Whether you are using a Mac, iPad, or iPhone, Apple’s Safari will likely be your default web browser. Although Safari is committed to ensuring users’ privacy and security online, the Internet can be a scary place infested with cyber attackers and trackers of all kinds. Therefore, you must do your best to enhance your privacy when browsing Safari.
Remove Cookies
Cookies make browsing the Internet convenient, but they are also a way to track your activities. You can disable cookies in Safari on your iPhone by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > choose to Block All Cookies.
Head to Safari > Preferences > Security > click Block All Cookies on your desktop or laptop. A dialogue box will be on your screen, and you must check the decision you want to accept. Also, you can choose Manage Website Data and manually remove stored data that websites have left behind.
Clear Frequently Visited Pages
The Frequently Visited section on your browser comes in handy if you visit specific websites more often than others. As the website addresses get saved in this section, you are saved from typing the web address each time you wish to visit the website.
However, if you don’t want anyone else to know the websites you frequently visit, you can clear Frequently Visited on Safari by clicking https://setapp.com/how-to/remove-frequently-visited-on-mac.
Turn off Location Services
If location services are enabled by default, you need to go to Settings > Safari > scroll down to Settings for Websites > click Location > press Deny when you see the options Ask, Deny, Allow.
Disable autofill
Safari autofill is a function that lets the browser automatically enter contact information like phone numbers, email, or saved credit cards on websites. If you share your device with others, you must turn off autofill.
Go to Settings > Safari > Autofill on your iOS device and turn off Use Contact Info and Credit Cards. Once these are toggled off, you can manually re-enter them in the future. Although typing the same information every time may seem like too much work, it will protect your privacy and security online.
You can prevent four autofill types on your desktop: credit cards, passwords, contacts, and other forms. In addition, you can customize it with the Edit button. Go to Safari > Preferences > Autofill.
Use the Private Browsing Mode
Use the private browsing mode to protect your privacy. In this mode, websites are limited in tracking information, and your login information or browsing history will not be saved. In addition, this will prevent other users using your devices from seeing your online activities during browsing.
The process of turning on Safari’s private browsing mode is simple. On your iPhone, tap and hold the Safari app icon > select New Private Tab from the menu.
Aksi, you can open Safari and tap and hold the tabs button to see the option to open a private tab. If the browser’s interface turns light to dark, you are in private browsing mode.
Ask for Permission to use mic/location/camera
In addition to blocking the browser from accessing your location, you can also tinker with the settings to ask permission to use your device’s camera and microphone.
Since some websites need the camera, location, or mic to function, you must take steps to keep things private. First, set the browser to ask permission before websites can use your device’s camera, mic, or location. You can do this by going to Settings > Safari > Camera and setting the option to Ask. Next, follow the same steps for the Microphone.
If you are using Safari on your laptop or desktop, these settings can be tweaked by going to Settings > Preference of the Safari browser.
Limit the Browser’s access
One of the best ways to protect your privacy online is by limiting what information Safari can access on your device. The browser might request your location to gather various types of information. For instance, the browser may ask for your location when using a mapping website to get directions.
You must limit the browser only to access what is needed, and this will prevent Safari from receiving unwanted information and sharing them.
You can limit what the browser can access by going to Privacy & Settings > Location Services > Safari Websites > select whether websites can access your location and change it to Never or While Using the App.
If you choose never, the browser will never have access to the location or other services. But if you select While Using the App, it means the browser will be able to access specific services when you are using the browser.
The Bottom Line
Apple’s yearly updates are packed with fantastic Safari improvements and enhancements to other apps. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about staying safe online if you regularly update the Safari app. For everything else, you can follow the tips mentioned above.
