Safari – Privacy & Security

Prevent Cross-Site Tracking

Cross-Site Tracking is exactly what it sounds like. Websites will track where you’ve been, where you’re going, and collect data through the use of scripts, widgets, and sometimes even tiny invisible images that you can’t see to help them gain very useful analytics about their business/website. It can be of a convenience to you so you get suggestions based on what you’re interested in but it can also be an invasion of privacy.

Note: It is recommended that you leave this feature on as it can be less helpful and more intrusive depending on who has access to your data and how you browse the web.

Hide IP Address

Your IP address is a unique string of characters that allows for the identification of the device that’s being used to access the internet and just like someone can use your home address to find your house, they can use your IP address to find your device. You can choose whether you want to hide your IP Address from Trackers and Websites, just Trackers, or you can select Off take it off completely.

Note: It is recommended that you hide your IP Address from everyone that you can for optimal security.

Block All Cookies

Cookies are files created by websites that you visit to make your browsing experience more convenient. Allowing cookies will make it so you don’t have to continuously enter in your log in information every time you visit a website. For example, when you access Netflix everyday to watch your favorite show, the reason you don’t have to sign in every time and the show you’re watching is saved at the part you left off at and at the top of the page is because of cookies.

Note: Allowing cookies is not the biggest privacy or security concern and with some websites you won’t be able to use the website at all if cookies are disabled. It’s really just to make your life more convenient so you can turn off all cookies if you’d like but if you trust the websites you visit it’s better to leave them on. If anything, manually disable cookies for specific websites and apps rather that disable access entirely.

Fraudulent Website Warning

If Safari thinks the website your visiting could be harmful, you will get a notification that it could possibly be a phishing scam. (Phishing scams are an attempt to steal your personal information, usernames, passwords, and other account information.) So, it is highly recommended that you keep this on for your safety. 

Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement

This allows companies who do have your data to be able to analyze your data to let them know how they are doing with out personally identifying you. One way or another someone is going to get a hold of some of your electronic habits but that doesn’t mean that they should have access to who you are personally. It is recommended that you keep this on.

Note: Turning this feature off does not prevent your data from being used. Turning it off will only allow them to identify you.

Check for Apple Pay

Having this on will allow websites to check if you have apple pay so you can use your card that you have set up on apple pay to make purchases. Checking to see if you have Apple Pay does not mean that they can see your card information and using Apple Pay instead of entering your card information when you are buying something online is actually More Secure. Companies will usually send you straight to the Apple Pay option if they know you have it rather than other options like putting your card information in manually.

Clear History and Website Data

This is exactly what it sounds like. It will clear all search history, website data, caches, cookies, etc. This will clear all browsing related data on every device that’s signed in with your Apple ID.