on it containing my keys and a map.

My main tent felt pretty spacious, with a king bed and a living-room area.

safari and privacy

I had booked a two-bedroom unit (two tents), but my friend couldn't come at the last minute. Since I couldn't change the reservation, I still stayed in the two-bedroom unit and my friend paid her share.

The campsite came with a small pool to dip in, but it was covered as the weather was pretty cold.

Each unit had a private bathroom and kitchen in a building separate from the tents, so I needed to leave my tent to use the bathroom at night.

The bathroom was standard, with a tub, shower, and toilet.

safari and privacy

This is glamping, so I had access to running water and a flushing toilet. I had hot water, but I found it went from scalding hot to cold in a few seconds.

I ended up taking quick showers and just washing my hair with cold water, which wasn't ideal since it was a little chilly in the morning.

It's also worth noting that Jackalberry Ridge was renovated recently, so the issue I had with hot water may have been fixed now.

I also had access to a kitchen in the same building as the bathroom.

safari and privacy

The kitchen was well-equipped with things like pots, a microwave, and a sink, so I could cook meals or heat up leftovers.

I signed up for a couple of day safaris and did one at night.

safari and privacy

Although I had a rental car and could've done a self-drive safari around Kruger, I didn't trust myself to spot animals while focusing on the roads.

Instead, I signed up for a couple of day safaris and one night safari. The safari tour prices often don't include the park entrance fee (about $25 per person per day), which I paid when I got to the entrance.

My three safari trips and park fees came to around $280.

I got to see zebras, giraffes, and more.

safari and privacy

I saw a lot on the safari, including zebras, impalas, kudus, and giraffes. I saw lions and a leopard, although only from afar with binoculars. I even got a glimpse of the elusive rhinoceros.

I also spent one day taking another popular day trip in the area, the Panorama Route. This scenic road goes past Lisbon Falls and the beautiful Blyde River Canyon. The guided tour was $110.

As far as my very first safari trip goes, it was great. I got to see the Big Five , even though some of them were pretty far away.

For my next safari trip, I leveled up.

safari and privacy

I saw a Travelzoo deal for an all-inclusive safari at Taasa Lodge , a five-star luxury safari in Tanzania.

The deal was $6,000 for two people for a whole week — the lodge is usually $12,950 for two for seven nights. It was still a splurge, but I'd be saving more than 50% on a bucket-list experience.

The package came with seven nights of lodging, two safari activities a day, three daily meals, and drinks.

Still, we spent more than the original advertised price. There are obligatory "daily government park fees" and "daily concession fees" that added about $893 per person to our bill.

We also had to take a regional flight to get to Taasa, which was more expensive than my rental car in South Africa.

To redeem the Travelzoo deal, we had to complete our booking through a specific travel agency.

We ended up opting for an all-inclusive add-on package which includes the $893 fees above, domestic airfares from Arusha to Taasa (which would already cost around $600), and our agency arranging our Tanzanian tourist visa and airport transfers. The add-on also included extra activities at the resort (more on that later).

Overall, we paid $1,715 per person on top of the $3,000 each for the lodge stay.

I hadn't anticipated paying so many extras, but it was nice to have someone take care of the logistics of getting to the resort.

My tent was luxurious and equipped with a comfortable king bed and a large living room.

safari and privacy

When I arrived at the lodge, the staff greeted me with a glass of juice and a wet towel to refresh myself.

My tent was quite spacious. I especially liked that it had a desk and plenty of outlets I could use to charge my electronics. Our bathroom was behind our bed, and I was glad it was inside the tent this time.

We also got a butler who kept track of our schedules and made sure we had what we needed.

The bathroom felt spacious, with two sinks and a shower.

safari and privacy

The shower's hot water was great and we had double sinks we could get ready at.

Another perk of the lodge is that we could have staff do our laundry every day, which meant we could pack less clothing.

There's a main lodge with a communal living room, dining area, and bar.

safari and privacy

We got breakfast at the buffet in the main lodge unless we were going on a morning safari.

Most people ate dinner in the dining room, but we could've requested to have food brought to our tent.

We also passed a small pool next to the main lodge.

safari and privacy

The pool was on the small side, but certainly had great views.

I didn't end up using it as my afternoons were filled with safari, and the mornings and evenings were chilly.

On the mornings with an early safari, we had a simple breakfast next to our Land Cruiser.

safari and privacy

Safari breakfasts consisted of hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, doughnuts, bacon and sausage, fruits, and orange juice. Staff also made French-press coffee, which we could spike with cream liqueur.

Our Land Cruiser had a cooler of beers and sodas in the back, too.

At the private game reserve, we got pretty close to wildlife.

safari and privacy

Taasa is located inside a private game reserve, which means staff can pretty much drive anywhere within it. This was a huge leg up from my day trips in Kruger National Park on my last safari.

Inside national parks like Kruger or Serengeti, you're only allowed to drive on designated roads for safety reasons (both for the tourists and the animals).

But in a private reserve, guides can drive offroad. Plus, the guides communicate with each other when they find something special.

We saw a bunch of animals in the private reserve and Serengeti.

safari and privacy

We also left the reserve to spend a couple of days going into Serengeti National Park, as there were things you could only find there instead of within the private reserve.

For example, I'd planned my trip to take place during the Great Migration, and I wanted to see wildebeests crossing the Mara River.

We also went to Serengeti to find rhinoceros and hippopotamus.

Every dinner at the resort consisted of three courses: soup, an entrée, and a dessert.

safari and privacy

The main course was usually some type of Western food, and there was always a vegetarian option.

It would've been nice to be offered more typical Tanzanian dishes, though. For me, part of the fun of traveling is learning about different countries' cuisines.

I also had access to an open bar in the main lodge. Staff could make simple cocktails, and there was lots of beer and wine. The drinks were all included with the price of the stay (except for fancy Champagnes and select wines).

One morning, we had a special breakfast on the plains.

safari and privacy

On one day of the trip, we had a special bush breakfast. It was one of the extra activities we got with that special add-on package.

Instead of our usual safari breakfast, we had freshly prepared omelets in the wild.

We also got another special treat in the bush that morning — a toilet!

safari and privacy

When you're offroading looking for wild animals, you can end up pretty far from a proper toilet.

On most safari days, the car stops (when guides think it's safe), and people go behind the car to do their business.

This was the only time we had this portable toilet while out on a safari. On my budget safari day trips at Kruger, we'd have to wait until we reached a rest-stop facility.

Again, we spent a lot of time watching lions.

safari and privacy

After breakfast, we were back in safari mode.

We found a family of lions, and as we were in the private reserve, we were able to stay and watch the cubs play for quite a while.

At Kruger, when lions are spotted, traffic starts backing up on the road as all the safari cruisers stop to look, so you can't stay too long.

Here, we knew no one else would be coming.

On a different morning, our guide got a tip that another car had found a leopard sleeping.

safari and privacy

The communication between guides in the private reserve paid off when one spotted a sleeping leopard.

When our group arrived, the leopard was napping on the tree next to his catch. Eventually, it came down, and we got a better look.

Our trip ended with a great happy hour and outdoor dinner.

safari and privacy

Other activities that were part of our add-on package included a visit to a Maasai village in Kenya and a special happy hour and barbecue dinner.

And, for our journey home, the travel agency took care of everything, including transfers, until we boarded our international flight.

My big takeaway is that it's really worth paying to be inside a private reserve.

safari and privacy

In my opinion, the difference between these two safari trips that's the most worth paying for is being in a private reserve.

After all, the main reason I fly to Africa is for the safari, not the glamping.

I much preferred my lodging at Taasa, mostly because of the bathroom. But if I hadn't had the 50% off deal, I'm not sure the full price would've been worth it.

Still, it was a wonderful experience, and if I had more money, I may feel differently. Even so, the budget glamping was pretty comfortable and just fine for a week.

But again, as far as the safari experience goes, the private reserve is hard to beat. Being able to go offroading and get closer to the animals is quite the experience.

And if luxurious lodges are out of the question, private reserves can also be visited more affordably. Some lodges inside private reserves, like Shindzela or Rhino River Lodge, can cost around $250 per person per night.

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Apple is about to change iPhone web browsing forever

Nadeem Sarwar

Apple has today announced a major change that could revolutionize the web-browsing experience for iPhone users. Alas, this browsing boon will be limited to users in the EU bloc. This news was announced alongside Apple’s plans to add sideloading and third-party app stores to the iPhone .

Deliberately spoiling the browsing experience

  • It’s all about preferential treatment

Oops. Did I say Safari stutters?

A bright future is right around the corner.

To comply with the EU’s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple says it will allow developers to use other browser engines for their web browsers. That means Apple will no longer force them to use its own WebKit rendering engine, which is the underlying tech behind what any web browser can do on your phone. That’s a massive rule change.

Browser vendors such as Chrome developer Google and Edge maker Microsoft have been restricted to creating mere shells around a highly specific, unmodified version of Safari’s WebView, a component whose functionalities are tightly dictated by Apple. Instead of shipping their meticulously developed browsers, the likes of Google and Mozilla are forced to build a separate browser that essentially acts as a thin wrapper for Apple’s WebKit engine.

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To put it simply, browser apps like Chrome, Firefox, Brave, DuckDuckGo, and others can be installed on an iPhone, but they merely serve as superficial overlays on Apple’s WebKit engine. This policy also means that Apple has the final say on which features are supported on Safari. And that feature gap is huge.

Just take a look at this feature comparison compiled by Open Web Advocacy to get a grasp of the problem:

Third-party browser vendors have no other option but to use a highly specific version of WebKit, with no flexibility to modify the engine’s features, including the activation or deactivation of existing features in the source code. This limitation chokes the ability of iOS browsers to stand out through soft forks.

On the other hand, in a market with genuine browser choices, third parties could develop their own browsers from scratch. Just take a look at what the folks behind the Arc browser have managed to accomplish in totally reimagining how a browser looks and works in the desktop ecosystem.

It’s also telling that a team with such bright minds has only released a companion Arc app on iOS and not a full-fledged revolutionary mobile browser — because they know full well that they won’t get the same kind of flexibility with iOS (due to WebKit) as they do on macOS for building a fantastic desktop browser.

This is evident in the Chromium browser ecosystem ,as well. Unlike in iOS, where Apple solely controls feature inclusion, browser vendors have the liberty to choose features when using Chromium on Android . Ultimately, for an average iPhone user, the key aspect is the software that operates on actual devices.

It’s all about preferential treatment

But it’s not just the lack of features that is concerning. It’s also about giving Safari an unfair edge because Apple controls the entire implementation of any browser that runs on the iPhone. Apple, of course, gives preferential treatment to Safari when it comes to accessing the native system on iPhones.

Safari has been granted the ability to display videos in full screen, while other browsers are prohibited from doing so, except on iPad. Oher browsers have also been historically kept from installing Web Apps, using the all-too-important extensions, or integrating Apple Pay to the same extent as Safari.

Next, let’s explore the competition perspective, which is what ultimately forced the EU to look into the WebKit situation. This WebKit-only approach forces companies to create multiple distinct applications for each platform, significantly increasing the costs and complexities of development and maintenance. These costs are in addition to the App Store’s 15% to 30% tax, which Apple has so fiercely protected to date.

The exorbitant costs of developing an interoperable application that functions identically to what Apple has to offer make it feasible only for well-funded companies. After all, why would anyone want to serve up a browser that functions virtually the same a Safari, while also being at technical disadvantage at the same time? Naturally, many useful or potentially profitable applications never see the light of day.

Safari and Apple’s WebView often encounter critical bugs that can break applications, and these issues also affect competing iOS browsers since they are unable to use their own engines, which may not have these bugs. Take a look at this failure graph called the Web Platforms Test Dashboard and marvel at Safari’s failures:

HTTP Toolkit has a massive catalog of how Apple’s approach is not only allowing browser bugs to persist on the web and weakening crucial security measures, but how it is also muddying the overall web for everyone with an iPhone in their hand. That’s particularly damning for a company that always argues against change by citing privacy and security.

If you really want to understand just how terribly Apple has created a browser monopoly on the iPhone, one where it has choked feature innovation and allowed nagging problems to persist, read this comprehensive 108-page document called “ Bringing Competition to the Walled Gardens – Third Party Browsers & Web Apps .”

But now that the EU has forced Apple’s hand and the company will finally allow alternative engines like Gecko and Blink, we will finally see a new experience fleshed out in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox running on the iPhone. And that could happen soon.

Earlier this year, Google announced (via GitHub , of all places) that it was working on an experimental iOS version of Chrome with the Blink engine at its core instead of WebKit. Of course, Apple’s policies won’t ever allow such a liberating monstrosity on the App Store, but it’s as if Google got a whiff that the EU could force Apple to reverse course. The folks over at 9to5Google even got a rudimentary version working on an iPhone.

Mozilla has also been testing a version of Firefox for iOS built atop its Gecko rendering engine. “We abide by Apple’s iOS app store policies, and are simply doing some exploratory work to understand the technical challenges for Gecko-based browsers on iOS if those policies were to change,” Mozilla told The Register earlier this year.

It looks like Google and Mozilla’s experiments with mobile web browsers free from the Apple WebKit shackles will finally bear fruit. But only for EU denizens. I dearly hope, for the sake of its valued customers, Apple does the same for users across the globe. It’s unprecedented, but at the end of the day, it’s also magical for an average iPhone user tired of the bland Safari experience.

I also dearly hope that regulators in other countries can also pull off what the EU has managed to accomplish. I am hopelessly addicted to the cause of “ iPad as a computer ,” but my worst enemy has been the constrained feature set on web browsers. I pray for a day when I can use Chrome on the iPad Pro to at least half of the capabilities it has on desktop browsers.

The ball’s in your court now, Apple!

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  • Google Chrome

Nadeem Sarwar

I’ve long been a fan of leather. It’s probably the metalhead in me. Judas Priest. Metallica. Or maybe it was the smell of the baseball glove when I was younger.

And it hasn’t gone away as I’ve aged. Leather belts. Leather wallets. And, of course, leather phone cases over the years. A ridiculous number of phones and cases, given my profession for the past 15 years. And that means when I saw the Nomad Magnetic Leather Back make an appearance, I knew I had to have one.

  • Audio / Video

The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K perched atop an extremely thin OLED television. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K is one mouthful of an official name. What it does is much more simple. It is a mount for your iPhone to be used with an Apple TV 4K. And it has MagSafe to keep the phone in place. That's it.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

If you have an iPhone, you'll want to check it right now for a big update. The iOS 17.4 update is officially rolling out right now and it includes some fairly significant new features.

About the security content of Safari 17.4

This document describes the security content of Safari 17.4.

About Apple security updates

For our customers' protection, Apple doesn't disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are available. Recent releases are listed on the  Apple security releases page.

Apple security documents reference vulnerabilities by  CVE-ID  when possible.

For more information about security, see the  Apple Product Security  page.

safari and privacy

Safari 17.4

Released March 7, 2024

Safari Private Browsing

Available for: macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura

Impact: Private Browsing tabs may be accessed without authentication

Description: This issue was addressed through improved state management.

CVE-2024-23273: Matej Rabzelj

Impact: Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service

Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

WebKit Bugzilla: 263758 CVE-2024-23252: anbu1024 of SecANT

Impact: A malicious website may exfiltrate audio data cross-origin

Description: The issue was addressed with improved UI handling.

WebKit Bugzilla: 263795 CVE-2024-23254: James Lee (@Windowsrcer)

Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may prevent Content Security Policy from being enforced

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved validation.

WebKit Bugzilla: 264811 CVE-2024-23263: Johan Carlsson (joaxcar)

Impact: A maliciously crafted webpage may be able to fingerprint the user

Description: An injection issue was addressed with improved validation.

WebKit Bugzilla: 266703 CVE-2024-23280: an anonymous researcher

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved state management.

WebKit Bugzilla: 267241 CVE-2024-23284: Georg Felber and Marco Squarcina

Additional recognition

We would like to acknowledge Abhinav Saraswat and Matthew C for their assistance.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Start a discussion in Apple Support Communities

Save Image as Type 4+

Save images as png, jpeg, webp, alfredo grassau, screenshots, description.

Transform your web browsing with 'Save Image as Type' for Safari - right-click to save any image as PNG, JPG, or WebP directly to your computer! Introducing "Save Image as Type," the must-have Safari web extension that revolutionizes how you interact with images online. Designed for effortless functionality and seamless integration with your Safari browsing experience, this extension is a game-changer for photographers, graphic designers, web developers, and everyday users alike. Effortless Image Conversion: Right-click on any image you encounter on the web, and you'll see the magic of "Save Image as Type." With just a few clicks, you can convert and save images in the most popular formats: PNG for pristine quality, JPG for widely compatible and space-efficient files, and WebP for the latest in image compression technology without losing quality. Seamless Safari Integration: Our extension is built specifically for Safari, ensuring a smooth and native user experience. It integrates perfectly with your browser, adding functionality without clutter or complexity. The extension feels like an integral part of Safari, making your image-saving process more intuitive than ever. Perfect for Professionals and Hobbyists: Whether you're a professional needing high-quality images for your projects or a hobbyist collecting visuals for inspiration, "Save Image as Type" is tailored to suit your needs. Graphic designers can quickly grab and convert images for their layouts, while web developers can test different formats for optimal web performance. User-Friendly Interface: The extension boasts a straightforward and accessible interface. No complicated settings or configurations – just right-click, choose your format, and you're done! It’s that easy. Plus, the images are saved directly to your computer, allowing for immediate access and use in your projects or collections. Why Choose 'Save Image as Type'? Versatile Format Options: Choose between PNG, JPG, and WebP based on your needs. Quick and Efficient: Save time with fast conversions and downloads. High-Quality Results: Enjoy images without compromise on quality. Ease of Use: Intuitive, right-click functionality integrated into your Safari browser. Regular Updates: We continuously improve and update the extension for the best user experience. "Save Image as Type" is the ultimate tool for anyone who interacts with images on the web. It's not just an extension; it's an enhancement to your overall web browsing experience, providing functionality, convenience, and quality. Download it today and start experiencing the web in a whole new way!

Version 1.0.3

- Added support for 13 new languages. - Bugs fix.

App Privacy

The developer, Alfredo Grassau , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Ukrainian

  • App Support
  • Privacy Policy

safari and privacy

Family Sharing

Up to six family members can use this app with family sharing enabled., more by this developer.

BlueMount - Money manager

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Special Features

Vendor voice.

safari and privacy

Personal Tech

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Google gooses Safe Browsing with real-time protection that doesn't leak to ad giant

Rare occasion when you do want big tech to make a hash of it.

Google has enhanced its Safe Browsing service to enable real-time protection in Chrome for desktop, iOS, and soon Android against risky websites, without sending browsing history data to the ad biz.

Safe Browsing is a Google API that's free to use for non-commercial purposes, and allows client applications to look up websites in a database to see whether they pose a known risk. It is available in two flavors, Standard and Enhanced.

To date, the Standard version has operated from a locally stored list of suspect sites, which limits the comprehensiveness of the data to whenever the list was last updated.

The Enhanced version has offered more extensive protection using real-time URL lookups and machine learning, though it sends information to Google – which the tech titan claims "is only used for security purposes."

safari and privacy

Henceforth, the Standard version of Safe Browsing will support real-time data lookup, but without sending browsing history data back to Google. Thanks to privacy rules in Europe and elsewhere, privacy-preserving protocols are now table stakes.

In a blog post , Jasika Bawa, Google Chrome Security, Xinghui Lu, Google Chrome Security, Jonathan Li, Google Safe Browsing, and Alex Wozniak, Google Safe Browsing, explain that the locally stored list of suspect sites gets updated every 30 to 60 minutes using hash-based checks , but that's no longer adequate.

"Unsafe sites have adapted – today, the majority of them exist for less than 10 minutes, meaning that by the time the locally stored list of known unsafe sites is updated, many have slipped through and had the chance to do damage if users happened to visit them during this window of opportunity," they say.

What's more, the Googlers observe, the size of the local list and the need to maintain connectivity for updates can present a challenge for devices that are resource constrained or have intermittent network access.

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Chrome users – get an alert when extensions are in danger of falling into wrong hands

So in Chrome for desktop and iOS, and Android later this month, the Standard tier of Safe Browsing is getting privacy-preserving, real-time protection. This requires some technical enhancement like the implementation of an asynchronous mechanism to prevent network calls from blocking page loads and degrading the user experience.

The system works by first looking in a local cache file to see if the website URL to be visited is known to be safe. If not found, a real-time check is made. Chrome then creates a 32-byte hash of the URL that then gets chopped into 4-byte hash prefixes. These get encrypted and sent to an Oblivious HTTP (OHTTP) privacy server operated by Fastly (yes, it goes to Fastly as a hash) that removes any potential user identifiers and forwards the cleaned result to the Google Safe Browsing server. This arrangement denies Google data that could be used to correlate browsing behavior with site checks.

The Safe Browsing server then returns hashes that match its database of unsafe site hashes and shows a warning to the Chrome user if necessary.

"Ultimately, Safe Browsing sees the hash prefixes of your URL but not your IP address, and the privacy server sees your IP address but not the hash prefixes," explain Bawa, Lu, Li, and Wozniak. "No single party has access to both your identity and the hash prefixes. As such, your browsing activity remains private."

In addition, Google says that Password Checkup on iOS will now flag weak and reused passwords in addition to pointing out compromised passwords. ®

Narrower topics

  • Advanced persistent threat
  • Application Delivery Controller
  • Authentication
  • Common Vulnerability Scoring System
  • Cybersecurity
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
  • Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act
  • Data Breach
  • Data Protection
  • Digital certificate
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Google Nest
  • Identity Theft
  • Incident response
  • Kenna Security
  • Palo Alto Networks
  • Privacy Sandbox
  • Quantum key distribution
  • Remote Access Trojan
  • RSA Conference
  • Surveillance
  • Tavis Ormandy
  • Trusted Platform Module
  • Vulnerability

Broader topics

  • Search Engine
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IMAGES

  1. How to Customize and Secure Your Safari Web Browser

    safari and privacy

  2. Safari: Privacy and Security in Safari

    safari and privacy

  3. How to Customize Your Safari Privacy Options in iOS 11

    safari and privacy

  4. How to Customize Safari Privacy and Security Settings ?

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  5. Adjusting Safari settings to enhance your online privacy

    safari and privacy

  6. How to Use Private Browsing on iPhone Safari Browser

    safari and privacy

COMMENTS

  1. Browse privately in Safari on iPhone

    Browse privately in Safari on iPhone You can view the Privacy Report and adjust settings in the Safari app to keep your browsing activities private, and help protect yourself from malicious websites. Visit sites privately

  2. PDF Learn how the Safari web browser protects your privacy.

    Introduction Safari is the built-in browser on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Fast and energy efficient, Safari delivers innovative features while also protecting user privacy. Safari is built to ensure websites keep working as expected while blocking unwanted cross-site tracking.

  3. Safari: Privacy and Security in Safari

    Click Privacy. From here, you can customize your privacy settings. For example, you can tell websites that you don't want your browsing habits tracked, stop Safari from using location services, and more. Deleting browsing history Like all browsers, Safari keeps a record of every website you visit in your browsing history.

  4. 7 Safari Settings You Should Change to Enhance Your Privacy

    If you use Safari on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can enable settings to enhance your privacy while web browsing. You can easily disable cookies, change your search engine to DuckDuckGo, hide...

  5. Protecting Your Privacy in Safari for iOS

    Arguably using Autofill is better for privacy, allowing Safari to suggest and securely save much stronger and varied passwords. Store your card details encrypted, and then hide them away in safe ...

  6. How to manage privacy and security settings in Safari on Mac

    How to manage privacy and security settings in Safari on Mac How-to By Mike Matthews published 9 August 2019 (Image credit: iMore) Apple continues to add new features to Safari on a regular basis to try to make our web browsing experience faster, easier, and—above all—more secure.

  7. Better Browsing: 30 Hidden Tricks Inside Apple's Safari Browser

    Now, here are 30 tricks to help you have a better experience when using Safari. 1. Navigate Tab Bar. (Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple) The jump to iOS 15 moved Safari's address bar to the bottom of ...

  8. Everything You Need to Know About Safari Private Browsing

    Open Safari on your phone. Tap on the " Tabs " button. That's the two small squares in the bottom-right corner of your Safari window on iPhone. A new option called "Private" should appear. Tap " Private " and you'll be taken to a blank screen confirming that you're using Private Browsing Mode.

  9. Eight Privacy and Security Improvements in iOS 17: Safari, Shared

    Private Browsing Upgrades in Safari In Safari, Private browsing windows are now locked and require secondary authentication to unlock and access. If you hand your phone over to someone and...

  10. iOS 17 Safari makes private browsing more secure

    The private browsing feature in iOS 17 Safari gets an extra layer of privacy, as the your private browsing tabs can now lock when you're not using the feature. But to make sure prying passersby ...

  11. Privacy

    Safari is a browser that includes state-of-the-art features to help protect your privacy, defending you against cross-site tracking and minimizing the data passed to third parties. And Private Browsing adds even more protections, such as locking your windows when you're not using them. View the Safari Privacy white paper (PDF) Passkeys

  12. How to use Safari's new Privacy Report in macOS Big Sur

    It aims to do this specifically so that companies who attempt to uniquely identify your Mac, and so track your web usage. Every site you visit requests some information — such as which browser ...

  13. How to Configure Safari for Privacy on iOS Devices (UPDATED FOR iOS 16

    Preface. Update Safari and iOS. One of the best ways to maintain security (and by extension, privacy) is to keep software like browsers updated to the latest stable version available.. Keeping Safari and the iOS operating system updated is an "easy" method to make sure you are at least protected from exploits of known vulnerabilities.

  14. 5 Features in Safari for Mac That Boost Privacy and Security

    If you want Safari to default to private windows, go to Safari > Preferences > General. In the Safari opens with dropdown menu, select A new private window. Safari Features for Better Security In addition to keeping your information private, Safari also keeps you safe from hackers and malware as you browse the internet. 4. Safari's Password Manager

  15. How to use Locked Private Browsing in Safari

    Open Safari. From the Safari menu, choose Settings. Click Privacy. Next to Private Browsing, select "Require Touch ID to view locked tabs." Or unselect it, if you don't want your private windows to lock. When private windows lock

  16. The best secure browsers for privacy in 2024

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  17. Stop Trackers Dead: The Best Private Browsers for 2024

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