Safari privacy settings on iPhone: Relaxed level

What for: So cybercriminals do not get your data by fraudulent means.

Scammers often make copies of popular websites to steal user data. If you fail to spot a fake in time, your credentials or bank card details could wind up in cybercriminals’ hands.

By default, Safari protects against fake sites and warns users if a page is not genuine. Check your settings in case you disabled this feature.

1. Open your phone's Settings;
2. Find and select Safari in the list of apps;
3. Scroll down to Privacy & Security and enable Fraudulent Website Warning.

What for: Anonymous browsing.

The browser usually saves information about the pages you visit, the passwords you enter, the permissions you give, and some website data. If you want to hide these — for example, when using someone else's phone — browse in private mode. In this case, Safari won’t save your browsing and download history. Additionally, a separate session is created for each page, which means advertisers won’t be able to sniff out your online activity through trackers in other tabs.

To open a private window:

1. Tap the tab switch button (two squares icon at the bottom right of the Safari screen);
2. At the bottom left, select Private;
3. Tap the plus sign to open a new private window.

Downside: Having to remember the pages you viewed and enter your credentials each time.

What for: So advertisers do not know which websites you visit.

Some websites use third-party cookies. They are placed by ad networks to track your online activity. You can ban websites from sharing this data with third parties.

1. Open your phone's Settings;
2. Find and select Safari in the list of apps;
3. Under Privacy & Security, enable Prevent Cross-Site Tracking.

What for: So no one can eavesdrop or spy on you.

Websites can request permission to access your camera and microphone. For example, a technical support page can request such permission to enable voice chat with an expert. However, malicious websites can trick you into giving them this permission and then spy on you. To protect yourself, restrict access to your camera and microphone:

1. Open your phone's Settings;
2. Find and select Safari in the list of apps;
3. Scroll down to Settings for Websites, open the Camera menu, and select Ask or Deny to restrict camera access on all websites;
4. Likewise open the Microphone menu and select Ask or Deny to restrict microphone access on all websites.

What for: To protect against hacking.

When you sign in to a website, Safari prompts you to save the password in your keychain. This lets you automatically enter your credentials on subsequent visits. In your smartphone settings, you can check the strength of saved passwords, replace duplicate or weak ones, and make sure that none has been stolen.

1. Open your phone's Settings;
2. Scroll down and open the Passwords menu; Use Touch ID, Face ID, or a passcode to sign in;
3. Select Security Recommendations;
4. Make sure that Detect Compromised Passwords is enabled;
5. If a password has been stolen, is used on more than one site, or is not strong enough, you will see the vulnerable resource listed with detailed information;
6. Tap Change Password on Website and follow the link to replace it with a unique and strong password.