Learn about SafaShield: A tool to enhance security when browsing the web on Safari

The web is a wonderful resource, but it's also full of threats and annoyances. Safari on iOS offers good protection, but there are always gaps. SafaShield by NoVirusThanks was created to fill those gaps, giving you more control over your safety, privacy, and overall browsing experience.

What can SafaShield do?

SafaShield is a powerful Safari extension for iOS that brings a variety of features designed to enhance user security, privacy, and comfort while navigating the web:

• Block malicious websites : SafaShield proactively identifies and blocks domains associated with scams, malware, and phishing attempts. Its smart rules target suspicious TLDs (.top, .live, etc.), IP addresses that look like them, and websites hosted on suspicious free services.
• Eliminate Ads : Ads can detract from your browsing experience, not to mention slow down page load times. SafaShield blocks common ads on almost every website, including those pesky pop-ups, for a faster and cleaner web experience. For sites you want to support, there is an option to allow ads on trusted sites.
• Stop user activity trackers : With SafaShield, you can prevent third parties from tracking you across the web so your online habits remain your own. This also helps avoid targeted advertising.
• Disable cookie banners : If you are tired of constantly encountering and dismissing cookie consent banners, SafaShield can help you by automatically blocking most of them.
• Enforce encrypted connections : You can use SafaShield to enforce HTTPS on websites that default to insecure HTTP connections. This simple step is enough to protect against extremely dangerous Man-in-the-middle attacks , which often occur on unsecured public WiFi networks, such as those found in airports, coffee shops, and many other public areas.

Those are some pretty impressive capabilities for a Safari extension, but there’s one notable missing feature: YouTube ad blocking. This is a shame, but understandable, as YouTube has gone to great lengths to prevent ad blockers from working effectively.

How does SafaShield work?

The great thing about SafaShield is that it's super easy to install and use. Just download the SafaShield app from the App Store, then open the Settings app , navigate to Safari , click Extensions , and enable SafaShield. Once SafaShield is enabled, launch the app to tweak your browsing experience.

For those who want to remove ads, navigate to the Rules tab in the app and enable the Ads option under Protect Privacy . This action blocks popular ad networks such as Google Ads, DoubleClick, Taboola, Outbrain, MGID, and Publift.

SafaShield’s ad blocking feature proves to be highly effective at removing ads on a variety of websites. Unlike some ad blockers that can be too aggressive, SafaShield manages to strike a great balance. It effectively blocks most ads, including invasive pop-ups and video ads that can significantly degrade the user experience without disrupting the core functionality of the websites visited.

To block a specific domain, go to the Block tab at the bottom of the app interface, select Domain Name , then tap the “ + ” icon, followed by Add New . Enter the domain you want to block, such as example.com , and this domain and all of its subdomains will no longer be accessible during your Safari sessions.

But what if you want to block access to porn websites? Simply enable the Porn Websites option in the Extra Rules section of the Rules tab page . It will instantly block access to popular adult websites.

The SafaShield app is available in 6 different languages ​​(English, Italian, Portuguese, German, French, and Polish) and leaves little to be desired in terms of usability due to its simplicity. Many people appreciate the option to export all their custom rules, as if you factory reset your iPhone often, having the ability to quickly restore your settings after each reset will save you a significant amount of time and hassle.

The Settings menu also contains links to the NoVirusThanks homepage, setup guide, and FAQ page. Finally, there’s the More tab , which is where you can find links to other software applications developed by NoVirusThanks. Don’t worry, though, these other applications don’t come with SafaShield.

How much does SafaShield cost?

SafaShield offers its extensions completely free of charge. This may surprise many: How can a tool that significantly enhances Safari’s security be free? Surprisingly, the answer is not “because it collects user data.” SafaShield does not collect anything.

The real answer lies in the developer’s business model, NoVirusThanks. SafaShield is just the tip of the iceberg in NoVirusThanks’ security suite, which includes OSArmor, SysHardener, and IPSpamList, among others. These products offer advanced protection against malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats, but are free to try.

In this way, SafaShield serves as a free introduction to the NoVirusThanks toolkit. Of course, you are under no obligation to try their other products and can absolutely continue using SafaShield without spending a dime.

If you want to enhance your security, streamline your browsing, and take back control of your online privacy, SafaShield is a great solution for iOS users. Its wide range of blocking capabilities, combined with its ease of use and free nature, make it a no-brainer for anyone looking to enhance their Safari experience.

Advantage

• Comprehensive blocking capabilities
• Free to use
• No user data collection
• Multilingual support
• Allows you to export your custom rules

Disadvantages

• YouTube ad blocking feature missing