Apple released iOS 26 on Sept. 15 and the update brought a lot of new features to your iPhone, but more important it included some improved privacy measures against digital fingerprinting. Everyone can benefit from these advanced privacy measures on their device.
Because we do most things on digital devices these days, we may leave our digital fingerprints everywhere. CNET senior writer Attila Tomaschek told me that digital fingerprints consist of pieces of information about your device and browser, like your IP address, device type and even your screen resolution. He said fingerprints can be used for fraud detection as well as to improve website performance, but they can also be dangerous, which makes this iOS privacy feature so useful.
"Advertisers can build detailed profiles of users for targeted advertising, and companies may use fingerprinting for price discrimination based on a user's location and other perceived demographics," he said. "Worse yet, an authoritarian government could leverage fingerprinting to surveil its populace, and digital fingerprints can help cybercriminals commit fraud and identity theft."
Companies can also sell these profiles to data brokers, who can take offline information from public records and other sources and attach it to your digital fingerprint. According to the cybersecurity company Avast, brokers could then sell this information to advertisers to target you more effectively.
If you have iOS 26 on your iPhone, you can better protect your data trail and digital fingerprints now in a few easy steps. Here's how.
Note that your digital fingerprint is different from, and not related to, your biometric fingerprint.
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Where to find Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protections
1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps near the bottom of the menu.
... continue reading