Is your iPhone secretly listening in on you? Not exactly. However, a startling new form of digital tracking is taking place, and millions are unaware. Welcome to the world of digital fingerprinting, a sinister technique that identifies your device as you browse the web without you even knowing.

This method of tracking has drawn criticism, with Google itself admitting that it 'subverts user choice' and is 'wrong.' Unlike cookies, which you can clear from your history, your digital fingerprint remains—impeding your ability to regain control over your data.

In a surprising shift, Google has resurrected the practice of digital fingerprinting this year. No longer limited to web browsers, this invasive tracking now connects across all your smart devices. With browsers as the key battleground for tracking, it’s here that your life unfolds—where you shop, work, play, and research. It’s baffling to think that your internet history could be an open book!

Digital fingerprinting compiles a wealth of information from your iPhone, including your IP address, device model, operating system, and much more to forge a unique identifier. So even if you are on Safari, abstaining from Google’s Chrome for privacy reasons, you’re still leaving behind a digital trail.

But fear not—Apple is stepping up! With the upcoming iOS 26 update, there’s a way to combat Google's ambitions. Users can now activate a vital privacy feature in their Safari settings. Simply navigate to 'Advanced' and toggle the 'Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection' option to ‘On’—which right now defaults to ‘Private Browsing.’

Engaging this feature injects a barrage of meaningless data into the mix, making it significantly harder for trackers to pinpoint your device among millions. Yet while Safari blocks tracking cookies—which offer opt-out options—digital fingerprinting is meticulous and silent, leaving you with no chance to opt out.

A regulator shared a poignant warning that digital fingerprinting is 'not a fair means of tracking' and is designed to restrict your control over personal information. To protect your privacy, make this adjustment in Safari settings, but keep in mind—fingerprinting is operational across a plethora of apps and devices, from smart TVs to gaming consoles.

So as you navigate your everyday digital life, make sure you’re not leaving a trail behind without your consent!