Samsung Internet has browser-level privacy and safety controls, but it does not make you anonymous. Secret mode can limit what the browser saves on your device, Smart Anti-Tracking targets tracking cookies, and Safe Browsing can warn about unsafe sites. Websites, your internet provider and other services may still see activity, while Samsung’s U.S. privacy notice describes collection of browser and usage data. The controls reduce specific risks; they are not a substitute for understanding who can observe your browsing.
What Samsung Internet’s protections do—and do not do
Samsung documents several protections, each aimed at a different part of browsing. Secret mode concerns traces kept by the browser; Smart Anti-Tracking addresses tracking; Safe Browsing warns about unsafe websites; and content blockers can filter ads or other page content. These features are not interchangeable, and none should be treated as a guarantee that every harmful site or tracking method will be blocked.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Reduce local browser traces: use Secret mode.
- Limit some tracking: review Smart Anti-Tracking and the Privacy dashboard.
- Get unsafe-site warnings: enable Safe Browsing.
- Filter page content: optionally install a certified third-party content blocker.
Samsung’s published descriptions explain intended behavior, not an independent security audit or measured blocking rate. Samsung does not provide a relevant effectiveness percentage in the official material cited here.
How to enable and review the important settings
Menu names and availability can vary by app version, device software and region. If a path differs, look for the equivalent option in your installed Samsung Internet build.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Check the Privacy dashboard
- Open Samsung Internet and tap Tools (the three vertical dots).
- Tap Privacy.
- Review the blocked-content counts and the controls shown. Samsung says the dashboard can show blocked trackers and ads.
- Swipe for additional safety options, including Warn about malicious sites and Block automatic downloads, if available in your build.
The dashboard is useful for seeing activity attributed to its controls; a blocked-content count is not proof that all tracking or unsafe content has been stopped.
Turn on Safe Browsing
- Tap Tools > Settings.
- Open Security and privacy.
- Enable Safe Browsing.
Samsung describes this setting as providing warnings about unsafe websites. A warning feature is not a promise that every malicious page will be identified.
Rank #2
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
Configure Secret mode
- Tap Tools > Settings.
- Open Personal browsing data > Secret mode settings.
- Review the available choices, which Samsung lists as password protection, screenshot permission, staying in Secret mode after closing the browser, Smart Anti-Tracking protection levels or automatic CAPTCHA verification, and resetting Secret mode.
Samsung says Secret mode ends when the Browser app is closed. Its August 2024 explanation says cookies and history for Secret mode sites are deleted from the phone after all Secret mode tabs are closed; implementation details may differ across versions and devices.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Add a content blocker if you want one
- Open the browser menu and choose Ad blockers.
- Review the available options and install a blocker if appropriate.
Samsung describes these as third-party apps certified by Samsung and obtained through the browser’s Ad blockers menu. They are optional; Samsung’s support material does not establish that a particular blocker is preinstalled.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What Secret mode actually keeps private
Samsung says Secret mode does not save browsing history, cookies or search records in the stated manner. It is intended to reduce browsing traces retained in the browser/device context—not to hide your identity or encrypt your connection. Samsung warns that activity may still be visible to websites, your internet service provider, apps and the phone manufacturer.
Samsung also says pages and bookmarks saved in Secret mode remain visible only within Secret mode, and its support FAQ describes password protection. This can help keep saved browsing material separate from ordinary browser use on a shared device, but it does not change what a website or network provider can observe.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Tracking protection, HTTPS and blockers are different controls
Samsung describes Smart Anti-Tracking as a browser feature aimed at cookies and third-party trackers. In an August 2024 newsroom article, Samsung said it was on by default and described protection against cross-site workarounds and domains that collude with classified trackers. The same article described preferring HTTPS when a URL is typed. These are Samsung’s published feature descriptions, not independently verified results; defaults and behavior can change between releases.
Ad or content blockers are separate from Smart Anti-Tracking: they are third-party apps accessed from the Ad blockers menu. Samsung also lists biometric web sign-in as a browser feature. That feature authenticates you to websites; it is not a tracker blocker or malicious-site defense.
Best Value
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
What Samsung may collect
Samsung’s U.S. Samsung Internet Privacy Notice says Samsung and related entities may use technologies that collect device identifiers, device and browser characteristics, language preferences, clickstream data, interactions such as pages visited and links clicked, browser feature use, and dates and times of use. The notice says Samsung Internet privacy and security settings can manage some device-data sharing with Samsung and third parties, including restrictions on cookies that collect browsing-history information.
That notice is U.S.-specific and older than Samsung’s current support material, so it should not be treated as a definitive description of policy in every region today. Check the latest Samsung privacy notice for your location and the settings in your installed version. Browser privacy settings can control some sharing; they do not establish that no data is collected.
Is Samsung Internet a good choice for privacy?
It can be a reasonable choice if you want built-in controls for tracking, unsafe-site warnings and private browsing on a Samsung device. The practical approach is to enable Safe Browsing, inspect the Privacy dashboard, understand the limits of Secret mode, and decide whether a third-party content blocker fits your needs.
If your requirement is anonymity from websites or your internet provider, Samsung Internet’s described controls do not meet it. Secret mode is not a VPN or anonymity service, and Samsung’s privacy notice makes clear that browser and usage data may be collected under its terms.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
