What is DuckDuckGo.com and why should I use it?
It is often easy to forget how many search engines there are, each with different priorities and addressing different concerns. While most of us find ourselves using the big names without much thought, there are many alternative search engines out there. One such search engine is DuckDuckGo.
Google is undoubtedly the market leader, surpassing other competitors by far. However, the popularity of alternative search engines has been increasing steadily as people become more suspicious of ‘big tech’.
Major data breach scandals, such as the Cambridge Analytica one where data was harvested from Facebook in 2014, has made growing numbers of users rethink their relationship with social media and search engines. In the wake of such scandals, a number of socially conscious engines have come to offer their services that some are so desperately clamouring for. Ecosia, an environmentally conscious engine, is another interesting example in Europe.
It should come as no surprise therefore that according to Statista, the market share of DuckDuckGo has been increasing noticeably from July 2019, particularly in the US. In 2022, the Search Engine Journal even said that DuckDuckGo was the second most popular mobile search engine in the US after Google, with users making 8 billion search queries in Q1 of 2022 alone.
In this article we will answer some of the most common questions concerning this search engines, equipping you with the information to decide if it is the right one for you. We will cover the basics as well as delve into some of the nitty gritty details concerning privacy and trackers.
What is DuckDuckGo.com?
DuckDuckGo.com, also humorously known as the duck search, is an engine that prioritises your privacy online and is available as a mobile and browser app as well as a desktop extension. Founded in 2008, it is this privacy focus that has drawn in so many new users over the past few years.
It functions in essentially the same was as any other search engine with the aim of allowing you to search freely without companies taking your personal data. The flip side of this though is that the search results are not as targeted to you as you might expect on, say, Chrome.
Why do people use DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo hides your IP address from websites looking to collect and store this information and redirects the information request to stop the website knowing what search terms you entered to reach their site.
Moreover, DuckDuckGo promises to not collect other forms of data that provide the information that is usually needed for a personalised experience and that deliver targeted ads. They call this the ‘filter bubble’ and it is from this that Duck searchers can escape.
If privacy is a priority, then this engine is for you. However, if you are looking for highly relevant and curated searches then one of the other engines is probably a better bet.
Is DuckDuckGo a good app?
DuckDuckGo functions in a similar way to other search engines, providing the same results without customising them based on your preferences or search history. However, it should be noted that due to the focus on privacy the algorithm is less well developed. The results are curated from hundreds of sources which include DuckDuckGo’s own web crawler as well as other services such as Bing, Yahoo and Wolfram Alpha – not Google though.
Like other search engines, you can use the menus at the top of the page to filter your results and there are the same features you have come to expect from all engines, including maps, weather, and shopping.
You will still see ads – after all, even the Duck search needs to make money -there is just a different approach. Rather than targeting you, the ads you are shown depend entirely upon the keywords you have searched. Therefore, if you search for notebooks, you will be shown adverts for just that and nothing more.
What is the difference between DuckDuckGo and incognito mode?
There are very few similarities between DuckDuckGo vs incognito mode on other browsers and people often underestimate just how much data incognito mode can collect. There is a fundamental difference between the two: DuckDuckGo never collects the data whereas incognito deletes the information.
When you open an incognito tab, your history, cookies, and any personal information entered will be deleted when you close the tab but not before. Engines such as Google can save your searches and meaning you can still be tracked by companies and providers. DuckDuckGo never collect this information in the first place.
Yet, despite this, there have been questions surrounding trackers on DuckDuckGo in recent years with some left wondering is DuckDuckGo a safe browser.
DuckDuckGo uses Microsoft Bing to power its search results and advertising. However, this faced criticism in May 2022 when research discovered trackers in DuckDuckGo’s browsers. Gabriel Weinberg, the founder and CEO, clarified on the DuckDuckGo website that such third-party requests are blocked from loading,
‘Currently, if an advertiser wants to detect conversions for their own ads that are shown on DuckDuckGo, 3rd-Party Tracker Loading Protection will not block bat.bing.com requests from loading on the advertiser’s website following DuckDuckGo ad clicks, but these requests are blocked in all other contexts. For anyone who wants to avoid this, it's possible to disable ads in DuckDuckGo search setting. We’re committed for the long haul to make simple privacy protection available to all, and will continue striving to strengthen the quality, understanding, and confidence in our product.’
Should I use DuckDuckGo?
This is up to you! Now we have equipped you with all the relevant information, you are better placed to reflect upon your browsing choices. DuckDuckGo.com reviews and opinions depend upon the priorities and needs of the individuals. However, the growing numbers of users certainly reflect an appetite for this sort of service and serves as a reminder to advertisers that alternative platforms offer plenty of opportunities.
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