Since its introduction to the world, DuckDuckGo has been slowly gaining recognition, even amongst non-privacy advocates. The corporate lately claimed it had surpassed 98 million searches per day — no small feat for a service competing in opposition to Google, which processes greater than 8.5 billion searches per day.
In case you’re prepared to offer DuckDuckGo a shot, this is every part you might want to know in regards to the privacy-focused search engine.
What’s DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo is a search engine like Google Search, Bing, and Yahoo! The corporate claims to not acquire or share private info and that the searches you do with it are usually not related to you. It doesn’t use cookies to establish customers however solely to recollect person preferences, akin to language choice and SafeSearch standing.
What you seek for is your personal enterprise, which is why we merely do not retailer it.
DuckDuckGo
Why Use DuckDuckgo
Given the recognition and energy of Google Search, it’s possible you’ll surprise why to contemplate another like DuckDuckGo. There’s so much to like about DuckDuckGo, particularly if privateness on the Web issues you.
DuckDuckGo is Secure and Safe
DuckDuckGo routinely applies encryption to all searches, so your search phrases are by no means uncovered to their servers or anybody else’s. It additionally blocks hidden trackers that observe you across the Web to gather details about what you do on-line.
Even Edward Snowden (a former Nationwide Safety Company contractor who leaked authorities paperwork), recommends DuckDuckGo.
DuckDuckGo Tracks Much less Than Google
With DuckDuckGo, you’ll be able to search the online with out compromising your privateness. Google is aware of so much about you. It is aware of the place you might be (by monitoring your cellphone’s GPS sign) or any gadget’s location tag.
It is aware of what you have looked for and which hyperlinks you click on. It additionally possible is aware of your title, handle, and bank card numbers. On different search engines like google and websites, it is fairly frequent for private info to be linked with searches. For instance:
- Your title and searches are linked when you’re logged in (e.g., Google Net Search and YouTube)
- Your IP handle and searches are linked when you’re not logged in (e.g., Google Net Search)
- Your e mail handle and searches are linked when you’ve subscribed to a web site’s e-newsletter or mailing listing (e.g., CNN)
This linking of knowledge can allow monitoring your exercise throughout a number of websites over time, together with non-public searching modes the place cookies are deleted after each session (e.g., Google).
DuckDuckGo Does not Filter Outcomes Based mostly on Your Searches
Not like Google or Bing, the DuckDuckGo search engine would not save your queries or tailor outcomes primarily based on previous searches. It additionally would not even have country-specific domains like Google and Yahoo!
The opposite vital distinction is that DuckDuckGo tries to offer you higher outcomes by aggregating from completely different locations — Wikipedia, Bing, Yahoo!, and so on. In different phrases, if Wikipedia has a very good article on a topic, it would present up as one of many first outcomes.
How DuckDuckGo Compares to Utilizing Incognito Mode
Anybody who’s hung out with an internet browser is aware of what incognito mode is: the privacy-focused characteristic that does not retailer your searching historical past, cache, or cookies. It is presupposed to be a manner to make sure your web exercise is not tracked.
However it seems that is not completely true. Positive, your browser will not hold monitor of visited websites or downloaded information, however there are many different methods web sites can monitor your on-line habits — and incognito mode would not do something to cease them.
Incognito, or non-public searching, is not as non-public as you assume. However DuckDuckGo supplies full privateness safety for all of your searches — whether or not you employ non-public mode or not.
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Why Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Others Observe Your Searches
Engines like google like Google monitor your searches. You possibly can see this very clearly when utilizing them. The massive query is why? Are these search engines like google simply monitoring your knowledge to assist make their product higher (as usually claimed)?
The reply is deep down contained in the advanced world of on-line search engines like google – and there is quite a lot of monitoring happening. Google (and others) acquire knowledge out of your searches to focus on adverts to you and construct an ever-more clear image of who you might be.
Google makes use of this knowledge to promote adverts and acquire an edge over its opponents. For instance, Google can now use your previous searches and historical past when suggesting new services or products to you. Now you understand why you see adverts that mirror your search phrases on a regular basis.
To offer you a greater thought of the cash concerned in these shenanigans, Google earned $209.49 billion in 2021 alone. That is some huge cash.
How DuckDuckGo Makes Cash
DuckDuckGo makes cash by way of promoting, but it surely does issues barely completely different from search engines like google like Google and Bing. These engines show adverts related to your searches, they usually make their income by way of clicks on these commercials.
DuckDuckGo, however, shows adverts primarily based on the overall location of its customers, so they may not be related to your searches. Advertisers pay DuckDuckGo if you view their adverts or click on on them. DuckDuckGo makes use of this income to assist hold its web site operating and safe.
DuckDuckGo is prospering, with sturdy backing from buyers. As late as 2020, the corporate gained over $100m in back-end investments.
How you can Use DuckDuckGo
The important a part of utilizing DuckDuckGo is knowing that it is a search engine. In case you’re used to utilizing Google search, kind the DuckDuckGo web site handle as an alternative of www.google.com.
Chrome Extension
You possibly can set DuckDuckGo as your most popular search engine to make issues simpler. In case you’re on a PC, that is straightforward. Go to www.duckduckgo.com, and on that web page, you may see a button labeled “Add DuckDuckGo to Chrome” (or no matter browser you are utilizing). Doing so will set up an extension that routinely redirects your Google searches to DuckDuckGo.
Android Apps
The oldsters at DuckDuckGo have created a number of apps for Android, however none of them allow you to set the search engine as your default. Fortuitously, there’s a workaround: Use Firefox. The newest model of Firefox for Android permits you to select from a number of completely different search engines like google, and DuckDuckGo is one in every of them.
IOS System
On Apple gadgets, you’ll be able to set DuckDuckGo because the default search engine. Open the Settings menu in your iOS gadget, then faucet Safari. Subsequent, faucet Search Engine and choose DuckDuckGo.
Ought to I be Utilizing DuckDuckGo?
By now you’re in all probability questioning why the entire world isn’t utilizing DuckDuckGo and the way come Google Search stays well-liked. Whereas Google is type of dastardly, it additionally provides an unimaginable variety of free companies to folks.
All of those merchandise are tied to one another. For instance, you need to use your Gmail handle to log in and use different Google merchandise like YouTube. That makes many well-liked companies extraordinarily handy.
However when you’re uninterested in Google storing your search queries and serving you focused adverts—or when you simply desire a change of tempo—DuckDuckGo is a superb various to contemplate. YOu could make the swap at any time however bear in mind – signing in to any Google companies will lead to Google nonetheless getting knowledge from you.
Utilizing a VPN Can Improve Your Web Privateness
In comparison with utilizing DuckDuckGo in an try at privateness, a greater answer shall be to enroll in a Digital Non-public Community (VPN) service. These companies assist you to connect with encrypted servers worldwide.
Along with serving to masks your location, the servers additionally are inclined to obfuscate web sites attempting to learn, copy, retailer, or in any other case seize your knowledge. All you want is to enroll in a service, obtain an app, then connect with a server.
With that, you’ll be able to defend all knowledge flowing to and out of your gadget. After all, even a VPN will solely work when you don’t willingly present info to web sites and companies on-line. Nonetheless, if that’s one thing that pursuits you, be sure to signal on with a good VPN service.
I extremely advocate Surfshark for its nice mixture of wonderful efficiency, no-logs service, and affordable pricing. It’s a service I’ve used for over two years now and there have been no issues so far.
Closing Ideas on DuckDuckGo
Simply because any service is nice or ultra-convenient doesn’t imply it’s at all times essentially the most appropriate. The important factor to recollect right here is that you’ve a selection. Chances are you’ll need to think about using some or the entire instruments and companies mentioned right here relying in your wants.
It might even be randomized relying in your on-line actions. The bottom line is to not put all of your eggs in a single basket and entrust your privateness to a single model. Take cost of your digital privateness, and don’t imagine every part these corporations say.
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