iOS 26: Safari to Counter Invasive Tracking Methods with Advanced Fingerprinting Protection

With iOS 26, Safari will enable Advanced Fingerprinting Protection by default for all browsing sessions. This feature makes the user's fingerprint less unique, less stable, and less visible to websites by injecting noise into APIs, overriding results of certain web APIs, and applying per-site and per-session fingerprints. This means advertisers and data brokers will have a harder time tracking users across the web.

Apple has announced significant advancements in privacy features for its Safari browser, set to be rolled out in iOS 26. The upcoming update will introduce Advanced Fingerprinting Protection by default for all browsing sessions, enhancing user privacy and making it more difficult for advertisers and data brokers to track users across the web [1].

Advanced Fingerprinting Protection works by injecting noise into various APIs, such as 2D canvas and WebGL readback, and when reading AudioBuffer samples using WebAudio. This technique aims to confuse tracking scripts by reporting inconsistent and random information, making it harder for data brokers to create a unique profile of the user [1].

Additionally, Safari will override the results of certain web APIs related to window or screen metrics, ensuring that fingerprinting scripts receive the same results regardless of the user's actual configuration. This approach further complicates the tracking process, as each site and session will have unique fingerprints that change over time [1].

The feature will be enabled by default for all browsing sessions in iOS 26, but users will have the option to turn it off entirely or revert to the previous settings for Private Browsing sessions. This flexibility allows users to tailor their privacy preferences according to their needs [1].

The move to enable Advanced Fingerprinting Protection by default aligns with Apple's ongoing commitment to user privacy and security. By making it more difficult for third parties to track users, Apple aims to provide a more secure browsing experience [1].

References:
[1] https://9to5mac.com/2025/07/29/with-ios-26-safari-will-counter-one-of-the-webs-most-invasive-tracking-methods/