Apple adds one of Tor browser features to Safari

Apple is constantly improving its proprietary Safari browser and is trying to make it, firstly, more convenient to use, and, secondly, more secure. But if recently there have been practically no complaints about the intuitiveness of the web browser, then the issue of ensuring confidentiality is still quite acute. Therefore, in iOS 13.4, the developers of the company added to Safari - both for desktop and mobile platforms - support for an additional add-on, which is part of intellectual protection and allows you to completely block third-party cookies.

In the latest update, Safari became similar to Tor, albeit partially

Cookies are small pieces of data that a site exchanges with a computer. They are stored in his memory and allow the subsequent login to accurately identify a specific user. Thanks to cookies, online stores allow you to fill the basket with the goods you need, and then show it in its previous composition, even if you closed the web page and then open it after a few days. In addition, cookies allow you to store individual site configurations, design and statistics.

What do Tor and Safari have in common

Safari learned how to completely block cookies for your safety

Cookies blocking, as well as many other functions of the Safari intellectual protection mode, is aimed at blocking the tracking by sites of actions and movements of users on the Web. In fact, cookies are something like fingerprints, because they allow you to calculate and set you to be monitored. It’s clear that they can’t find out the name, surname or home address, but only information about you as an Internet user, forming your virtual profile, which allows the site to identify you even without authorization.

Until now, there was only one browser on the market, which allowed cookies to be completely blocked, preventing them from working regardless of the site. This, of course, is Tor. Blocking cookies allowed its users not only to hide from tracking site owners, but also to prevent cross-site tracking, not to mention targeted advertising, which in turn is also selected for each specific user individually, including on the basis of cookies. After all, it is because of them that you continue to see banners with goods that you once looked on the Internet.

Browser ad blocking

But do we need this protection?

Google is also trying to do something similar in Chrome, however, the implementation of the intended browser development scenario is planned for the search giant in 2022. Google is not in a hurry because of its large reach, since the Chrome audience accounts for about 70% of all users of desktop web browsers, and the concept of rejecting cookies will violate the current economic model on the Internet, as it complicates the task of advertisers to target users and display relevant ads to them.

Caring for user security is, of course, great, but I personally do not include any cross-site tracking locks and similar mechanisms. Indeed, in this case, I will stop seeing ads of those goods and services that interest me, and I will only see random banners that have nothing to do with me. And well, advertising would be blocked in principle - then I could still understand the value of protective tools. And so I would have to see those ads that I’m not interested in, instead of seeing something really needed.

I’m looking for, say, an automatic coffee machine for the home, but so far I can’t make a decision. Smart algorithms for advertising platforms, firstly, will offer me several models to choose from exactly the category in which I choose. That is, they will not slip me a drip or geyser coffee maker, but they will regularly demonstrate the machines. Secondly, in this way I can find a better price and buy the product I need cheaper. But blocking cookies will not do me any good, except for that imaginary sense of security from tracking.