📺 Video Tutorial

🛡️ Why Safari Privacy Settings Matter

Safari has powerful privacy features that block trackers, prevent fingerprinting, and protect your browsing data. Proper configuration stops advertisers from following you across the web.

• 🔒 Block cross-site tracking – Stop advertisers
• 📱 Prevent fingerprinting – Make your browser less unique
• 🛡️ Hide IP address – Use iCloud Private Relay
• ⚡ Block pop-ups and fraudulent sites – Built-in protection

Built into macOS – Configure in Safari → Settings

💡 Configuration Steps

Quick guide:

• 1️⃣ Safari → Settings → Privacy → Enable “Prevent cross-site tracking”
• 2️⃣ Enable “Hide IP address from trackers”
• 3️⃣ Settings → Security → Enable “Warn when visiting fraudulent website”
• 4️⃣ General → Remove download list items: After one day
• 5️⃣ Privacy → Block all cookies (optional, breaks some sites)

💡 Safari Privacy Tips

🎉 You’re now protected! Safari is blocking trackers and protecting your privacy.

Essential Safari Privacy Practices:

• 🔍 Enable Prevent Cross-Site Tracking
  Safari → Settings → Privacy → Prevent cross-site tracking. This blocks third-party cookies and prevents advertisers from tracking you across websites. Essential privacy feature. Some sites may break, but most work fine.
• 🚫 Use iCloud Private Relay to hide IP
  Settings → Privacy → Hide IP address → Enable for trackers and websites. Requires iCloud+ subscription. Routes traffic through two servers, hiding your IP from websites and even Apple. Like a VPN built into Safari.
• 📱 Check Privacy Report regularly
  Safari → Privacy Report shows blocked trackers. Review to see which websites track you most aggressively. This awareness helps you make informed decisions about which sites to trust.
• ⚠️ Clear history and website data regularly
  Safari → Settings → Privacy → Manage Website Data → Remove All. Do this weekly or after sensitive browsing. Removes cookies, cache, and tracking data. Logs you out of all sites, so save important sessions first.
• 🔒 Use Private Browsing for sensitive searches
  File → New Private Window. Private Browsing doesn’t save history, cookies, or autofill data. Use for medical searches, financial research, or anything you don’t want in your history. Not anonymous, but prevents local tracking.
• 📊 Disable AutoFill for maximum security
  Settings → AutoFill → Disable all options. AutoFill can leak sensitive information. Malicious websites can extract autofilled data without you clicking submit. For maximum security, disable and manually enter information.
• 🌐 Enable fraudulent website warning
  Settings → Security → Warn when visiting a fraudulent website. Uses Google Safe Browsing to warn about phishing sites. Privacy trade-off (URLs sent to Google) but security benefit outweighs it. Catches most phishing attempts.
• 🛡️ Block pop-ups and disable JavaScript for untrusted sites
  Settings → Websites → Pop-up Windows → Block. For maximum security on untrusted sites, also disable JavaScript (Settings → Security → Enable JavaScript → Off). This breaks many sites but prevents most web-based attacks.
• ⚡ Use content blockers for ad and tracker blocking
  Install content blockers from App Store (1Blocker, AdGuard, Wipr). Enable in Safari → Settings → Extensions. These block ads, trackers, and malicious scripts before they load. More powerful than Safari’s built-in tracking prevention.
• 🔍 Use DuckDuckGo as default search engine
  Settings → Search → Search engine → DuckDuckGo. Google tracks all searches. DuckDuckGo doesn’t. Simple privacy win with similar search quality.

Remember: Safari’s privacy features are powerful but not perfect. Combine with VPN and good browsing habits for maximum protection.