This iOS 26 feature can give you more privacy in Safari

Apple released iOS 26 In September, the update introduced a number of new features for your device iPhone like Call screening and New ringtones. The update also includes some improved privacy measures against digital fingerprinting. Everyone can benefit from these advanced privacy measures on their devices.

Since we do most things on digital devices these days, we may leave our digital footprints everywhere. Digital fingerprints consist of pieces of information about your device and browser, such as your IP address, device type, and even screen resolution, CNET senior writer Attila Tomaszek told me. Fingerprints can be used to detect fraud as well as improve website performance, but they can also be dangerous, which makes iOS’s privacy feature so useful, he said.

“Advertisers can create detailed user profiles for targeted ads, and companies may use fingerprinting to discriminate prices based on a user’s location and other perceived demographics,” he said. “Worse still, an authoritarian government can leverage fingerprints to monitor its population, and digital fingerprints can help cybercriminals commit fraud and identity theft.”

Companies can also sell these profiles to Data brokerswhich can obtain offline information from public records and other sources and attach it to your digital fingerprint. According to the cybersecurity company avastBrokers can then sell this information to advertisers to target you more effectively.

Apple wrote connected These protections are enabled by default for all browsing. But here’s where to find the setting to make sure you get maximum privacy while using Safari or if you want to adjust the feature.

Note that your digital fingerprint is different from, and not related to, your biometric fingerprint.

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Where to find advanced tracking and fingerprinting protections

1. It opens Settings.
2. handle Applications Near the bottom of the list.
3. handle Safari.
4. handle advanced Near the bottom of the list.
5. handle Advanced tracking and fingerprint protection.

The Advanced Tracking and Fingerprints menu will have three options: on, Private browsing and All browsing. For the greatest protection, be sure to select “All Browsing” – this is indicated by a check mark.

“Advanced fingerprint protection, previously limited to private browsing, now protects all browsing in Safari,” Apple wrote. connected. “It blocks browser and device data that can be used to create a digital fingerprint for users.”

It’s important to note that this setting only applies to Safari, so if you use another browser app, you may not get the same level of protection.

While banning fingerprinting can help protect your data, there are some downsides to doing so. Fingerprinting can help websites remember your personal settings, so blocking that function could lead to a less convenient online experience, Tomaszyk said. If blocking fingerprinting on all browsing is causing you too much inconvenience, follow the steps above and tap on either on To disable the feature completely or Private browsing So it is only enabled when browsing privately.

Why is this protection important now?

Digital privacy and keeping your information safe is always important, but Google has changed one of its policies regarding digital fingerprinting December 2024.

Google wrote at the time that it was updating its digital fingerprinting policy for two reasons. First, advances in privacy-enhancing technologies “give people the privacy protections they expect.” These advances offer “new ways for brands to safely and securely manage and activate their data,” the company said.

The second reason Google is updating its policy is “the emergence of new ad-supported devices and platforms,” such as streaming services.

“With this update, we can help businesses, large and small, meet the opportunities presented by the evolving digital landscape, while meeting user expectations around privacy,” Google wrote.

But not everyone was convinced this was a good idea. the UK Information Commissioner’s Office He wrote at the time that digital fingerprinting would likely reduce people’s choices and control over their data. The office described the change made by Google as “irresponsible,” citing Google’s own position for 2019 Regarding fingerprinting – “wrong”.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Other ways to combat digital fingerprinting

Although a VPN can hide your IP address and use ad blockers and trackers, it’s not a comprehensive solution to combating digital fingerprinting, Tomaszyk told me. He suggests using a range of different tactics. This may mean using a privacy-focused browser such as Mulvad Browser Or a privacy-focused extension e.g Privacy Badger From the Electronic Frontier Foundation, in collaboration with VPN.

Although they can’t prevent a company from collecting your digital fingerprint, a data removal service can help remove data that already exists. So you can use one of these services to remove your data before using a range of other tools to try to protect your digital footprint.

For more on iOS 26, here My review of the operating systemHow to reduce the effects of Liquid Glass in the update and how to enable it Calls and text Scan on your iPhone. You can also check our website iOS 26 cheat sheet.