Make Using Safari on iOS Even Safer with SafaShield

The Web is a fantastic resource, but it’s also rife with threats and annoyances. Safari on iOS offers decent protection, but there are always gaps. SafaShield by NoVirusThanks steps in to fill those gaps, giving you greater control over your Web browsing safety, privacy, and overall experience.

This is a sponsored article and was made possible by NoVirusThanks. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author, who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored.

What Can SafaShield Do?

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

• Block malicious and harmful websites: SafaShield proactively identifies and blocks domains associated with scams, malware, and phishing attempts. Its smart rules target suspicious TLDs (.top, .live, etc.), IP-like addresses, and sites hosted on dubious free services.
• Get rid of ads: ads can detract from your browsing experience, not to mention slow down page loading times. SafaShield blocks common ads across most websites, including those pesky pop-ups, allowing for a cleaner and faster Web experience. For sites you wish to support, there’s the option to allow ads on trusted websites.
• Stop user activity trackers: with SafaShield, you can prevent third parties from following you across the Web so that your online habits remain your own. This also helps avoid targeted advertising.
• Disable cookie banners: if you’re tired of constantly encountering and dismissing cookie consent banners, SafaShield can offer relief by blocking most of them automatically.
• Enforce encrypted connections: You can use SafaShield to enforce HTTPS on sites that still default to unsecure HTTP connections. This simple step is enough to protect against highly dangerous man-in-the-middle attacks, which often take place on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, such as those found in airports, cafés, and other public areas.

Those are some pretty impressive capabilities for a Safari extension, but there’s one feature noticeably missing: YouTube ad blocking. This is a shame, but understandable considering the huge amount of effort YouTube puts into preventing ad blockers from working effectively.

How Does SafaShield Work?

What’s great about SafaShield is that it’s very easy to set up and use. Simply download the SafaShield app from the App Store, then open the Settings app, navigate to the Safari section, click on Extensions, and enable SafaShield. Once SafaShield is enabled, launch the app to fine-tune your browsing experience.

For those looking to eliminate ads, navigate to the Rules tab within the app, and enable the Ads option under the Protect Privacy section. This action blocks popular advertising networks, such as Google Ads, DoubleClick, Taboola, Outbrain, MGID, and Publift.

In my experience, SafaShield’s ad-blocking feature proved to be highly effective in eliminating ads across various websites. Unlike some ad blockers that can be overly aggressive, SafaShield manages to strike an excellent balance. It effectively blocks most ads, including those intrusive pop-ups and video ads that can significantly detract from the user experience without disrupting the core functionality of the websites visited.

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

But what if you want to make it impossible to access porn sites? You just need to enable the Porn Websites option in the Extra Rules section of the Rules tab page. It instantly blocks access to popular adult websites.

The SafaShield app is available in six different languages (English, Italian, Portuguese, German, French, and Polish), and leaves very little to be desired in terms of usability due to its simple nature. I personally appreciate the option to export all custom rules, as I factory reset my iPhone more often than most people, and having the ability to quickly restore my settings after each reset saves a significant amount of time and hassle.

The Settings menu is also home to links to the NoVirusThanks’s homepage, setup guide, and FAQ pages. Finally, there’s the More tab, which is where you can find links to other software apps developed by NoVirusThanks. Don’t worry, though, as these other apps are not bundled with SafaShield.

Pricing

SafaShield offers its extensive features completely free of charge. This may raise eyebrows: how can a tool that significantly enhances Safari’s security be free? Surprisingly, the answer isn’t “because it collects user data.” SafaShield doesn’t collect any.

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

In this way, SafaShield serves as a free introduction to the NoVirusThanks suite of tools. Of course, you’re under no obligation to try their other products, but you’re absolutely welcome to keep using SafaShield without ever spending a dime.

Closing Thoughts

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

David Morelo - Staff Writer

David Morelo is a professional content writer in the technology niche, covering everything from consumer products to emerging technologies and their cross-industry application. His interest in technology started at an early age and has only grown stronger over the years.