Articles on: SPIN Safe Browser with AppConfig

SPIN Safe Browser + AppConfig Guide

Requirements



The customizations for SPIN Safe Browser below are based on the AppConfig standard which allows compatibility with the following MDMs: Hexnode, Jamf, IBM MaaS360, Mobile Iron, VMWare, SOTI, Blackberry, Meraki and SAP. Please check your specific Mobile Device Management's user guide in order to customize SPIN Safe Browser.

Requires SPIN Safe Browser + AppConfig version 1.0 or higher.

Features



Tip: Users can use the Jamf AppConfig Generator to start customizing SPIN Safe Browser. This allows Administrators to easily select the content categories they wish to use, set blocked and allowed lists of websites from a GUI (graphic user interface) vs the XML code below. Not all features are supported.

Additional areas of customization are possible by manually editing the app configuration section of SPIN Safe Browser inside your mobile device management solution. The following features are detailed in this article:

Set and edit default blocking categories
Deploying bookmarks
Blocked, allow and allow only websites
Set home page
Set New Tab preference
Set Search Engine Preferences
Prevent deletion of the browser's browsing History

Policies List



Content Categories



For this policy, we recommend using the AppConfig Generator in order to set your preferred content categories. From the Select an Application drop down, type SPIN and select it. Version 105 is the latest version.

Important: Removing the <key>Prohibited Categories</key> section will reset SPIN Safe Browser to its default categories when installed from the App Store.

If you remove one of the categories in the <array> section, all websites from our database for that removed category will be allowed and not blocked. Be careful with our default list which is recommended for the best safe browsing experience.

To add another category to filter, simple add another line copy the syntax of <integer>xxxxx</integer>. Refer to our master list of content categories.

<key>Prohibited Categories</key>
<array>
<integer>1010</integer>
<integer>1011</integer>
<integer>1027</integer>
<integer>1031</integer>
<integer>1058</integer>
<integer>1062</integer>
<integer>1076</integer>
<integer>10002</integer>
<integer>10005</integer>
<integer>10007</integer>
</array>

Deploying Bookmarks



To deploy a single bookmark to an iOS device, the whole section must be copied as per below ( text in red). Using the example below, edit the title of the Bookmark by replacing <string>SPIN Safe Browser</string></s> with the name of the Bookmark and set the URL by replacing <string>https://spinsafebrowser.com</string></s> with the website URL.

Bookmarks will then show up in SPIN > Your Library > Bookmarks. Favicons may not be avalable for all bookmarks. For those we cannot download, the first letter of the bookmark name will be used.

*<key>Bookmarks</key>
<array>

<dict>


<key>title</key> <string>SPIN Safe Browser</string></s>

<key>url</key> <string>https://spinsafebrowser.com</string></s>
<key>favicon</key>
<string></string></s>
</dict>

</array>*

Blocked, Allowed and Allow only website lists



For this policy, we recommend using the AppConfig Generator in order to set your preferred content categories.

The Allowed Websites Only key will overwrite any other websites in the Blocked or Allowed websites.

URL formatting is important when adding a website to the blocked or allowed list. You must include the whole URL: https://[example.com](http://www.example.com/). Adding a URL that exists in a currently blocked content category into the Allowed list will overwrite its blocking and be allowed.

Example: https://twitter.com is blocked under the Prone to Bad Content category, adding this URL in the Allowed website list will allow users to access https://twitter.com.

<dict>
<key>Blocked Websites</key>
<array>
<string>https://example1.com</string> </s>
<string>https://example2.com</string> </s>
</array>
<key>Allowed Websites</key>
<array>
<string>https://twitter.com</string> </s>
</array>
<key>Allowed Websites Only</key>
<array>
<string>https://spinsafebrowser.com</string> </s>
</array>
</dict>

New Tab Homepage



Set the URL for new tabs and Home shortcut.

The <string>HomePage</string></s> string under <key>New Tab</key> can be set to the following:

Blank = new tabs open blank ready to enter a URL in address bar
Home = Loads pinned websites and recently visited websites
HomePage = Home page set under <key>Home Page</key> loads for new tab

Set the URL for the new tab and Home Page by replacing

Set the URL for the new tab and Home Page by replacing <string>https://spinsafebrowser.com</string>.

The <key>enforced</key> can be set to <true/> or <false/> which will hide the preferences under the app’s Settings.

<dict>
<key>New Tab</key>
<dict>
<key>Type</key>
<string>HomePage</string></s>
<key>enforced</key>
<false/>
</dict>
<key>Home Page</key>
<dict>
<key>url</key>
<string>https://spinsafebrowser.com</string></s>
<key>enforced</key>
<false/>
</dict>

Search Engine Preferences



Requires SPIN version 1.0.22 and higher

The default search engines options built-in SPIN Safe Browser can be set and enforced with the following parameters.

The key Default Search Engine sets the search engine that will be used for all searches from the address bar. The selections can be enters in the field <string>google</string></s>. The supported values are:

google
duckduckgo
ecosia
bing

Search Suggestions can also be disabled when typing in the address bar. The red coloured text below supports a flag of <false/> or <true/>.

<key>Search Engine</key>
<dict>
<key>Default Search Engine</key>
<string>google</string> </s>
<key>Show Search Suggestions</key>
<false/>
</dict>

Prevent deletion to the browsing History



Requires version 1.0.13 or higher

Adding this key will allow administrators to prevent changes by the user under the Data Management area of SPIN Safe Browser. This also prevents the Cache, Cookies, Offline Website Data, Tracking Protection and Downloaded Files toggles from being changed.

The red coloured text below supports a flag of <false/> or <true/>.

<key>Data Management</key>
<dict>
<key>Prevent changes</key>
<true/>
</dict>

Enable or Disable Pop-Up Windows/Dialogs



Requires version 1.0.15 or higher

Some key websites to your organization may require pop-ups to be disabled. By default, SPIN Safe Browser has pop-up blocking enabled. Use this key to enable or disable pop-ups in SPIN Safe Browser. When this is key is used, the user cannot make changes to this preference.

The red coloured text below supports a flag of <false/> or <true/>.

<key>Block Pop-Up Windows</key>
<dict>
<key>Enabled</key>
<true/>
</dict>

Categories List



Refer to our category list support article here - SPIN Safe Browser Content Category List

Updated on: 04/15/2025