Protecting Your Privacy in Safari for iOS

[MacRumors]

Every time you visit a website on your iPhone or iPad, you are sharing information about yourself with the outside world. This guide runs through a number of methods you can use to gain more control over what gets shared, and who it gets shared with, whenever you use Apple's Safari browser to access the web on an iOS device.

It also covers some methods you can use to prevent traces of your browsing history from showing up on your iOS devices. While you may trust friends and family not to go searching through your web history, it's possible for them to unintentionally discover what you've been looking at, just by using Safari or performing a simple Spotlight search on your iPhone or iPad. If you're interested in a similar overview covering Safari on OS X, check out this guide.

The guide assumes you are using the latest public release of iOS 9.3 (9.3.3 as of initial writing). If your device is running an older version, a message should have appeared on the screen that an update is available. Connect your device to a power source and then tap "Install Now" on the message to download the update over the air, or open the Settings app and tap General -> Software Update, and then tap "Download and Install".

Alternatively, connect your device to a computer with an internet connection and with the latest version of iTunes 12 installed. Open iTunes, select your device (a device icon should appear just below the playback controls), click "Summary" in the sidebar, and then click "Check for Update" in the Summary screen. Click "Download and Update" if an update dialog appears.

Cookies, Location Services, and Tracking

Many websites attempt to store cookies and other web page data on iOS devices. Cookies are small data files that can include things like your IP address, device type, web browser version, the date you last visited the site, as well as any personal information you have provided, such as your name, email address, and any relevant preferences. This information is used to identify you when you revisit a site, so that it can offer tailored services, provide specific content, or display targeted ads.

Websites are increasingly upfront about their use of cookies - you've probably seen notices on popular sites requesting that you acknowledge their use. That's largely because EU law requires sites based within its borders to get consent from visitors to store or retrieve cookie data, and as of September 2015, Google requires that any website using its advertising products comply with the law if any of its users are inside the EU, regardless of where the site itself is based.

By default, Safari accepts cookies and website data only from websites you visit, and attempts to block third-party cookies that try to target you with ads or create a profile of your online activities. If you don't like the idea of being tracked at all, you can selectively block the use of cookies by following the numbered steps below. Note however that some pages might not work unless you allow the use of cookies, so if you run into login problems or other issues on familiar sites after adjusting these settings, then you might want to dial back the changes.


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Article Link: Protecting Your Privacy in Safari for iOS

 

[LCPepper]

So just turn off pretty much all of the functionality of Safari?

Why not just write a post telling people not to go on the Internet?

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, combined with the use of Apple Pay in the real world, that's much better...

The only thing I do is delete my browsing history, why? Because I'm worried about the fact I searched for "graduate jobs"? No. Because sometimes it takes up quite a lot of space on my device when it's syncing it all across iCloud.

 

[KALLT]

So just turn off pretty much all of the functionality of Safari?

Why not just write a post telling people not to go on the Internet?

Nonsense, these suggestions are very reasonable and barely limit your browsing. Disabling tracking and location services, and restricting and clearing cookies are very sensible suggestions nowadays. Autofilling and long browsing histories can expose quite a bit of information about you if someone else uses your phone, or gets access to one of your devices if you are using iCloud. I never saw a reason to keep long histories anyway, I have never missed anything. Autofilling is disabled for the exact same reason on my devices, I have never seen the point.

 

[asleep]

Two thumbs up,

thanks for the helpful info!

 

[997440]

It's good info for people to see what could be useful for them, whether a newcomer or as a reminder to old-comers. There's trade-offs, as the article mentions.

 

[LCPepper]

Nonsense, these suggestions are very reasonable and barely limit your browsing. Disabling tracking and restricting and clearing cookies are very sensible suggestions nowadays. Autofilling and long browsing histories can expose quite a bit of information about you if someone else uses your phone, if gets access to one of your devices if you are using iCloud. I never saw a reason to keep long histories anyway, I have never missed anything. Autofilling is disabled for the exact same reason on my devices, I have never seen the point.

You just need to see the light and leave the dark side!

 

[C DM]

So just turn off pretty much all of the functionality of Safari?

Why not just write a post telling people not to go on the Internet?

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, combined with the use of Apple Pay in the real world, that's much better...

The only thing I do is delete my browsing history, why? Because I'm worried about the fact I searched for "graduate jobs"? No. Because sometimes it takes up quite a lot of space on my device when it's syncing it all across iCloud.

Hardly even close to most let alone all of functionality of Safari. Have been using most of those options for a long time now and Safari is very usable without me really missing out on much, if really anything at all (at least as far as my daily and fairly extensive use of the browser goes). Ultimately depends on the individual and what they actually use and/or need/want to use.

 

[iReality85]

So just turn off pretty much all of the functionality of Safari?

Why not just write a post telling people not to go on the Internet?

Hyperbole much?

Answer: Yes.

 

[now i see it]

Privacy while connected to the Internet is an illusion.

 

[LCPepper]

Hyperbole much?

Answer: Yes.

Over excited?

Answer: Yes.

 

[C DM]

I'm somewhat surprised that content blockers (that offer blocking of trackers) aren't mentioned.

There's also the whole piece related to advertising under Settings > Privacy > Advertising as well as some under Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services that might be worth looking into and adjusting (although I'm not certain of how much direct/indirect impact those might have on Safari in particular).

 

[Sill]

This article is a good beginner's guide, but an in-depth exploration of VPNs would be welcomed by many people here.

 

[jdillings]

Why not just write a post telling people not to go on the Internet?

Because if you're buying an Apple product, you care about privacy. It's amazing how many people have already forgotten the lengths Google went to disable privacy safeguards in Safari.

 

[JosephAW]

I just use Firefox for iOS

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Good article, and all good advice.

If you do one on Mac OS X, please note that it is not a good idea to delete web browsing and history in one go. If you do, it can wipe out metadata in iTunes, leading to months of data loss. One has to delete history separately. Can elaborate if needed.

 

[SteveW928]

That's a good start, but a lot of the problem isn't on the computer itself. A lot of data can be aggregated (ex: you're looking at site A when your email app checks service B... same time/IP). Even if you're using a VPN, most modern OSs have all kinds of background apps checking all kinds of services in the background for which there are identifiable accounts to be linked with that 'anonymous' IP.

In fact, this makes me nervous when I'm at an airport, etc. The moment my device detects it's on the 'net, all kinds of services are creating a connection (and sending user/password, etc) before I can even get a VPN established. And, that's not even about hiding your tracks... that's just basic internet safety.

 

[Sill]

That's a good start, but a lot of the problem isn't on the computer itself. A lot of data can be aggregated (ex: you're looking at site A when your email app checks service B... same time/IP). Even if you're using a VPN, most modern OSs have all kinds of background apps checking all kinds of services in the background for which there are identifiable accounts to be linked with that 'anonymous' IP.

In fact, this makes me nervous when I'm at an airport, etc. The moment my device detects it's on the 'net, all kinds of services are creating a connection (and sending user/password, etc) before I can even get a VPN established. And, that's not even about hiding your tracks... that's just basic internet safety.

This is exactly why a serious article - perhaps a series of them - relating to VPN use is needed here. Searching for info on the best way to implement a VPN and get the most use out of it takes the searcher on a long trip down a twisty road that usually ends up with sponsored content (yourbestmacosxvpnforsure.com) or something like that) preaching one or another approach, and those are probably all owned by MacKeeper.

 

[smacrumon]

Visitors should be able to log into any website without the need to store cookies. Websites that demand cookies storage in those cases are totally corrupt and in desperate need of a recode.

 

[C DM]

Visitors should be able to log into any website without the need to store cookies. Websites that demand cookies storage in those cases are totally corrupt and in desperate need of a recode.

Corrupt because they use cookies which are fairly basic things as far as internet usage goes?

 

[SteveW928]

This is exactly why a serious article - perhaps a series of them - relating to VPN use is needed here. Searching for info on the best way to implement a VPN and get the most use out of it takes the searcher on a long trip down a twisty road that usually ends up with sponsored content (yourbestmacosxvpnforsure.com) or something like that) preaching one or another approach, and those are probably all owned by MacKeeper.

This is actually more a flaw in the design of OS X (macOS) / iOS for the average user. There might be a way to set the OSs up for corporate VPNs that ensures encryption before any data is sent, but if so, the average user using a VPN doesn't get this.

There are a lot of VPNs. The one I use is IPVanish, and I've been pretty happy with it.

Visitors should be able to log into any website without the need to store cookies. Websites that demand cookies storage in those cases are totally corrupt and in desperate need of a recode.

Most websites use cookies, including this one. The question is why and what is being done with them. They aren't inherently bad.

 

[smacrumon]

Corrupt because they use cookies which are fairly basic things as far as internet usage goes?

Corrupt because cookies are not actually needed to login but instead are used to force the tracking of users.
[doublepost=1469773296][/doublepost]

This is actually more a flaw in the design of OS X (macOS) / iOS for the average user. There might be a way to set the OSs up for corporate VPNs that ensures encryption before any data is sent, but if so, the average user using a VPN doesn't get this.

There are a lot of VPNs. The one I use is IPVanish, and I've been pretty happy with it.



Most websites use cookies, including this one. The question is why and what is being done with them. They aren't inherently bad.

When they used to track users or send information to marketers for advertising they are inherently bad.

 

[C DM]

Corrupt because cookies are not actually needed to login but instead are used to force the tracking of users.
[doublepost=1469773296][/doublepost]
When they used to track users or send information to marketers for advertising they are inherently bad.

Cookies are used for a variety of things, not all related to tracking.

 

[smacrumon]

Cookies are used for a variety of things, not all related to tracking.

I understand cookies. The many aspects of cookies. Here's a good starting point for information about cookies: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_cookie

 

[You are the One]

Good info. Sadly compared to MacOS one is pretty much left out to tracking and being connected to dozens of unwanted servers for each web page browsed via iOS. I use 1Blocker on iOS, don't know if it works really since I avoid the web without a VPN and Little Snitch. I have VPN on the phone as well but the connection tend to go down when not using it and I can't be bothered establishing it regularly.

Ang regarding cookies, they are a bit like flies I think. I use Cookie for MacOS and have it delete all cookies, cache and history every 10 minutes.

 

[iapplelove]

As far as I'm concerned, if you use a smart phone in any way you can be tracked,hacked etc. etc.

Only real way to be sure is to disconnect.

I understand the article is more about safe browsing practices, which I agree make some sense. But I'm thinking bigger lol