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How to browse without being tracked with macOS High Sierra’s Safari

With macOS High Sierra, you can browse the web without being tracked thanks to the new version of the Safari web browser, which uses WebKit, a layout engine software component for rendering web pages in web browsers.

One of WebKit’s features is Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP), which uses machine learning to identify and limit any tracking behavior in the Safari browser. Tracking can include third-party cookies and identification puts a 24-hour time limit on that behavior. You can turn it off or on this way:

  • In Safari, go to Safari > Preferences.
  • Click on the Privacy icon at the top of the window.
  • In the “Website tracking” section, you can click (or not) the option to “Ask websites not to track me.” 
  • Check the boxes if you want these features implemented.
  • Close the preferences window.

(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple’s support pages — where the images sometimes come from.)

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.