Safari employs a feature called Intelligent Tracking Prevention which uses machine learning to determine which websites can track you across the internet. The browser will block and delete third-party trackers from sites you haven't visited over the last 30 days.
Select “Prevent cross-site tracking.” Unless you visit and interact with the third-party content provider as a first-party website, their cookies and website data are deleted. Social media sites often put Share, Like, or Comment buttons on other websites.
Why Is Prevent Cross-Site Tracking Option Greyed Out on iPhone? The greyed-out Prevent Cross-Site option is probably because you have blocked cookies on iPhone. Trackers use cookies to collect your data, hence, if you've disabled the cookie option, the trackers simply can't collect the data.
For a Privacy Report that shows a list of known trackers who've been blocked from tracking you, choose Safari > Privacy Report. To start blocking trackers, see Prevent cross-site tracking.
Your browsing habits: Trackers keep records of what websites you visit, how long you visit for, and what you purchase. They may also record what ads you tend to click on; it all helps to build an advertising profile.
You might be surprised to learn that the vast majority of websites include many of these third-party trackers. Websites include them for a variety of reasons, like for advertising, analytics, and social media. Each third-party tracker exposes some of your personal information to the company behind it.
Anti-tracking browser extensions can block ads and trackers and keep your personal data hidden when using the internet. You can also block tracking cookies by updating your privacy settings, using a private browser, or downloading a VPN.
If you delete all your Safari cookies, you can reduce tracking from third-party sites and you'll likely see fewer targeted ads. But beware, clearing your cookies may also log you out of websites and make you log back in again.
Safari helps prevent trackers from following you across websites and viewing your IP address. You can review the Privacy Report to see a summary of trackers that have been encountered and prevented by Intelligent Tracking Prevention on the current webpage you're visiting.
Safari does not block Google Analytics by default - just third-party cookies. With the "Privacy Report," Apple added many new privacy features to help protect users from being tracked across the internet. In the presentation, Apple showed that Google Analytics was the most frequently blocked tracker.
Use a tracker blocker if you want to stop third-party cookies from gathering data about your browsing habits and creating a detailed profile on you. This way, you will be able to use online services in privacy.
I would highly recommend you do so, in order to prevent companies from tracking you and using that data for targeted ads and keep tabs on how you interact with their sites.
Should you enable or disable this? In general, you should enable this. By this, I mean turn on “prevent cross-site tracking.” This is an important privacy feature. That is why it is enabled by default, and you should not turn it off.
Unusually High Data Usage
An unusual surge in the amount of data your phone is consuming can sometimes be a sign spyware is running in the background. The spy app needs to use data to send information back to the perpetrator, so a spike in data usage may indicate foul play.
Fortunately, it's easy to remove tracking cookies in all major browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Plus, many browsers let you disable third-party cookies altogether or block them by default.
A device that is infected with malware or spyware can track your location even if your location settings are turned off. Malware can also record your online activities, allow cybercriminals to steal personal information, or slow down your operating system.
Types of GPS trackers and their benefits
One of the great things about GPS trackers is they encourage independence in people who might feel vulnerable without a safety net. They also help us find lost items and keep tabs on loved ones without hovering.
These trackers record your IP address, which can be used to send you targeted spam and ads based on your browsing history and approximate location. One day, you start receiving ads about locally provided services, whether you're interested in them or not.
Wi-Fi admins can see your activity through router logs, while websites, apps, ISPs, search engines, and advertisers all have means of tracking what you do online. Your devices and browsers keep records of what you do on them too. Not to mention cybercriminals could install spyware on your device or hijack your data.
Simply put, web trackers are pieces of code that let companies spy on your online activity across the web, resulting in detailed data profiles about you.