Privatus

Privatus is a macOS application that automatically manages and deletes private browsing data (cookies, history, cache) from Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Brave, and Opera after each session, centralizing privacy settings for multiple browsers from a unified interface.

★★★★★

4.0(1 ratings)

• Automatic cookie deletion. Privatus removes standard HTTP cookies from all supported browsers when they are closed. This action prevents cross-site tracking and the persistence of unwanted login sessions. The configuration is applied separately for each browser installed on the system.
• Cleaning of Flash and Silverlight cookies. The application manages data from plugins like Adobe Flash Player and Microsoft Silverlight, which store information independent of the browser. This process removes Local Shared Objects (LSOs) and isolated data that could be used for device fingerprinting.
• Deletion of local storage and databases. The contents of Web Storage APIs (localStorage and sessionStorage) and SQLite databases created by websites are removed. This feature prevents the accumulation of structured data that pages use to save settings and offline content.
• Browser cache purging. Privatus deletes temporary files stored in the hard drive cache, including images, scripts, and documents downloaded during browsing. This operation frees up storage space and removes traces of activity that could be used to reconstruct browsing history.
• Deletion of browsing history. The function erases records of visited URLs, access dates, and page titles stored in the history database. It does not affect bookmarks or reading lists, preserving references selected by the user.
• Cleaning of favicons and previews. The application removes locally stored website icons and preview snapshots generated by the operating system or browser. These visual elements can reveal usage patterns even without textual history logs.
• Deletion of autofill form values. Privatus removes data saved by autofill systems, including addresses, names, phone numbers, and credit card details. This measure protects personal information that could be extracted by malware or unauthorized users.
• Management of completed downloads. The function cleans the list of downloaded files within the browser interface, without deleting the actual files from the system. It removes metadata records documenting which files were obtained and from which web locations.
• Access from the system menu bar. Privatus operates from an icon in the macOS top menu bar, providing quick access to status and configuration without opening main windows. This design minimizes interference with the workflow while keeping controls accessible.
• One-time setup and continuous operation. After the initial per-browser configuration, the application executes cleaning processes automatically according to the defined parameters. It requires no subsequent manual intervention to maintain scheduled deletion of browsing data.
• Preservation of browser extensions. Unlike similar tools, Privatus differentiates between tracking cookies and data from installed extensions. It keeps the configurations and sessions of extensions like password managers or ad-blockers intact during cleaning operations.
• Differentiated protection by browser. The application allows independent settings for each detected browser, recognizing distinct usage profiles. A user can set up complete cleaning for general browsing while preserving specific cookies in another browser for specialized tasks.

The development of Privatus began in 2016, initially focusing on compatibility with macOS Sierra. The developers designed the application in response to the complexity of managing privacy settings in multiple browsers individually. The code was implemented in native macOS languages, using Cocoa frameworks for the interface and low-level APIs to access browser data structures.

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