How Does Safari Private Browsing Work? Does It Truly Avoid Saving Any History?
Apple is dedicated to proffering its users premium privacy on all devices and platforms. With Safari Private Browsing, Apple ensures users can browse the internet anonymously. However, this privacy tool does not make the user completely anonymous online.
Therefore, this post is tailored to explore how private browsing protects user privacy by not saving browsing history. It considers who can still see your online activities and how to see, manage, or delete private browsing history on iPhone and Mac.
How Does Safari Private Browsing Work?
When users activate Safari's Private Browsing mode, the browser creates a temporary session that isolates all activities from the regular browsing environment. This isolated session works with an assigned unique identifier. That way, each session has its cookies and caches without the pages open being stored on iCloud. The following is a simple flowchart illustration:
You may also know the detailed process of using private browsing to search and browse.
- Enter Keyword: Users type the keyword they want to search for in Safari's address bar.
- Enter URL: Alternatively, users can directly input a specific URL.
- Search Engine Server (for keyword searches): Upon receiving the request, the search engine uses its algorithms and index system to find web content matching the keyword. It processes the results by sorting and filtering to create a set of search results suitable for display.
- Target Website Server (for URL inputs): Upon receiving the request, it checks the request's validity (e.g., permission checks). It retrieves the corresponding web files (including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.) from its server storage.
- Search Engine Server (for keyword searches): Sends the processed search result data (usually including web titles, links, and summaries) back to Safari, encrypted.
- Target Website Server (for URL inputs): Sends the web files and data back to Safari, encrypted.
- For search results, it displays each search result item on the results page according to the set layout, allowing users to view and click.
- For web files, Safari parses the HTML to build the page structure, loads CSS for styling, and executes JavaScript for interactivity, ultimately displaying the complete web content for browsing.
Users can view search results or web content and proceed with further browsing or link clicking.
Who Can See the History in Safari Private Browsing and Why?
The device may not have a direct recollection of the sessions as it would a normal session. However, other browsing contributors like service providers, websites, and network administrators monitor and save your browsing history.
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
ISPs log your activity by tracking the websites you visit through IP addresses. Browsing history stored with ISPs is without regard for privately searched ones or otherwise. They are legally required to keep these pieces of private information. Their logs include websites visited and the duration of visits. However, they cannot use the activity log except by your permission or court order.
Websites and Online Services
Websites can still identify you via your IP Address or using advanced tracking methods like fingerprinting. While private browsing ensures that this is limited, the websites you visit know that you've been there.
When you use online services like payment, transfer, or form submission, the website will know you visited even if you were browsing privately. Overall, websites you visit can store your details, especially when you use your login credentials.
Network Administrators
Administrators managing your network at home, school, workplace, or public Wi-Fi can view your activity logs. Parents, schools, workplaces, or public Wi-Fi administrators can monitor network traffic. Administrators have access to your history like internet service providers and websites. Network admin tools track browsing history to effect boundaries.
Government Agencies
Depending on jurisdiction, government authorities can access browsing data through ISPs or websites. Depending on how your safari private browsing history impacts the agency's activities, a legal order from the court grants them access to it.
Third-Party Tools
Although Apple don't save private history on devices, however, it would grant third-party apps or tools like AirDroid Parental Control permission to use the Web Content Filter. It is a native feature in Screen Time Settings. When users install a third-party tool and allow the necessary permissions, the Web Content Filter function is activated.
This way, network requests in the browser (including various apps) go through the Web Content Filter. Third-party tools can then intercept and record the URLs requested by users. However, due to privacy protection and Apple's restrictions, they only access the URLs, not the user's data.
So even though Safari's private browsing doesn't save history on your device, schools, parents, employers, ISPs, browsers, and visited websites can still access it.
How to See the Private Browsing History of Safari
If you want to see your Safari private browsing history, you can access it on your iPhone or Mac depending on where you browsed privately. This section shows how to access it on both devices.
iPhone: Third-party Tools
As we have explained above, third-party tools like AirDroid Parental Control can help you access Safari's private browsing history. They can record browsing history even when users view the websites with a VPN. Its remote monitoring feature allows a real-time check of the Safari's private history.
- Download and install AirDroid Parental Control on your device. Set up the app and create an account.
- Download and install the AirDroid Kids on the device where you need to check your private browsing history.
- Pair your device with the target iPhone by following the app’s instructions.
- Once paired, navigate to the Website Restriction section to view the private browsing history.
It is a simple approach because of its user-friendly interface. You can also use it to manage app usage, especially when you want to block websites or set time limits.
Mac: View the DNS Cache
In Safari private browsing mode, the browser typically does not use or update regular DNS cache files to protect user privacy. However, in some cases, the Terminal archives some temporary caches to optimize the network request process. You can view the caches via the below steps, however, they can only work if the DNS cache has not been cleared or overwritten.
- Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Enter the command: sudo killall -INFO mDNSResponder
- Enter your Mac’s administrator password when prompted.
- After running the command, open Console from Applications > Utilities.
- Search for mdnsresponder in the search bar.
- Click the Start button to see the recent browsing history.
While this method allows you to see some activity, it does not provide a clear list of visited websites, only their corresponding IP addresses. This approach may not be effective for all users and might require technical knowledge.
Can You Delete Private History Permanently?
Yes, you can delete private history permanently. However, clearing private browsing traces from your device does not affect your activity logs with external parties like ISPs and network administrators.
It only stops others from viewing your safari private history on your device. Also, third-party monitoring tools storing your history in real-time will still keep the history. Hence, below are two approaches to permanently delete private history on iPhone and Mac.
iPhone: Enable Airplane Mode
Enabling Airplane Mode during a private browsing session prevents DNS requests and network activity from being logged externally. That way, the translation of domain names to IP addresses will not be stored on your device.
Mac: Clear DNS Cache
When the DNS cache is saved on your computer, you can clear them. This process removes stored browsing history from the device using the terminal. It ensures that no cached entries remain on the Mac. Please follow the below steps:
- Open the Terminal application from Applications > Utilities.
- Enter the command: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
- Press Enter and provide your administrator password.
Private Browsing Summary
Safari private browsing does not prevent all your browsing history from being stored, especially externally. However, it helps to reduce local storage of browsing data and guarantees some level of anonymity online. By understanding the limitations of Safari private browsing, you can better manage history stored locally. To increase your privacy protection, you may use VPNs.
External entities like ISPs, network administrators, websites, and third-party services can still track the activity. If you need to check your child's private browsing history, try parental control apps like AirDroid Parental Control.
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