Internet privacy is increasingly crucial as we navigate the web. When you browse websites, your activities may be tracked by third-party trackers that collect data without your explicit consent. To help you understand and control who is monitoring your online behavior, Safari has introduced the Privacy Report feature. This guide will explain what the Privacy Report is and how you can enable and utilize it in Safari on your Mac.

What is privacy report in Safari

The Privacy Report in Safari provides a detailed overview of the trackers that the browser has blocked from profiling you across the websites you visit. It visualizes the efforts Safari makes to keep your online experience secure and personal by preventing third-party trackers from monitoring your activity.

Safari has been actively blocking these cross-site trackers to protect your privacy. With the Privacy Report, you gain transparency into this process and can see which trackers have been stopped. Notably, with the macOS Big Sur update, Safari is even anticipated to block web tracking from platforms like Google Analytics.

How to enable Privacy Report on your Safari homepage

By default, the Privacy Report feature appears on your Safari homepage after upgrading to macOS Big Sur. If it's not visible, you can enable it manually. Here's how:

Step 1: Open Safari on your Mac, and click on the toggle icon located at the bottom right corner of the start page.

Step 2: In the menu that appears, check the box next to Privacy Report to enable it.

Once enabled, the Privacy Report will display updates from the past seven days on your Safari homepage. You can click on the report to view more detailed information.

The detailed report allows you to switch between Websites and Trackers tabs for deeper insights. The Websites tab provides an overview of the sites you've visited and the number of trackers blocked on each.

The Trackers tab reveals the specific cross-site trackers that have been blocked, the companies behind them, and how many sites these trackers were attempting to profile you on.

How to manually check Privacy Report without enabling it

If you prefer not to have the Privacy Report displayed on your Safari homepage, you can still access it manually at any time.

Step 1: With Safari open, navigate to the top menu bar and click on Safari.

Step 2: In the drop-down menu, select Privacy Report.

The Privacy Report window will appear, providing the same comprehensive tracking information as when it's enabled on the homepage.

How to add or remove the Privacy Report icon from the toolbar

The Privacy Report icon is typically present by default in your Safari toolbar after updating to macOS Big Sur. This icon allows you to quickly see the number of trackers blocked on the website you're currently visiting. Clicking on the icon shows more details, and you can select Trackers on This Webpage to see specific information.

If you wish to remove or reposition the Privacy Report icon in the toolbar, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the View option in the top menu bar.

Step 2: From the drop-down menu, select Customize Toolbar.

To remove the Privacy Report icon: Drag the icon out of the toolbar and drop it back into the customization menu. Once removed, click Done to save your changes.

To reposition the icon: Drag the Privacy Report icon to your desired location within the toolbar. After arranging it to your preference, click Done to apply the changes.

Maintaining your privacy online is essential, and Safari's Privacy Report provides valuable insights into how your data is protected. By understanding and utilizing this feature, you can stay informed about which trackers are being blocked and have greater control over your personal information while browsing.