Apple is urging iPhone users to delete a widely used app, warning that it poses a serious threat to their digital privacy.
Although Apple didn’t name the application directly, the tech giant made its target clear through a recently released video that subtly points to Google Chrome.
The clip, titled “Privacy on iPhone | Flock,” uses a spoof of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film The Birds to dramatize how internet users are constantly being watched when using browsers that lack strong privacy protections.
The name “Flock” appears to be a not-so-subtle nod to Google’s previous initiative known as FLoC, short for Federated Learning of Cohorts, which was introduced as a tool to help advertisers deliver personalized ads without tracking individual users directly.
In the video, people using iPhones are relentlessly followed by hovering surveillance cameras as they browse online—until they switch to Safari. Once they make the change, the cameras explode and vanish, illustrating Apple’s claim that its native browser offers genuine privacy.
The timing of Apple’s campaign coincides with Google’s announcement on Tuesday that it will no longer be phasing out third-party cookies from Chrome, despite earlier commitments to eliminate them.
Apple seized the opportunity to pitch Safari as “a browser that’s actually private,” contrasting its own approach with Google’s ad-driven tracking infrastructure.
Google’s Chrome browser enables advertisers and websites to collect detailed behavioral data from users, which helps fuel the company’s multi-billion-dollar advertising empire.
Google had originally set out to replace third-party cookies with a system that would balance privacy and targeted advertising. However, the initiative ultimately fell apart, with the company now stating it will “maintain our current approach to offering users third-party cookie choice in Chrome.”
While cookies themselves aren’t inherently dangerous, they often create vulnerabilities that allow for the collection of personal data. For iPhone users who continue using Chrome, this likely means being tracked—unless they browse in Incognito Mode or regularly delete their cookies.
Apple’s case for Safari as the more secure option has been supported by cybersecurity professionals.
“When it comes down to your security, Safari is probably your best bet,” wrote Elly Hancock from Private Internet Access in a blog post.
“Safari is more secure and privacy-friendly than Chrome, but Chrome is faster and offers enhanced performance.”
{Matzav.com}
