The EFF has released Privacy Badger for Safari on macOS, blocking trackers before they load and sending privacy signals to websites.
Privacy Badger now available on Safari
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has released its Privacy Badger extension for Safari on macOS, following updates to Safari's extension system. This marks the first time the tool, previously available on Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave, and Firefox, is accessible on Apple's browser.Safari's built-in protections and Privacy Badger's role
Safari includes its own protections that limit the data trackers can access, but they do not prevent trackers from loading. Privacy Badger, however, blocks trackers from loading entirely, offering a more proactive approach to online privacy.How Privacy Badger detects and blocks trackers
The extension identifies trackers, including those not listed in other tools' databases or those that choose not to block them. It also manages embedded widgets like tweets, comments, or video players, which can transmit data even without user interaction. Privacy Badger prevents these from loading and replaces them with a box that must be clicked to view the content.Legal impact of Privacy Badger's GPC signal
Privacy Badger sends the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal, requesting websites not to sell or share personal data. In the United States, this signal holds legal weight in several states, including California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Connecticut.Using Privacy Badger with other tools
Users can use Privacy Badger alone, alongside an ad blocker, or in combination with Safari's built-in tracking protections. It is available for download through the App Store. If a website displays incorrectly, users can disable the extension for that site or report the issue to the EFF.Future plans and related tools
The EFF is considering an iOS version of Privacy Badger once the macOS version is stable and free of issues. In 2020, the organization released Cover Your Tracks, an updated version of Panopticlick, a tool that tests a browser's resistance to tracking. The EFF recommends browsers that protect against fingerprinting, such as Safari or Brave, but cautions that using multiple extensions can make a browser more identifiable through fingerprinting.
