Apple is known for offering innovation and advanced technology through all its devices and software. Safari, the default browser for Mac and iOS platforms is a great example of the high quality that Apple strives for. This popular browser made its appearance in 2003, when MAc OS X 10.3 (Panther) was released. The mobile version was launched along with their groundbreaking iPhone. Safari is based in the WebKit engine and it is set to offer the best performance with Apple products. With Safari, you can enjoy fast and secure browsing. In fact, it is designed to be more energy efficient and to provide better speed than other browsers available. Thanks to its speed and efficiency, Safari is the main option when it comes to browsing internet on an Apple device.
Safari offers a great selection of features that will allow you to make your browsing more convenient and productive. For instance, you can save and share favorites easily and since the browser doesn’t drain your battery as fast as other options, you will enjoy internet on your Mac or iOS device for longer. Safari is ideal for watching media content since it allows you to play HTML5 videos and it also offers native support for Netflix. As you would expect, Safari offers iCloud integration, meaning that you can sync your bookmarks, passwords and more, across all your devices. Safari also offers advanced privacy and security features such as the possibility of using DuckDuckGo. This search engine is ideal for privacy conscious users because unlike Google, it doesn’t track your online searches.
What about privacy?
Apple’s browser features practical tools to protect your data and you can enhance your privacy even further with the help of extensions that block certain content when you are browsing internet. One of the best options is 1Blocker , an app that blocks ads and third-party script. Additionally, it is set to help you to save battery because it can make websites load faster and it cuts down data downloading times. Another great option to protect your privacy when using Safari on Mac is Adamant, which blocks tracking scripts, banner ads and more.
Formerly known as Safari Blocker, Refine is a free ad-blocking solution that also supports faster loading times. Other option to block ads and trackers is Wipr. In order to enjoy the benefits of these content blockers, you need to make sure that the option to use them is enabled on Mac OS and iOS. You can follow the below steps to enable content-blocking extensions on Mac OS:
- Once you have installed the content-blocking extension, you will be able to toggle them on and off in the Safari preferences menu. First click Safari in the file menu.
- Click Preferences. You will see the full list of extensions installed in the “Extensions” tab.
- Tick or untick the box to enable content-blocking and that is all.
In iOS, you can simply go to Settings, tap Content Blockers under Safari and then enable the relevant extensions.
Safari also stands out for offering good security and since it doesn’t offer WebRTC, it is not vulnerable to the security concerns that affect this feature. Web Real-Time Communication or WebRTC is a feature available in Firefox and Chrome that supports video chat, voice calling and more. Unfortunately, it allows websites and applications to find out your actual IP address, even if you are connecting through a VPN. Although there are ways to tackle this issue in the browsers mentioned, the fact that Safari doesn’t use WebRTC means that if you use a VPN, you can rely on your IP address being protected, no matter what websites you visit or what applications you use.
To get the most out of Safari and enjoy your browsing without revealing your IP address, it is advisable to combine the browser with a VPN. Below you will find a list of the best options available to secure your Safari experience.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most respectable solutions in the VPN industry and it offers excellent applications for Mac and iOS. ExpressVPN offer a high level of encryption and the network of servers covers 87 countries at this time. Their network continues growing so you can expect new options and even faster speeds. They don’t keep logs of your online activities and allow you to stream content without hassle.
NordVPN
If privacy and security are crucial for you, consider NordVPN, a Panamanian VPN provider with a a strong zero logs policy. Thanks to its convenient location, NordVPN is not subject to strict data retention laws or surveillance. They accept anonymous payment methods like Bitcoin and they even offer advanced settings like Tor over VPN and double VPN for top level security. NordVPN has servers in over 50 countries and its network has options that are ideal for streaming.
Surfshark
Surfshark is a provider that uses high encryption to protect your browsing activities and thanks to features like WhiteLister, CleanWeb and MultiHop, you will be able to enjoy the best possible experience on the web. Surfshark works great with Safari and it offers handy guides that will help you to combine the security and online freedom that the VPN provides, with the convenience of Safari’s functions. Surfshark has a no logs policy and its network includes more than 800 servers in over 50 countries
Private Internet Access
PIA has appealing prices, but it offers more than affordability. This provider has a strong commitment to privacy and security and it aims to keep their customers’s data protected with strong encryption. There are servers in 24 countries, which is less than what other providers offer, but due to the locations chosen and the large amount of servers (more than 3000), you will enjoy great speeds overall. In addition, PIA doesn’t keep logs of your online traffic.
IPVanish
IPVanish is a well-known solution that will allow you to unblock content and to keep your data protected when you are using Safari. It offers reliable performance thanks to the fact that it is a tier-1 provider. IPVanish offers access to servers in 60 countries and it stands out for its fantastic customer support. Its network continues growing and if you chose a yearly plan, the price is quite reasonable.
