Apple previously announced that its Safari browser uses Google's Safe Browsing service , using the "Fraudulent Website Warning " feature, to protect users from phishing scams. This means that it sends some data to Google. However, in addition to Safe Browsing, the Safari browser also sends data to Chinese technology company Tencent .
Some users have noticed that iOS 13 is also sending some data to Tencent's corresponding Safe Browsing service. It is speculated that all versions after iOS 12.2 are sending data to the Chinese company.
It is still unknown whether the data Tencent is collecting comes from Apple users outside of China.
Sending information to companies like Tencent raises concerns. How does the company use the data it collects? Google and Tencent are said to provide systems to combat phishing attacks. However, the Chinese company is viewed with suspicion because it is known to work with the Chinese government. Many fear that Tencent could use the information it collects for espionage campaigns or to carry out other attacks.
Matthew Green, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, said that Safe Browsing (both Google and Tencent) could be used by malicious hackers to track down various users. So if the Chinese government were pushing to track down dissidents (for example), Tencent could help.
If you want to disable the feature (Fraudulent Website Warning) that allows data to be sent, you can do so by going to: Settings > Safari.
Apple has this feature enabled by default, but it doesn't inform users about the data being sent to the Chinese company and its use. Additionally, many people don't trust Chinese, believing they are handing over information to the Chinese government.
Apple had integrated Tencent's Safe Browsing service into the Safari browser for Chinese users after WWDC 2017. However, it now appears to have been integrated into devices outside of China.
