Related: Does Customer Data Privacy Actually Matter? It Should. The discovery prompted concern in users, particularly those who value a truly private browsing experience. 'I tested the DuckDuckGo so-called private browser for both iOS and Android, yet *neither version* blocked data transfers to Microsoft's Linkedin + Bing ads while viewing Facebook's workplacecom homepage,' he writes in a thread.

Most simply: DuckDuckGo partners with Microsoft and, as a result, “ad clicks are managed by Microsoft’s ad network.”Įdwards then took to Twitter to share his findings. When examining the browser’s agreement with Microsoft, he found that while platforms like Google Chrome and Facebook are blocked from tracking, DuckDuckGo allows trackers through Microsoft owned properties like LinkedIn and Bing.

Through a meticulous investigation, researcher Zach Edwards discovered a crucial gap in DuckDuckGo’s claim of maximum privacy. However, it turns out, you really can't have it all.

Related: 6 Things You Should Know About 'Anti-Google' Search Engine DuckDuckGo How private is DuckDuckGo?ĭuckDuckGo claims to never collect, store or share personal user information, and that the browser allows for a more privacy-focused internet experience void of a third party tracker. Google, on the other hand, does store certain information, which leads to targeted ads and detailed search history, factors that each user has their own comfort level with in regard to their privacy online. The key difference is that DuckDuckGo does not store IP addresses or user data, allowing users to browse the web somewhat anonymously. The two browsers are shockingly similar, and to the naked eye, DuckDuckGo search results and Google search look nearly identical. How is DuckDuckGo different from Google search? And the truth is that they can, but with an asterisk.

Is duckduckgo really private