safari browser version in iphone

Interestingly, the hint at the integration of a browsing assistant in Safari is in line with ongoing speculations about new generative AI features slated for release on the iPhone with iOS 18. If it's true, the AI assistance will be similar to the feature. It's worth noting that AI capabilities are already present in several, such as Microsoft Edge, which includes a Copilot feature powered by GPT-4 and Arc Search.

In addition, lvarez spotted a function named "Encrypted Visual Search" in the code, but its specifics are still unclear.

Apart from the rumoured AI assistant improvements, iOS 18 is expected to bring several significant updates. We can anticipate AI integration across various iOS applications.

For example, Apple Music might curate personalised playlists based on your listening habits, while stock apps like Mail and Notes could gain AI-powered features for improved functionality. Siri, once sluggish, is set for a substantial upgrade with the integration of large language models (LLMs). This will transform it into a comprehensive "ultimate virtual assistant" with improved conversational capabilities and deeper Shortcuts integration.

iPhone users might finally be able to ditch the limitations of iMessage and enjoy features like enhanced video quality and read receipts when messaging Android users through rumoured RCS support. iOS 18 might also grant you more control over the home screen just like an Android phone. Speculations suggest the ability to create blank spaces and customise icon arrangements for a truly personalised experience.

Apple might introduce "Adaptive Voice Shortcuts" and potentially allow adjustable font sizes across more apps with iOS 18. The AirPods Pro could even gain functionality similar to hearing aids. Apple Maps might become more competitive with features like custom route planning and potentially the addition of topographic maps for outdoor enthusiasts.

While Apple hasn't officially confirmed which iPhones will support iOS 18, rumours suggest a wide range of devices, including many models from 2018 and later, could be eligible. This could potentially include the iPhone XS and XR, although that remains uncertain.

How To Enable Safari On IPhone

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Introduction

Enabling Safari on your iPhone opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to browse the web, access favorite websites, and enjoy a seamless online experience. Safari, Apple's native web browser, is renowned for its user-friendly interface, robust security features, and seamless integration with other Apple devices. Whether you're a seasoned iPhone user or a newcomer to the Apple ecosystem, enabling Safari is a fundamental step towards harnessing the full potential of your device.

Safari offers a host of features designed to enhance your browsing experience, including tabbed browsing, reader mode for distraction-free reading, and the ability to save and organize bookmarks. Additionally, Safari's privacy and security settings empower users to control their online footprint, block unwanted content, and safeguard their personal information while browsing the web.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the simple process of enabling Safari on your iPhone. Whether you've accidentally disabled Safari and need to re-enable it or you're setting up a new device, these step-by-step instructions will ensure that you can swiftly access the web and take advantage of Safari's powerful capabilities. So, grab your iPhone, and let's get started on enabling Safari to unlock a world of browsing convenience and functionality.

Step 1: Accessing Settings

Accessing the Settings app on your iPhone is the first step towards enabling Safari. The Settings app serves as the control center for customizing various aspects of your device, including network settings, display preferences, and app configurations. Here's how to access the Settings app:

Locate the Settings Icon : On your iPhone's home screen, look for the Settings icon. It's recognizable by its gear-shaped symbol and is typically found in the first cluster of app icons. If you can't spot it right away, you can use the search feature by swiping down on the home screen and typing "Settings" in the search bar.

Tap the Settings Icon : Once you've located the Settings icon, tap on it to open the Settings app. This action will launch the app and present you with a range of options and configurations to explore.

Navigate Through Settings : Upon opening the Settings app, you'll find a series of sections organized into a list. These sections cover various aspects of your iPhone's settings, such as General, Display & Brightness, and Privacy. To proceed with enabling Safari, you'll need to navigate through these sections to find the specific setting related to Safari.

Search for Safari : To expedite the process, you can use the search functionality within the Settings app. Simply swipe down on the screen to reveal the search bar at the top, then type "Safari" into the search field. This will display relevant settings related to the Safari browser , allowing you to proceed to the next step of enabling Safari on your iPhone.

By following these steps, you'll successfully access the Settings app on your iPhone, setting the stage for the subsequent actions required to enable Safari and unlock its full potential for browsing the web seamlessly and securely.

Step 2: Finding Safari

Once you have accessed the Settings app on your iPhone, the next crucial step is to locate the Safari browser settings. Finding Safari within the Settings app is essential for enabling the browser and customizing its features to suit your browsing preferences. Here's a detailed guide on how to find Safari within the Settings app:

Scroll Through the Settings Sections : Upon opening the Settings app, you'll be greeted with a list of sections covering various aspects of your iPhone's settings. To find Safari, you'll need to scroll through this list and look for the specific section related to the Safari browser.

Locate the Safari Section : As you scroll through the settings sections, keep an eye out for the "Safari" option. The sections are typically arranged alphabetically, so you can expect to find Safari within the list of settings. Once you've located the Safari section, tap on it to access the browser's settings and configurations.

Explore Safari Settings : Upon entering the Safari section, you'll be presented with a range of settings and options that allow you to customize the browser according to your preferences. These settings cover various aspects of Safari, including privacy and security, general browsing behavior, and advanced features such as content blockers and website settings.

Customize Safari Preferences : Within the Safari settings, you can customize a multitude of preferences to tailor the browsing experience to your liking. This includes configuring privacy settings to enhance your online security, adjusting the default search engine, enabling or disabling features such as JavaScript and pop-ups, and managing website data and cookies.

Discover Advanced Settings : In addition to basic preferences, Safari offers advanced settings that empower users to fine-tune their browsing experience. These advanced settings encompass options for managing website settings, enabling experimental features, and configuring developer tools for web professionals.

By following these steps, you'll successfully locate the Safari browser settings within the Settings app on your iPhone. This paves the way for the next crucial step of enabling Safari and harnessing its powerful capabilities for seamless and secure web browsing on your device.

Step 3: Enabling Safari

Enabling Safari on your iPhone is a straightforward process that allows you to harness the full potential of Apple's native web browser . Once you've located the Safari settings within the Settings app, the next step is to enable the browser and configure its features to suit your browsing preferences. Here's a detailed guide on how to enable Safari and unlock its powerful capabilities on your iPhone:

Toggle the Safari Switch : Within the Safari settings in the Settings app, you'll find a switch labeled "Safari." This switch serves as the primary control for enabling or disabling the Safari browser on your iPhone. To enable Safari, simply tap the switch to turn it on. Once enabled, the Safari icon will reappear on your home screen, granting you instant access to the browser's intuitive interface and robust features.

Explore Additional Settings : In addition to enabling the Safari browser, the Safari settings within the Settings app offer a range of additional configurations to enhance your browsing experience. These settings cover privacy and security features, general browsing behavior, and advanced options for fine-tuning Safari according to your preferences.

Customize Privacy and Security : Safari prioritizes user privacy and security, empowering you to control your online footprint and safeguard your personal information. Within the Safari settings, you can customize privacy features such as blocking cross-site tracking, preventing camera and microphone access, and managing website tracking and data collection. By enabling these privacy settings, you can browse the web with confidence, knowing that your online activities are protected.

Manage Content Blockers : Safari allows you to install and manage content blockers, which are extensions that can block unwanted content such as advertisements, pop-ups, and tracking scripts. By enabling content blockers within the Safari settings, you can enjoy a cleaner and more streamlined browsing experience, free from intrusive ads and unwanted distractions.

Configure Website Settings : Safari offers granular control over website settings, allowing you to customize individual website preferences such as camera access, microphone access, and location access. By enabling or disabling these settings on a per-site basis, you can tailor your browsing experience to suit the specific requirements of each website you visit.

By following these steps and customizing the Safari settings to your preferences, you'll successfully enable Safari on your iPhone and unlock its powerful capabilities for seamless, secure, and personalized web browsing. Whether you're accessing your favorite websites, conducting research, or staying informed with the latest news, Safari's intuitive interface and robust features ensure that you can navigate the web with ease and confidence on your iPhone.

Enabling Safari on your iPhone is a pivotal step towards embracing a seamless and secure browsing experience. By following the simple yet essential steps outlined in this guide, you've successfully accessed the Settings app, located the Safari browser settings, and enabled Safari to unlock its powerful capabilities on your device.

As you embark on your browsing journey with Safari, it's important to explore the myriad features and functionalities that the browser offers. From tabbed browsing and reader mode to robust privacy and security settings, Safari empowers you to navigate the web with ease, efficiency, and peace of mind.

With Safari at your fingertips, you can effortlessly access your favorite websites, stay informed with the latest news, and indulge in online activities with confidence. The browser's intuitive interface, coupled with its seamless integration with other Apple devices, ensures a harmonious and consistent browsing experience across your digital ecosystem.

Furthermore, Safari's commitment to user privacy and security sets it apart as a trusted companion for your online endeavors. By customizing privacy settings, managing content blockers, and fine-tuning website preferences, you can tailor your browsing experience to align with your individual preferences and values.

As you enable Safari on your iPhone, you're not just gaining access to a web browser; you're embracing a gateway to a world of information, entertainment, and connectivity. Whether you're conducting research, shopping online, or simply exploring the vast expanse of the internet, Safari stands ready to accompany you on your digital adventures.

In conclusion, by enabling Safari on your iPhone, you're not only embracing a powerful browsing tool but also tapping into a realm of possibilities that await at your fingertips. So, as you navigate the web with Safari, may your online experiences be enriched, your privacy safeguarded, and your digital journey seamlessly intertwined with the intuitive prowess of Apple's native web browser.

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10 iPhone Apps & Features For A More Private Lifestyle

The world of modern technology means that we are all walking around with powerful handheld computers with us at all times. Smartphones are capable of carrying out pretty much every task imaginable and allow us to communicate with each other instantly, look up any information on the internet, and stream a near-limitless amount of content. All of that functionality comes at a cost in the form of privacy.

To be able to work effectively and provide users with everything they want from their smartphones, the devices — and the software that runs on them — collect huge amounts of personal data. This helps companies build up a unique picture of you so they can better target you with ads. While it is possible to remove your personal data from the internet , it is better to be proactive and stop trackers before they start harvesting your information in the first place.

Thankfully, some businesses take privacy and security seriously. Apple is one of them and the company has added a variety of useful features to the iPhone to help users stay private. Combined with some great apps and third-party solutions, the iPhone is a smartphone that can be used even if you want a more private lifestyle.

For those who don't know exactly what Telegram is , it is a messaging service that works in much the same way as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage. However, it is marketed as the messaging app of choice for those who have privacy and security concerns. In essence, you can think of Telegram as an alternative to the popular encrypted messaging app Signal . First launched in 2013, it is the brainchild of brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov and was intended to give users a more private way to communicate with each other.

Partly inspired by Edward Snowden's revelations about the NSA and other government agencies spying on the public, Telegram is available across a range of devices, including desktop, iOS, and Android. The service features a shared account, allowing users to access their messages wherever and whenever they need. Its secure features include end-to-end encryption and secret chats that are hidden from normal view.

Telegram also has a unique feature known as Channels. This acts as a sort of social media hub, allowing people to broadcast messages to groups of users rather than individuals. What's more, users don't need a phone number to sign up for Telegram, which is a big advantage for those who want to remain anonymous and keep their personal data to themselves. Because of this, you can message other users without having access to their phone numbers.

Photos Privacy Permissions

It is not unusual for smartphone apps to require certain permissions to work correctly. Upon their initial launch, apps usually ask to gain access to the elements of your particular device that they need in order to operate properly. For example, a messaging app will generally need access to your contacts, while an audio recorder probably has to use the device's microphone. Both Android and iOS offer a similar system whereby users can grant or revoke certain permissions for each individual app.

However, some apps may ask for permissions that seem unnecessary for their primary function, and even use the permissions to collect personal data. Then there's the issue surrounding users who don't want apps to have unfettered access to all of their information. So, while a photography app might need to be able to add and remove images from your gallery, you might not want the developers to be able to see every photo you have stored on your iPhone.

Although iOS and Android allow users to change app permissions, this might not be a practical solution for everyone. After all, if you regularly use an app, you might not want to install it or revoke permissions it needs to work properly. With recent versions of iOS, Apple now offers a more nuanced approach when it comes to images. Using the photo picker, it is possible to pick specific photographs from your library you want to share with an app, excluding the other images to keep them private.

Proton Mail

There are literally hundreds of great free alternative email services  available to users that cater to every need. While most people stick to the larger and more established offerings like Gmail and Outlook, some alternatives out there might better suit your needs. Proton Mail is one such example, specifically designed to offer the most private and secure email experience available on the market.

Like many of its rivals, Proton Mail is free to use, though there are premium options available for those who want expanded storage and some extra features — it comes with a generous 500MB as standard. You also don't need a prior email to sign up, meaning Proton Mail doesn't necessarily have to know any extra information about you. Of course, there are several privacy-orientated features as well, including the fact that the service doesn't track you to serve personal ads. In fact, Proton Mail doesn't have any ads at all.

Those using Proton Mail can be safe in the knowledge that any communications will be secure. End-to-end encryption stops anyone other than the recipient from being able to intercept messages, while the zero-access architecture approach prevents even the developers from being able to access your emails. There are some downsides, such as a limited feature set and a limit of 150 emails a day, but for those who put privacy first, Proton Mail on iPhone is a must-have.

Safari Private Browsing

Anyone who has used any kind of browser will no doubt be aware you are constantly being tracked. Websites and apps use cookies and other methods to see what you are doing so they can collect and analyze the data. That's why you will suddenly start seeing ads everywhere you visit online for things you previously searched for. Sure, you can clear the cookies on your iPhone but that doesn't get to the heart of the problem or prevent tracking from taking place in the future.

To help ease those concerns and provide a more private browsing experience to users, Apple has a private browsing mode on iPhones that goes further than you might expect to protect your data. While an Incognito Mode on other browsers stops your history from being recorded and automatically deletes cookies and other trackers, Safari has some built-in features that aim to stop websites from identifying you at all.

With its fingerprinting defense, Apple stops websites from being able to properly identify your device and instead makes it appear like a generic iPhone that could belong to anybody. Trackers are fully disabled as Safari will not even allow them to load in private browsing mode, further securing your data and habits. As an added layer of protection, Safari tabs will lock when your iPhone detects that you are no longer using them, so only you can physically look at them.

People don't really make traditional phone calls much these days, increasingly favoring messaging services like WhatsApp and Messenger to keep all of their communication in one place. Yet, phone numbers still play a vital role in our everyday lives. Most messaging apps require a phone number when you sign up and they can also be used to verify your identity or provide two-factor authentication.

That's where services that use voice over internet protocol (VoIP) are particularly useful. Services like  Google Voice work by giving you a virtual phone number that can then be used to make calls over the internet. This can help keep your personal number private and give you a second number to hand over during sign-ups for new accounts without needing a second SIM card or device.

Hushed is one of the best options on the App Store for iPhone users. The service offers a free trial so you can get an idea of whether it is right for you and offers everything you'd expect from a normal phone plan that works anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. You can even set it up to make it anonymous, so no information is given to those you are calling other than the Hushed ID you provide.

Link Tracking Protection

Link Tracking Protection was added to iPhones with the iOS 17 update in 2023. It is automatically enabled, but may well be something many users have no idea about, and might have disabled without realizing. According to Apple, the feature removes tracking parameters from URLs that users open on their device, ensuring that anyone using an iPhone won't have to worry about the websites they frequent knowing too much about them.

These URL trackers can serve a variety of purposes. Mainly, they are used to determine where a user has come from, how long they spend on a site, and other behaviors. This can be useful for marketing campaigns, and advertisers can analyze this data to better target users in the future. For those who want a more private browsing experience and don't want to have their movements across the web monitored in this way, Link Tracking Protection is incredibly handy.

With Link Tracking Protection active, Apple's software will remove the tracking portion of URLs that the company believes could be harmful or excessive. The main URL will still work as intended and users don't have to do anything extra. Effectively, as soon as you click a link, the feature strips out the tracking information so analytics cannot tell where you are visiting the site from.

Lockdown Mode

Lockdown Mode is not something many people need to enable or worry about. That's because it protects against rare forms of cyber attacks that specifically target high-value individuals such as politicians and journalists. "Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme protection that's designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats," explains Apple . "Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature."

First introduced in iOS 16, Lockdown Mode puts your device into a special state that makes it harder to access illegally. Apple does this by limiting the abilities and features of the device, stopping certain functions and preventing apps from working as intended to "reduce the attack surface that potentially could be exploited." The setting can be turned on by heading to the settings, going to the Privacy & Security tab, and toggling Lockdown Mode. Once activated, it will also automatically switch other devices, like your Apple Watch, to Lockdown Mode as well.

In Lockdown Mode, the phone can't be connected to other devices without being unlocked and attachments from messages or emails will be blocked. Elements of websites that could be harmful, including video and audio components, may be blocked from loading. Location data is also stripped from content you send and the device won't try to connect to open networks or allow incoming calls from unknown numbers.

Search engines make the vast majority of their money from selling ad space that will appear next to search results. That means that companies such as Google need a lot of ways to track users so they can target them with ads that are specific to them. The whole business model revolves around being able to build up a picture of your online presence so that it can make the most money by serving adverts that you are more likely to interact with.

Of course, that isn't exactly a comforting thought and many people might not want Google and its competitors to know every little detail of your life. With search engines being such a huge part of our everyday lives, avoiding this can be challenging. Fortunately, some alternatives make browsing the web and searching for information a far more private experience. A good place to start is DuckDuckGo , a company that operates its own browser and search engine that doesn't track users' search history.

The free app for iPhone comes with a suite of privacy features built-in that help protect your data and stop others from being able to monitor your activity. This includes the DuckDuckGo search engine, a host of tracker blockers for online activity such as cookies, and shields to prevent snooping from third parties. These features aim to stop other companies from being able to create a fingerprint that identifies you when surfing the web.

Stolen Device Protection

Smartphones are vital to our everyday life. We use them not just for communication, but also for entertainment, navigation, and more. So, even before you consider the financial cost of buying a new one, it's a big deal to lose your iPhone. For that reason, it isn't all that surprising that Apple does a lot to try and make iPhones as secure as possible so that they are less valuable to thieves if they are stolen. 

Security features such as passcodes and Face ID, along with Find My iPhone, can help users locate a missing device and prevent it from being used. For those caught in the unfortunate situation of having their iPhone stolen from someone close to them who may know their passcode, Apple has a feature known as Stolen Device Protection .

Using Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone is as simple as turning on the feature in the Face ID & Passcode tab in the settings. Once activated, it will automatically force the device to ask for your Face ID or Touch ID when it is being used outside of familiar locations. It also has a cooldown period, preventing thieves from being able to access security and privacy settings for a set period so you can start the process of finding your lost or stolen iPhone .

Firefox Focus

Apple's Safari browser is already fairly secure and offers several features for those who value security and privacy. Yet, it doesn't go quite as far as dedicated browsers designed specifically to protect user data and prevent them from being tracked online. One such example is Firefox Focus . Created by Mozilla, the same company behind the regular Firefox browser and Pocket, Firefox Focus is designed to operate separately from your usual browser and provide a space for sensitive actions you don't want others to see.

Firefox Focus is not a browser that you would use for everyday internet activities. It is a stripped-back experience that doesn't include things like tabs or saved passwords. It also blocks ads, trackers, and add-ons, providing a distraction-free area that Mozilla describes as the "perfect get in/get out, search-and-destroy, I'm on a mission that's none-of-your-business — web browser."

Essentially, Firefox Focus acts as a way to get what you want on the web more quickly without having to deal with problems such as slow loading while it also works to keep your data and personal information private. It also makes it easy to delete any history and cookies with a single button press while browsing, although these will also be scrubbed when you close the browser.

Google Chrome vs. Apple Safari: Which browser is better on Mac

• Cross-platform availability can make the switch from Chrome to Safari seamless, with data and preferences intact across devices.
• Safari's user interface impresses with a clean layout, while Google Chrome offers more customization options in its Material You makeover.
• Safari's memory usage advantage over Chrome on Mac with 8GB of RAM is a key factor to consider if performance is a concern.

As the default web browser on Mac, Safari has received a steady stream of updates over the last few years. Apple releases new builds for all its apps and services with yearly OS updates. While we applaud Safari improvements on Mac, the burning question remains the same: is it good enough to prevent users from switching to Chrome? How does it compare to everyone’s favorite web browser out there? Read our comparison post before you change the default browser on your Mac , iPhone, or iPad.

Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge: Which browser is better?

Cross-platform availability.

Before we pit Safari against Chrome, let’s check their cross-platform availability first. After all, you won’t want to leave your web bookmarks, history, quick links, and other preferences behind when you switch to another platform.

As expected, alternating is a breeze with Chrome, since the browser is available on most smart platforms you can think of. Whether you use Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android, or ChromeOS, you are ready to surf the web with all of your personal data and a familiar interface. In contrast, Apple’s walled garden approach has limited Safari’s availability to the company’s devices only.

User interface and theme

Being the first-party app on macOS, Apple has nailed the esthetics of Safari. Let’s start with the homepage. It carries all the essential elements you need when you fire up the browser. You can check your favorites, recently closed tabs, reading list, privacy report, Siri suggestions, and even apply minimal wallpaper to the background. If it’s too busy for you, customize the entire homepage from the bottom menu. Overall, it’s not as busy as Microsoft Edge and doesn’t look as bland as Chrome’s homepage. Safari also offers a cool translucent effect at the top when you scroll through webpages. Unlike Chrome, there is no theme store to change the look and feel with a single click.

Google Chrome recently received a neat Material You makeover on the web. While Material You on Chrome matches the rest of Google services, it does look slightly out of place with other Mac apps.

Tab management

Do you often have dozens of tabs open during long research sessions? Managing and switching between them can be cumbersome after a while. Here’s where Chrome and Safari’s tab groups come into play, where you can organize relevant tabs under different groups. Safari does have a couple of additional tricks up its sleeve though.

When you create several tab groups on Safari, you can check the entire list from the vertical sidebar. Safari also lets you create different profiles to keep your browsing data separate, such as tabs, history, cookies and website data.

You can assign a different symbol, color, and separate extension list for Work, School, or Personal profiles. There is also an option to share a tab group with your iMessage contacts.

Chrome vs. Safari: Features

Let’s compare Safari and Chrome based on extension support, reading mode, and other novelty features.

Reading mode

Apple offers a seamless reading mode on Safari that you can customize with different backgrounds, fonts, and sizes. In comparison, Chrome’s reader mode leaves a lot to be desired. It opens the article in a sidebar and doesn’t necessarily hide all the distracting elements. Safari wins hands down here.

While Safari covers the essential extensions from top VPNs, password managers, and other third-party developers like Grammarly, Pocket, Raindrop, and Notion, the overall collection is still slim compared to Google Chrome.

If your workflow depends on dozens of extensions, think twice before switching from Chrome to Safari.

Seamless sharing

Shared with You is a niche Safari feature that is tightly backed in iMessage. Links shared with you in the Messages app automatically appear in the Share with You section in Safari. It is only useful for those who frequently exchange weblinks in iMessage conversations.

Instant conversion and translation

Both Safari and Chrome support instant currency conversion and basic math equations. For example, you can quickly get a final number when you type $1000 to INR or 45*3 in the address bar. Chrome goes a step further with Google Translate integration - you can simply type Hello in French and get results instantly.

Chrome vs. Safari: Password management

Both browsers offer basic password management to save your login credentials. Safari uses iCloud Passwords that can sync with all your devices. It supports autofill, Passkeys, verification codes, notes, and more.

Google Password Manager also supports notes and checkup. Like security recommendations on Safari, Chrome Password Manager’s checkup tool shows your leaked, reused, and weak passwords.

Privacy and security

The built-in standard protection on Chrome warns you of harmful files, extensions, and corrupt sites. Safari is a step ahead with iCloud Private Relay. It’s a privacy add-on for Apple One and iCloud+ subscribers to hide your IP address from websites you visit. The option is enabled by default and works silently in the background. When you visit a website in Safari, no one, including Apple, can see who you are or which sites you are visiting. It’s not as extreme as a VPN connection and doesn’t break your browsing setup. You can check out our dedicated guide if you'd like to learn more about iCloud Private Relay .

Safari also offers a privacy report that shows the number of trackers it has blocked from profiling you in the last 30 days.

Performance

When it comes to performance, you won’t find any major differences between Chrome and Safari on a high-speed internet connection. However, if your Mac has a slow network connection, you may notice that Safari can load webpages faster than Chrome, something that Avast confirmed in their dedicated speed comparison for major browsers.

While we are on the topic of performance, we should also factor in compatibility. Since Google Chrome (built on Chromium) is the most popular web browser out there, developers test and optimize their offerings for it. You may run into performance issues with specific websites (like Photopea, a web-based Photoshop alternative) on Safari.

Memory usage

Safari is a relatively lightweight web browser compared to Chrome. This is expected, since Chrome has been infamous for high RAM usage. We opened a couple of identical tabs on Chrome and Safari and checked their memory usage from the Activity Monitor. We will let the screenshot below do the talking.

Mac users with 8GB of RAM will surely appreciate Safari’s approach to memory usage.

Chrome vs. Safari: Mobile experience

Both Apple and Google have done a solid job with their iOS apps. They use a bottom bar with all the essential options. You can also use Chrome password manager as the default method to autofill login info. Chrome’s default Discover menu with news articles may irritate some users. Interestingly, Google has done a better job than Apple when it comes to widgets, as Chrome offers more widget options than Safari. Most notably, Chrome offers lock screen widgets which are missing from Safari.

Browse the web in style

Are you still unsure about the pros and cons of Chrome and Safari? Allow us to simplify the situation. Safari shines with better UI, low memory usage, and integration with other Apple apps. Chrome strikes back with cross-platform availability, rich extension support, and Google Translate integration. If you notice performance glitches while browsing the web, check CPU usage on Mac .

Update to the latest version of Safari

If a Safari update is available for your device, you can get it by updating or upgrading macOS, iOS, iPadOS, or visionOS.

Get Safari updates for Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro

The most up-to-date version of Safari is included with the latest version of the operating system for your Apple device.

To update Safari on Mac, update macOS .

To update Safari on iPhone or iPad, update iOS or iPadOS .

To update Safari on Apple Vision Pro, update visionOS .

Get Safari updates for Windows

Apple no longer offers Safari updates for Windows or other PC operating systems. Safari 5.1.7 for Windows, released in 2010 and now outdated, was the last version made for Windows.

If a website says your browser is out of date

If a website says that Safari is out of date even though you're already using the latest version of macOS, iOS, iPadOS, or visionOS, there could be an issue with the website. If you’re sure that you want to use the website, contact the website owner or developer for guidance about how to best use their website.

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Dangerous LightSpy iPhone spyware can steal your files, location data and messages — how to stay safe

Hackers are coming up with new ways to spy on iPhones

iPhone users are once again being targeted by dangerous spyware capable of tracking their location as well as stealing their contacts, messages and even data from a number of popular apps.

Apple recently sent out a warning to iPhone users in 92 different countries about the threat posed by spyware. Now though, we have more details on a new version of the LightSpy spyware which is currently being used to target iPhones in Southeast Asia and India.

While this latest campaign hasn’t been observed in the U.S. or the U.K. yet, it could easily be modified to target the best iPhones in Western countries too. Here’s everything you need to know about the LightSpy spyware, including some tips on how you can keep your iPhone safe from hackers.

Stealing browser and app data

First discovered back in 2020 by Trend Micro and Kaspersky, LightSpy is an iOS backdoor that is often distributed to unsuspecting iPhone users through compromised news sites according to The Hacker News .

Then in 2023, the cybersecurity firm ThreatFabric noticed that it shares some of the same infrastructure and functionality with the DragonEgg Android spyware developed by APT41, which is a state-sponsored hacker group from China. 

While we’re not entirely sure how LightSpy is being distributed in this latest campaign, in the past, it’s been spread through news sites that have been compromised by hackers. A LightSpy infection begins with a loader that contains the main components of the spyware, after which a number of plugins are downloaded from a remote server that allow it to steal all sorts of sensitive data.

While this spyware could initially steal an iPhone user’s contacts and messages, determine their precise location and extract audio recordings during VoIP calls, a new version was recently discovered by BlackBerry with upgraded capabilities. LightSpy can now steal files from a vulnerable iPhone as well as data from a number of popular apps including Telegram, QQ and WeChat. However, the spyware is also able to steal iCloud keychain data as well as a victim’s browsing history from both Safari and Google Chrome .

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In their report on the matter, BlackBerry’s security researchers also revealed that the spyware can gather a list of connected Wi-Fi networks and details about the apps installed on your iPhone in addition to taking pictures using the device’s camera and recording audio through its microphone. To make matters worse, LightSpy can execute shell commands from a remote service, which could likely allow it to take complete control over infected iPhones.

How to keep your iPhone safe from hackers

Although spyware remains a very serious threat due to just how much personal and financial data we store on our phones, attacks like the one described above are both difficult and costly to pull off. As such, hackers and other cybercriminals mainly use spyware like LightSpy to go after high-profile targets such as politicians, CEOs and political dissidents.

This doesn’t mean that you should ignore the threat posed by spyware though. In a blog post , BlackBerry recommends that iPhone users who are worried about spyware enable Apple’s Lockdown Mode for additional protection. 

At the same time, you should be using the best encrypted messaging apps to communicate with others since they employ end-to-end encryption to prevent prying eyes from gaining access to your conversations. Apple’s iMessage uses this kind of encryption but only between other iPhone users, which is why you may want to use Signal or a similar encrypted messaging app when communicating with Android users.

Like with malware and other cyber threats, the most important thing you can do to stay safe is to keep your devices updated, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible and use strong, complex passwords for all of your accounts. The best password managers can help with the last part since they all contain password generators which can create strong and unique passwords as well as securely store all of your existing passwords. You also want to be careful when downloading new apps or files and when visiting new websites since the hackers behind this campaign used compromised sites to distribute the LightSpy spyware.

As one of the best phones for years now, the iPhone will likely always remain a target for hackers. However, by exercising caution online and updating your phone regularly, you should be able to avoid falling victim to hackers. 

More from Tom's Guide

• Macs under threat from info-stealing malware spread through bad ads 
• Worried about spyware on your iPhone? iShutdown can help
• This Android banking trojan now lets hackers remotely control your phone 

Anthony Spadafora is the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. Before joining the team, he wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

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