Questions on privacy and safari, browser history; top sites; private browsi

Question

In one thread someone suggested that those concerned about the privacy of their web browsing and its history try Private Browsing. What are the consequences of Private Browsing? Does Private Browsing interfere with some of the web page features or javascript from working when I'm trying to access a page that has java or Flash? Will my bank's website load ok etc? I guess I was a little worried it would stop the showing of the last page visited and if so then hopefully that won't stop some sites from functioning.
Is Private Browsing the best way to go all around for those concerned about privacy loss in Safari or does it not really help much? I wonder why it isn't the default.
I want to be able to use my browser to access sites that don't load well when I use Firefox with NoScript, such as bank sites, but I do not want my browsing history to stay in view constantly, and I'm also upset at seeing it want to "learn" my browsing habits and try to suggest sites for me without my setting it to do this.
For this reason I will be setting Firefox or any other browser I feel is more private than Safari, possibly Camino, to be my default browser. I will probably only be using Safari when a site won't work without it, same as when I used to settle for Internet Explorer on my windows computer when Firefox didn't work.
I'm also concerned that I can't get that Google search bar out of my browser. I don't want Google keeping tabs of every site I visit. I'm not sure if Google has access to tracking every place I go if I never put any text into the Google search bar or how far into bed with Google Apple has now gone but I'm afraid of the privacy invasion possibilities.
Perhaps Google gets no info if I do not type anything into the google search bar. I wish I could drag it off the menu bar however. (If I want to go to google, I know how to type google.com for crying out loud).
I hope Apple will hold the line on its partners re: privacy in products like iPhone and Safari that work with its partners regardless of their tendencies to disrespect privacy.
Does anyone know if the fact that this Safari software wants to learn what my favorite sites are affects outside parties including Apple, Google, and/or others possibly getting access to info on my browsing habits?
If i allow the Top Sites page to work, will it just be something I MYSELF have access to the info on or are the URLs of my favorite sites reported to Apple, Google, or others?
Does hitting RESET clear things out in this regard? I'd like to use these tools if I could be sure that using Safari doesn't turn the computer into a spyware tool for outside entities, commercial interests and governmental interests to mine data from.

Answer 1

Barry Hemphill wrote:
Hello r:
If you think Safari, Firefox, or anything else will mask your browsing habits from someone who really wants to know, you are not being realistic.
I tend to discount justifications of privacy encroachments I sometimes encounter to the effect of "snooping is done by certain commercial and governmental parties as the way things 'just are', so shut up and don't worry". Customers who do not air their concerns and questions cannot have any expectation that the developer will be aware of their concern if they sit mute.
I sometimes pay for additional software to protect my privacy. I also use Firefox with Noscript and adblocking third party software rather than just sit with what the big corporations leave me with; there is a third party program for Safari I tried called PithHelmet for example, but then it seemed to not be loaded with the new Safari update and its developer dud not provide me any communication (although I got help here on how to find the program so I could remove it); so I may not use Safari as much compared to whatever browser I find has better privacy and security measures.
If you go to the Safari help menu and enter +"private browsing,"+ you will find a complete description of what that function does for you. In answer to one of your questions, it is not a default because one loses a good deal of functionality. I would be most perturbed if that was made the default.
Ok, I will try to learn the functionalities lost, thanks.
You can set the history to be deleted after one day (or longer). If you are concerned, it is quite easy to clear history before you sign off.<</div>
I've been using RESET to clear my history in the past; I assume it still works although Reset doesn't seem to permanently make certain cookies with future expiration dates go away permanently, which I find come back later even without my visiting a site for weeks and this was happening in the previous version of Safari too.
You can remove the Google search box (or anything else) from the menu bar. Right click on it. One option is +"remove item."+
That doesn't work in terms of just removing the Google search bar at the top right, I see.
I did not want to lose my blank for typing a URL; I only want the thing out to the right that says Google on it, which seems to use Google's search engine to go away. I certainly hope that every time I type a URL into the blank at the left top (which is not the part over to the top right that says Google and a magnifying glass) that I'm not having Google track my URLs I visit like they would if I put a search term into the blank at the top right, but maybe it does since the two are forcibly linked.
I guess I'd have to try Command L - Open Location in the Find menu if I want to try to go to a URL without using the URL blank at the top left I normally type in. I would only want to go to that trouble if typing in the top left blank for URLs results in Google tracking my URL visits like they certainly would if I typed in the top right google tool bar and hopefully Open Location does not result in the same issue.
if i allow the Top Sites page to work, will it just be something I MYSELF have access to the info on or are the URLs of my favorite sites reported to Apple, Google, or others?
I seriously doubt that Apple (or anyone else) is "reporting" anything about you to anyone. As you are no doubt aware, most web sites store cookies on your system when you visit that site. The information stored varies, but you can, of course, block cookies if you wish.
I have the ability to block cookies, and I use Noscript a lot too with Firefox (although that set up does not always work with a few webpages here and there, so sometimes I have to use Safari or Camino). I use Safari less and less because there is no Noscript type of third party software for it. The only time I feel I have no choice but to use Safari on my Mac is when I go to my Mobileme account.
My concern is of Top Sites "learning" my favorite sites and displaying to me the names of a lot of suggested URLs, as to who else is receiving that data; hopefully no one. Maybe I'll get to where i find info explaining that Apple and Google aren't collecting data about my "top sites" if I use that feature.
It's just that there has been an increasing amount of privacy intrusion in the commercial realm combined with a corporate arrogance in terms treating consumers as though there is no need to make any assurances or explanations to consumers to help them trust the privacy. Instead we get browbeaten by various parties about how stupid or obvious we are if we ask a question to remind the corporation it's an issue to those of us who want to feel comfortable with the privacy of the software we use.
I'll try to use the Feedback form to ask as well.
At the risk of stating the obvious, it is quite easy to find out all sorts of information about an individual if one is interested. If you are really concerned, I suggest you severely limit your use of the Internet.
I may well limit my use of the internet if what you say is true that there is no way to do any reading on the internet without being spied on by commercial and governmental interests.
thanks