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Safari private browsing behaviour

Hello everyone, I am trying to do a little research on Safari's behaviour while in private browsing mode. I have read that nothing will be saved to the device, is that the case? Or are, for example, thumbnails of videos temporarily stored until safari is closed? Are they stored in RAM or in persistent memory? In case of a professional forensics analysis, could the data be retrieved? Thank You everyone! Also, any other extra info on the security of Safari would be greatly appreciated!

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Apr 1, 2024 4:03 PM

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Apr 2, 2024 7:03 AM in response to Lookforbottle

I recommend that you familiarize yourself with Browse privately in Safari on iPhone - Apple Support.


Private Browsing does not do anything that Apple Support document does not explicitly state. For example, you need to deliberately exit Private Browsing if you expect Safari to delete its history.


In case of a professional forensics analysis, could the data be retrieved?


The world's foremost law enforcement agencies have been unable to break into or otherwise extract data from locked iPhones. As a (likely) consequence of that fact, the world's most aggressive justice department is pursuing what is likely to be a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Apple's ironclad control over the security of their devices. You will need to draw your own conclusions from those facts.


Also, any other extra info on the security of Safari would be greatly appreciated!


Privacy - Features - Apple

View the Safari Privacy white paper (PDF)

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Apr 13, 2024 5:03 PM in response to Lookforbottle

There are two or three potentially applicable circumstances, though I think they are remote given the context of your question.


If those photos were stored using the Photos app and subsequently deleted, they go to a Recently Deleted folder (which itself is locked separately). After thirty days elapse, they are permanently deleted.


If the device (iPhone) is backed up to a Mac or a PC, those backups would be unaffected by that passage of time. That backup could conceivably be restored.


Finally, if the iPhone user had been using iCloud Photos, they could appear there also.

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Safari private browsing behaviour

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