To prevent tracking on your iPhone's browser and boost your privacy, start by enabling the "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" feature in Safari. This setting blocks third-party cookies and prevents advertisers from tracking your online activity across different websites.
By turning on this feature, you'll significantly reduce the amount of data that's collected about your browsing habits. This is especially important for users who value their online anonymity.
To access this feature, go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security. From there, toggle the switch next to "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" to enable it.
What Is Cross-Site Tracking
Cross-site tracking is a sneaky practice where companies monitor your browsing activity across many websites to collect information about your browsing habits. This data is then used to run targeted advertising and show personalized content.
Some of the most common trackers used for cross-site tracking include cookies and tracking pixels that are embedded in the code of the websites you visit. These trackers log every action you take, creating a clear picture of your reading preferences and favorite genres, just like the online bookstore example.
Cross-site tracking is used to create user profiles, which can feel like an invasion of privacy. But don't worry, there are ways to protect yourself.
Here are some common trackers used for cross-site tracking:
- Cookies
- Tracking pixels
- Widgets
- Scripts
- Tiny images
If you're from a region with less stringent privacy laws, you can still protect yourself by adjusting your browser settings to limit or fully block cross-website tracking.
Preventing Cross-Site Tracking on iPhone
Preventing cross-site tracking on iPhone is crucial to protect your online privacy. Safari has a feature called Intelligent Tracking Prevention that works on machine learning algorithms to block third-party tracking sites you didn't open in the last 30 days.
To enable this feature on your iPhone, go to Settings, then scroll down and tap on Safari. Under Privacy & Security, find "Prevent cross-site tracking" and toggle it on. This will help prevent advertisers from tracking your online activities and showing you targeted ads.
You can also manually delete stored data for each site by clicking on the "Details" button. However, be aware that some sites may still be able to track your location, so you can try spoofing your location to restrict their access.
Here's a quick summary of the steps to prevent cross-site tracking on your iPhone:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Safari.
- Under Privacy & Security, find "Prevent cross-site tracking" and toggle it on.
Canvas Fingerprinting
Canvas fingerprinting is a browser fingerprinting technique that uses the HTML5 canvas element to track visitors.
Websites can use this element to instruct your browser to draw hidden graphics, which render differently based on your device's settings, like the graphics card and system hardware.
This unique rendering creates a digital fingerprint, allowing precise tracking when combined with other site data.
The way graphics render on your iPhone can be used to identify you, even if you're using a private browser or VPN.
Preventing Cross-Site Requests
To prevent cross-site requests on your iPhone, you can turn off cross-site tracking in Safari. This feature is available on both MacOS and iOS devices.
Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses machine learning algorithms to protect your privacy by figuring out the sites tracking you.
To enable this feature on your Mac, open the Safari browser and navigate to "Safari" > "Preferences", then click on "Privacy" and select "Prevent cross-site tracking."
On your iPhone or iPad, go to "Settings" and scroll down to "Safari", then toggle on "Prevent cross-site tracking" under "Privacy & security."
Safari blocks third-party tracking sites that you didn't open in the last 30 days.
Here's a summary of how to prevent cross-site tracking on your iPhone:
- Open Safari and navigate to "Safari" > "Preferences"
- Click on "Privacy" and select "Prevent cross-site tracking"
- On iPhone or iPad, go to "Settings" > "Safari" and toggle on "Prevent cross-site tracking"
Remember, if you don't visit a site within 30 days, Safari will automatically delete or purge all of the cookies for that domain.
Understanding Cross-Site Navigation
Cross-site tracking is a form of online surveillance where companies and websites use cookies and digital identifiers to track your browsing history across multiple sites.
This means that third parties can collect information about what you've been looking at without your knowledge or consent, all as part of an effort to create a profile on you and target you with ads.
Cross-site tracking uses trackers like cookies, widgets, and scripts embedded in website code to monitor online activity and create user profiles.
Some common trackers include cookies, scripts, and tiny images that log every action you take while browsing the web.
To prevent cross-site tracking, you can adjust your browser settings to limit or block cross-website tracking, or use features like intelligent tracking prevention in Safari.
Safari's intelligent tracking prevention uses machine learning algorithms to block third-party tracking sites that you didn't visit in the last 30 days.
To enable this feature on your iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security, and toggle on "Prevent cross-site tracking".
On Mac, open Safari > Preferences > Privacy, and select "Prevent cross-site tracking".
You can also use a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing public Wi-Fi to encrypt your data and protect yourself from third-party tracking.
To enable two-factor authentication, go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security, and toggle on "Two-Factor Authentication".
Some popular browsers, like Chrome, offer tools to prevent cross-site tracking, such as blocking third-party cookies and enabling the "Do Not Track" feature.
Here are some ways to prevent cross-site tracking on your iPhone and browser:
- Enable "Prevent cross-site tracking" in Safari settings
- Use private or incognito mode to reduce data sharing
- Consider using a VPN when accessing public Wi-Fi
- Be aware of what you click and what you share online
- Refrain from using the same login credentials for multiple sites
- Enable two-factor authentication if available
By following these steps, you can protect your privacy and prevent cross-site tracking on your iPhone and browser.
iPhone Browser Privacy
Safari on your iPhone has a feature called Intelligent Tracking Prevention in WebKit that puts restrictions on how advertisers can use data from cookies. This feature uses your browser's history to determine which sites can have access to which cookies and when.
If you visit a site, Safari will allow cross-site tracking across other domains for 24 hours, but if you don't visit the site again within 24 hours, it will prevent cross-site tracking. The cookie will still remain on the site but will be partitioned so it can't be used in a third-party context.
You can also use Content Blockers like AdblockPlus to block ads on various sites and video channels. This can be a great solution for those who hate pop-up ads and want to avoid tracking.
To clean up cookies on Safari, you can manually delete them by launching Settings, navigating to Safari, and tapping "Clear History and Website Data." You can also remove all website data by clicking on the "Remove All Website Data" button.
Here are the steps to clean up cookies on Safari:
- Launch Safari on your Mac and choose "Preferences"
- Click on the "Privacy" tab
- Click on the "Remove All Website Data" button
- Click on "Remove Now" for confirmation
Alternatively, you can also block all cookies in Safari, but this could make some websites not function as you're used to, and your login data won't be saved.
Use Content Blockers
Ads on your iPhone can be extremely irritating, and some even contain viruses and malware, so it's essential to block them. AdblockPlus for the Safari browser is a free solution that allows users to block ads on various sites and video channels.
Blocking ads can also help prevent tracking, which is a major concern for iPhone users who value their online privacy.
Using AdblockPlus is a simple way to take control of your online experience and reduce the number of ads you see.
By blocking ads, you'll not only avoid annoying pop-ups but also minimize your risk of downloading malware.
Privacy
Privacy is a top concern for many iPhone users, and Safari offers some great features to help protect your online identity. Clearing browsing history is one of the best ways to stop Safari from tracking your history.
You can do this by going to "Safari" > "Clear History and Website Data". This will remove all recently visited sites, web pages, icons, and other things from your Safari browser.
Safari's Intelligent Tracking Prevention in WebKit puts restrictions on how advertisers can use data from cookies. It uses your browser's history to determine which sites can have access to which cookies and when.
Here's how it works: if you visit a site, Safari will allow cross-site tracking across other domains for 24 hours. If you don't visit the site again within 24 hours, it will prevent cross-site tracking. If you don't visit the site within 30 days, it will automatically delete or purge all cookies for that domain.
To take your privacy to the next level, consider using content blockers like AdblockPlus. This free app allows you to block ads on various sites and video channels, keeping you safe from annoying pop-ups and potential viruses.
To clean up cookies on Safari, you can follow these steps: launch "Settings" and navigate to "Safari", then tap "Clear History and Website Data". Alternatively, you can launch Safari on your Mac and choose "Preferences", then click on "Remove All Website Data" and confirm by clicking "Remove Now".
Checking Intelligent Assistant Status
Intelligent Tracking Prevention is already enabled in iOS 11 by default.
To verify it's on, head over to the Settings app and scroll down to the Safari section.
In the Privacy & Security section, make sure "Prevent Cross-Site Tracking" is toggled on (green).
This feature has cost ad companies millions of dollars since September 2017, as reported by The Guardian in January 2018.
If you want to go further, you could block all cookies in Safari, but be aware that this might make some websites not function as expected.
Sources
- https://nordvpn.com/blog/cross-site-tracking/
- https://www.ultfone.com/virtual-location/prevent-cross-site-tracking.html
- https://www.imyfone.com/change-location/stop-internet-tracking-on-safari/
- https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/safari/
- https://ios.gadgethacks.com/how-to/safari-101-block-cross-site-tracking-your-iphone-0180462/
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