Worried about fraudulent websites when you browse on your iPhone or Mac? You can browse with more peaceful a mind by having Safari automatically check site safety using Google Safe Browsing. Find out here how to enable deceptive and fraudulent website warning on iPhone and Mac for stress-free browsing.
First, If You See Mostly Black on a Field of Flowers
If you see flowers mostly in black, you are perhaps a bee.
A bee’s vision is not entirely unlike that of humans, but it differs in distinct ways. Bees see beyond violet, for example, and not so much at the other end of the spectrum: they cannot see red.
So, a meadow full of poppies is mostly “invisible” to bees, and they prefer plants that don other colors.
Now, do you prefer to "see" what sites are dangerous on the web? Let us make Safari render them mostly red and invisible:
How to Get Deceptive Website Warning in Safari on iPhone and Mac
Safari for iOS
Time needed: 3 minutes
To have sites checked for deceptive phishing attempts and malware automatically in Safari for iOS on iPhone and iPad:
- Open the Settings app.
- Select Apps.
iOS before 18: You can skip this step.
- Go to the Safari category.
- Enable Fraudulent Website Warning under PRIVACY & SECURITY.
Safari for macOS
To make Safari check pages for malware and phishing before it shows them using macOS on a Mac:
- Select Safari | Preferences… from the menu in Safari.
Mac keyboard shortcut: Press Command , in Safari to open preferences quickly. - Go to the Security tab.
- Do check Warn when visiting a fraudulent website.
- Close the Security preferences window.
How to Get Deceptive Website Warning in Safari on iPhone and Mac: FAQ
Which service does Safari use to check for deceptive or fraudulent websites, malware, and phishing?
Safari uses Google Safe Browsing to check security on both macOS and iOS.
Does Safari send my browsing data to Google with deceptive website warnings enabled?
Partially.
To check website safety, Safari will submit hashed data about the pages you visit to Google for checking. This data is not connected to you.
You cannot set up Safari to only check offline against a previously downloaded list of dangerous sites.
Can I override a deceptive website warning and still visit a site?
Yes.
In the exceptional case that you are sure a site is safe to visit:
- Click Show Details on the Deceptive Website Warning page.
- Now click visit this unsafe website.
Deceptive sites dodged?
Tips help fuel these email and tech how-tos.
(Tested with Safari 13–18 and 26 for macOS as well as Safari 13–18 and 26 for iOS; first published June 2018, last updated November 2025)