Use Safari settings to remove and block data that websites can use to track you in Safari. To view these preferences, choose Settings > Safari.
Prevent Cross-Site Tracking
Some websites use third-party content providers. A third-party content provider can track you across websites to advertise products and services.
With this option turned on, tracking data is periodically deleted unless you visit the third-party content provider.
Hide IP Address
Intelligent Tracking Prevention helps protect you from unwanted tracking by using on-device machine learning to stop trackers while allowing websites to function normally. Hide IP Address enhances Intelligent Tracking Prevention by sending some of your web traffic through two separate relays operated by different entities. The first knows your Internet Protocol (IP) address, but not the website you are visiting. The second knows the website you are visiting, but not your IP address, instead providing a generalized identity and location to the destination website. This way, no single entity has the information to identify both you and the sites you visit.
You can choose to send certain traffic through the relay architecture. Private Relay subscribers can choose to send all traffic through Private Relay by going to Settings > Safari > Hide IP Address, then tapping to turn on Trackers and Websites. Alternatively, all users can choose to send traffic with known trackers through the relay architecture by going to Settings > Safari > Hide IP Address, then tapping to turn on “Trackers Only” or “Trackers and Websites.” You can disable Hide IP Address at any time by going to Settings > Safari > Hide IP Address, then tapping Off.
Fraudulent Website Warning
When Fraudulent Website Warning is enabled, Safari will display a warning if the website you are visiting is a suspected phishing website. Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to steal your personal data, such as user names, passwords, and other account information. A fraudulent website masquerades as a legitimate one, such as a bank, financial institution, or email service provider. Before visiting a website, Safari may send information calculated from the website address to Google Safe Browsing and Apple to check if the website is fraudulent. For users with China mainland or Hong Kong set as their region in Settings > General > Language and Region, Safari may also use Tencent Safe Browsing to do this check. The actual website address is never shared with the safe browsing provider. Google (and, for users with China mainland or Hong Kong set as their region, Tencent) may also log your IP address when information is sent to them. You can disable Fraudulent Website Warnings in Safari at any time by going to Settings > Safari, then tapping to turn off Fraudulent Website Warning.
Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement
When Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement is enabled, Safari will provide websites with attribution reports to help websites and advertisers attribute the viewing of and clicking on ads, while still preserving your privacy. Safari will send attribution reports with limited data in a dedicated mode using IP address protection, no data storage, without any cookies, and delayed randomly between 24 and 48 hours. The attribution reports do not contain any personal data.
You can disable Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement at any time by going to Settings > Safari, then tapping to turn off Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement.
Check for ApplePay
When you are in an app or on a website that uses ApplePay on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, they can check if you have ApplePay enabled on that device. You can disable websites you visit from checking if ApplePay is enabled at any time by going to the Check for ApplePay setting on your iOS or iPadOS device in Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security.
Private Browsing
When Private Browsing is enabled, Safari doesn’t remember the pages you visit, AutoFill information, and your open tabs aren’t stored in iCloud or synced across your devices. Websites can’t modify information stored on your device, so services normally available at such sites may work differently until you turn off Private Browsing.
Note: While Private Browsing is enabled, the address bar appears dark instead of light.
Webpage Translation
Safari analyzes each webpage you visit to determine its language. This determination is made entirely on your device. If the webpage can be translated to any of your preferred languages, you can choose to translate it. If you translate, Safari will send the webpage’s contents (including the full text) to Apple’s servers for translation. After the translation is complete, Apple will discard the contents of the webpage.
If the webpage was not viewed in Private Browsing mode, then Safari will also send the webpage’s address to Apple. Apple will store the address for up to five years to improve Apple’s products, services, and technologies. Since Apple does not store the contents of webpages you translate, only publicly accessible webpages will be used to improve Apple’s products, services, and technologies.
Webpage contents and addresses sent to Apple are not associated with your AppleID, email address, or other data Apple may have from your use of other Apple services.
In order to provide you with a better browsing experience, after translating a particular webpage, other webpages you visit in the same domain that you visit within the same tab may also be translated. Safari will stop automatically translating when you visit a webpage that is no longer in the same original language, or a webpage on a different domain.
Web Extensions
You can download Safari extensions from the AppStore. If your device is managed, your employer or educational institution may provide you an app that includes Safari extensions. Before using a Safari extension, you must turn it on in Safari or by going to Settings > Safari > Extensions. Once turned on, you must grant the extension permission to read or modify webpages you visit. You can change which websites an extension can read and modify by going to Settings > Safari > Extensions.
When you use third-party web extensions you are subject to those third-parties’ terms and privacy policy and practices. You should review the terms, privacy policies, and practices of such extensions to understand how they use your information.
iCloud Syncing
You can use iCloud to keep your Safari information synchronized across your devices, including your open tabs, tab groups, AutoFill information, bookmarks, Reading List, and history. You can disable this feature at any time by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then tapping to turn off Safari.
By using these features, you agree and consent to Apple’s and its subsidiaries’ and agents’ transmission, collection, maintenance, processing, and use of this information as described above.
Retention
Apple retains personal data only for so long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including as described in Apple’s PrivacyPolicy or in our service-specific privacy notices, or as required by law. When assessing retention periods, we first carefully examine whether it is necessary to retain the personal data collected and, if retention is required, work to retain the personal data for the shortest possible period permissible under law.
At all times, information collected by Apple will be treated in accordance with Apple’s PrivacyPolicy, which can be found at www.apple.com/privacy
Published Date: April 6, 2023
I'm a cybersecurity and privacy enthusiast with extensive knowledge in safeguarding digital information. Over the years, I've delved deep into the intricacies of online privacy, tracking prevention, and secure browsing practices. My expertise stems from hands-on experience and a commitment to staying abreast of the latest advancements in digital security.
Now, let's dive into the concepts covered in the article about Safari settings for privacy:
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Prevent Cross-Site Tracking:
- This feature helps to block data that websites use to track users. It involves deleting tracking data periodically unless visiting the third-party content provider.
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Hide IP Address:
- Intelligent Tracking Prevention is utilized to stop unwanted tracking. Hide IP Address enhances this by sending web traffic through two relays, separating knowledge of your IP address and the website you're visiting.
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Fraudulent Website Warning:
- This warns users of suspected phishing websites. Before visiting a site, Safari may send information to Google Safe Browsing and Apple to check for fraudulent activity.
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Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement:
- Enables Safari to provide websites with attribution reports while preserving user privacy. Reports contain limited data, use IP address protection, and are delayed between 24 and 48 hours.
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Check for ApplePay:
- Websites can check if ApplePay is enabled on a device. Users can disable this feature in Safari settings.
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Private Browsing:
- When enabled, Safari doesn't remember visited pages, AutoFill information, or open tabs. It provides a more discreet browsing experience.
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Webpage Translation:
- Safari analyzes and translates webpages, sending contents to Apple's servers for translation. Addresses may be stored for up to five years to enhance Apple's products and services.
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Web Extensions:
- Users can download Safari extensions and manage them in settings. Third-party extensions are subject to their terms and privacy policies.
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iCloud Syncing:
- Allows synchronization of Safari information across devices. Users can disable this feature in iCloud settings.
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Retention:
- Apple retains personal data for the necessary period, as outlined in their Privacy Policy, and complies with legal requirements.
This comprehensive set of features demonstrates Safari's commitment to user privacy, covering aspects from tracking prevention to secure browsing and data synchronization. Users have the flexibility to customize settings based on their preferences for a safer and more private online experience.
