Attached what I think are my relevant settings. I mainly use Safari for iCloud Private Relay.
Maybe it makes it harder for a site to track me if I’m using Private Browsing versus using the regular mode without clearing website data, eh?
Too bad Tab Groups don’t isolate cookies (and other data), seems like that would solve for some of my use cases. And too bad Private Tabs forget cookies when they’re not used for a while / you run out of RAM. That would also solve for some use cases.
I’d like to pin a dozen or so completely isolated tabs and have them always maintain my cookies. Because I can’t, I use Tab Groups for a few sites I use frequently, and launch a new Private Tab for everything else.
alt-text
Three iOS 17 screenshots:
Section 1:
Settings > Safari
PRIVACY & SECURITY
Prevent Cross-Site Tracking
Hide IP Address Trackers and Websites >
Section 2:
Safari > Advanced
Website Data
PRIVACY
Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection
All Browsing >
Block All Cookies
Privacy Preserving Ad Measurement
Check for Apple Pay
Section 3:
iCloud > Private Relay
iCloud Private Relay keeps your internet activity private
Private Relay hides your IP address and browsing activity in Safari and protects your unencrypted internet traffic so that no one -including Apple—can see both who you are and what sites you’re visiting.
About iCloud Private Relay & Privacy…
IP Address Location
Private Relay
Without access to your IP address, some websites may require extra steps to sign in or access content.
Learn more…
Too bad Tab Groups don’t isolate cookies
Try Profiles (can be created in Settings), I think those do that.
Profiles, that was it. Was trying to remember and searched “focus mode“ (which can be combo’d IIRC). Thanks - was scared off of them for some reason (effort opening the desired group in the desired profile?) but going to try!
I have private relay always turned on, not for a specific reason, I just turn it on and forget about it tbh.
How about Private Browsing (private tabs)? (the focus of this post / post title)
I do also use iCloud Private Relay like you’re referring to.
Private tabs are just tabs which data isn’t stored after closing em. So no cookies/history is saved. It doesn’t make the website you’re visiting much more private.
No, I live my life and don’t spend half of it making sure nobody can figure out my favorite band.
I hope your favorite band isn’t PussyRiot and you don’t live in Russia
I do not, and I highly suspect that most readers of checks notes apple are either. If you only want privacy focused opinions I suspect you will find less of my type of opinions on a privacy focused sub.
Thanks for the post. I ended up reading a bunch on how it works and learned quite a bit.
I’m a new iphone user and the “every browser is Safari” thing is weird as hell to me.
So skin-ny out here 📱🌐
