iOS 17 Locks Your Safari Private Browsing Behind Face ID - MacRumors
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iOS 17 Locks Your Safari Private Browsing Behind Face ID

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Apple is enhancing the security of Safari in iOS 17, and private browsing now requires Face ID authentication or a passcode to access. If you open up a private browsing window in Safari, you will need to authenticate with ‌Face ID‌.

safari private browsing ios 17
That means someone who has access to your unlocked phone and opens your Safari browser won't be able to get to your private browsing history without secondary authentication. ‌Face ID‌ or a passcode can be used to access the Safari private tabs.

Private browsing also completely blocks known trackers from loading on pages and removes tracking added to URLs as you browse, improving privacy. Websites are prevented from tracking or identifying your device with these new additions, plus Apple also offers improved extension control.

In private mode, extensions with website access are turned off, and you will need to manually re-enable them. iCloud Private Relay also uses IP address locations based on country and time zone rather than a general location.

Safari in iOS 17 is also gaining a Profiles feature so you can keep your personal browsing and work browsing separate, with different histories, Tab Groups, cookies, and favorites.

Tag: Safari
Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Top Rated Comments

antiprotest Avatar
antiprotest
37 months ago
Need a section in setting with the option to toggle on FaceID for each app.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fel10 Avatar
fel10
37 months ago
Porn watchers unite
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
DBZmusicboy01
37 months ago
What about photo albums? That’s why I never let anyone use my phone 😖
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
pacalis
37 months ago
Huh? Why is there history on private browsing?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
jasonsmith_88
37 months ago
I use private browsing 100% of the time. I personally don’t need history, so the only thing history does for me is increase my risk factor. Remember a few years ago there was a bug in Safari that allowed any website to view your full browsing history. No thanks.

If this can’t be toggled, my life is going to become extremely painful. I really, really, really don’t want to have to authenticate every time Safari opens.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
iSam21
37 months ago
This looks promising. Another feature for ‘private’ browsers would be for you to be able to set certain profiles to only use certain wifi networks. No accidental ‘private’ traffic on the work network because the wrong tabs were left open…
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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