Apple’s Safari web browser is reported to block third-party cookies by default, according to a blog post by WebKit. The new feature was included as part of the latest updates released by the Cupertino-based company for the browser, along with the public rollout of iOS and iPadOS version 13.4 on 25 March 2020.
WebKit says that Safari is the first mainstream web browser to implement third-party cookie blocking. This approach should be able to repel persistent or invasive cookie sources such as certain advertisers and attackers.
Furthermore, the blog post mentioned that blocking should disable cross-site request forgery attacks. This applies to removing ad creators and site operators’ ability to use an auxiliary third-party domain to identify users as well.
The WebKit team plans to share the results of this Safari update to the privacy groups in the World Wide Web Consortium in order to pave the way to other web browser developers. On the other hand, Google is also planning to allow their Chrome browser to block third-party cookies by 2022.
(Source: WebKit via Engadget | Header image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
