How to block ads and prevent tracking in iOS 9 Safari

iOS 9, the latest version of Apple’s operating system for iPhones and iPads is out – and my recommendation is that you install it at your earliest convenience.

The new version of iOS not only tackles a number of security holes, including the recently-revealed flaw in AirDrop that could lead to a stealthy malware infection, but also includes a new ad-blocking capability that will please many web surfers and perhaps infuriate some online magazines.

Watch the following video by yours truly to learn why blocking shonky web advertising is good for security and privacy, and how easy it is to enable an ad-blocker in your version of Safari.

If you enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel and maybe I’ll make some more.

In the demo above I used an iOS 9 content blocker called Purify, but there are others including Crystal.

Now, ad-blocking isn’t new to iOS, but previously you had to use a third-party app to browse the web advert-free rather than the standard Safari browser. So what Apple has done here is going to be a lot more attractive to many iOS users, and no doubt cause palpitations for some online magazines reliant on advertising for their monetisation and the likes of Google.

For a list of content blockers either available now for iOS 9 or due to be released soon, check out this article on The Loop.

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Graham Cluley •   @gcluley

Graham Cluley is a veteran of the cybersecurity industry, having worked for a number of security companies since the early 1990s when he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows. Now an independent analyst, he regularly makes media appearances and is an international public speaker on the topic of cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Bluesky, or drop him an email.