Data Privacy Day 2025: 5 iPhone and Mac privacy features you probably didn’t know about

iPhone

Apple rolls out new safety features every now and then to help users keep their personal information safe. While most of these features get a lot of attention, some of them fly under the radar. So let us dive into the five lesser known privacy features that can protect our data in the best way possible.

Did you know you could lock your apps on iPhones? Well, yes you can lock and hid specific apps on your iPhone. It could be anything, a messaging app or your photo gallery. Once you enable this feature, you can hand over your phone to anyone without sweating bullets over what they might see.

You dont feel really good when an app asks for access to your contacts. However, with iOS 18, you can choose what you want to share with the app. You can decide which contacts to share and keep the rest of the list hidden.

Safari’s private browsing mode is safe and secure but it is now even better.When you exit the app, your Private Browsing tabs automatically lock. To reopen them, you’ll need to use FaceID, TouchID, or your passcode. That means no one’s snooping through your browsing history—even if they get their hands on your phone.

Ever clicked on a link and thought, “Why is this URL so ridiculously long?” Those extra characters are often tracking codes, and they’re designed to follow you around the internet. Apple’s Link Tracking Protection strips those trackers out of URLs you share in Safari Private Browsing, Messages, or Mail. It’s a subtle but powerful way to keep advertisers from peeking over your shoulder.

This one’s a lifesaver for anyone who’s ever felt their privacy might be at risk. Safety Check lets you quickly cut off access to your information—whether it’s from people or apps. It’s perfect for urgent situations where you need to lock things down fast. You can even restrict communication tools like Messages and FaceTime to your device and update your passcode if needed.