If you are using the Safari web browser, you probably already know that it is the fastest one for the Mac. Apple keeps on adding new features in Safari on a regular basis to make our web browsing experience faster, easier, and more secure. It also facilitates you to open up a private browser window anytime you want in Safari’s file menu so that Safari won’t save your browsing history and will prevent the websites from tracking you. However, there are a few more steps you might want to consider taking. This article will teach you how to manage the security and privacy in Safari on Mac.
Table of Contents
How to guard against the unsafe files?
Safari automatically opens certain types of “safe” files that you download from the web. But sometimes, a malicious file could also be disguised as a “safe” file, it’s a good idea to guard against the unsafe files and it is as easy as checking a box.
- First, launch the Safari browser.
- Then, from the Safari menu, choose Preferences.
- Now, click the General button.
- Finally, uncheck the box to Open safe files after downloading.
Now, the downloads will occur as they usually do, and to the same location as you have chosen, but the files will not open automatically.
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How to identify the fraudulent websites?
Safari already diagnose the websites that use the encryption and indicates by a padlock icon in the address bar. Apart from that, Safari also uses the Google Safe Browsing technology which is simply a list of websites that may contain malware, unwanted software, or phishing scams. However, if it is not already on, here it is how to do so:
- From the Safari menu, you need to choose Preferences.
- Then, click the Security button.
- After that, check the box to Warn when visiting a fraudulent website.
Now, if you happen to run across one of these sites, then Safari will put up a full-screen warning about the site before you can proceed.
How to disable the JavaScript in Safari?
Most of the web pages contain JavaScript, that enables the certain functionality for web pages, such as displaying the time and date or displaying an image from a set of options. You can also disable the JavaScript if you like by following the steps given below, but it may impact the functioning of the web page.
- Choose Preferences from the Safari menu.
- Then, click the Security button.
- After that, uncheck the box to disable JavaScript.
How to prevent the cross-site tracking?
While using the Safari browser you may see a plethora of lawnmowers ads not long after doing some web research about lawnmowers. These are used for cross-site tracking. It is a way of keeping track of your activities on one part of the internet to show you ads while using a different part of the internet. If you want, you can turn it off.
- First choose Preferences from the Safari menu.
- Then, click the Privacy button.
- After that, check the box to Prevent cross-site tracking and check the box to Ask websites not to track me.
Remember that while you can ask websites not to track you, it is up to the website creator to honor your request.
How to block all the cookies in Safari?
Basically, cookies are small text files that a website may store on your Mac to help identify you or your Mac when you visit the same website in the future. Examples of content stored in a cookie are your name, preferences or your site browsing history. In case, if you don’t want Safari to use cookies, you can shut it off.
- Select Preferences from the Safari menu.
- Next, click the Privacy button.
- After that, uncheck the box to Block all cookies.
How to remove the website data in Safari?
If you want to remove website data from your Mac, you can do it selectively for certain websites or remove all the data.
- From the Safari menu, choose Preferences.
- Then, you need to click the Privacy button.
- After clicking on the privacy button, click the Manage Website Data button.
- Now, select a website and click the Remove button to remove the site’s cache, cookies, or local storage or click the Remove All button to delete data for all websites.
How to clear browsing history in Safari?
If you want to clear your browsing history, cookies, and website data, then follow the steps given below:
- From the Safari menu, choose Clear History.
- After that, from the Clear pop-up menu, you need to choose how far back you want to go.
- Then, click Clear History.
In addition to the history of the website pages that you have visited, you will also clear recent searches, a list of items that you have downloaded, the frequently visited site list, and other information.
In case, if your Mac and other devices have Safari turned on in iCloud preferences, then the clear history command will also remove the browsing history from Safari on those other devices.
How to check for Apple Pay on the websites?
On your Mac, you can enable the Safari to show you websites that can accept payments via Apple Pay. The, you can make the payments from your Apple Watch or iPhone, or even using Touch ID if it’s built into your Mac.
- First, go to Preferences.
- After that, click the Privacy button.
- Then, check the box to Allow websites to check if Apple Pay is set up.
Doing so will enable the Safari to check if Apple Pay is available on the website or not.
Allowing or denying a camera, microphone, and location access
Safari has the ability to determine whether or not websites can ask to use your Mac’s camera, location, microphone, and location access. Here is how to set it up.
- First of all, choose Preferences.
- After that, click the Websites button.
- Then, from the General section of the sidebar, click Camera.
- Now, click the pop-up menu for “When visiting other websites” and choose Ask, Deny, or Allow, depending on your preference.
- The settings work exactly in the same way for your Mac’s microphone and your location as well. You need to simply click Microphone or Location in the sidebar and you can change the settings according to your preference.
How to block pop-up windows in Safari?
Most of the web pages that you visit will automatically display a pop-up window that will block content that you are trying to view often with an ad. This is annoying but Fortunately, Safari allows you to control these pop-up windows.
- First of all, from the Safari menu, you need to choose the Preferences.
- Then, click the Websites button.
- Now, from the General section of the sidebar, click on the Pop-up Windows.
- After that, click the pop-up menu for “When visiting other websites” and choose Block and Notify, Block, or Allow, depending on your preference.
- Similarly, you can also change the setting for the currently open site to suit your preference.
- A small icon will appear on the right side of the Smart Search field if you have chosen Block and Notify, you need to click it to display the pop-up windows for the web page.
These are some basic methods to manage privacy and security settings in Safari Browser on Mac. Now, you can enjoy with help of Safari browsing safely.