
Watch YouTube videos privately through Duck Player These send automatic opt-out requests, remove tracking parameters from URLs, replace AMP links with the original URLs, and help identify third-party trackers disguised as other domains. The browser is also bundled with other protections like Global Privacy Control, Link Tracking Protection, Google AMP Protection, and CNAME Cloaking Protection. If these were simply blocked after loading, information such as your IP address would still be leaked and could be used to profile and track you. First of all, unlike most tracker blockers, this browser prevents trackers from being loaded in the first place. It wouldn’t be DuckDuckGo if privacy wasn’t at the top of the feature list, and there’s a lot to talk about in this regard. Moreover, the fact that the app aggressively blocks trackers also leads to better performance while browsing, since third-party trackers won’t even be loaded when opening a website, thus reducing the amount of data that needs to be transferred. This translates to a small resource footprint and optimal performance, while also opening the door for better macOS integration. Unlike most browser alternatives on the market, DuckDuckGo runs on WebKit. Safari is based on Apple’s WebKit, which is understandably optimized for macOS better than any other engine. Most desktop browsers rely on Chromium nowadays, with Firefox and Safari being the two major exceptions. Yes, there are a lot of features geared towards preserving your online anonymity, but you also get a faster browsing experience, built-in ad blocking, automatic cookie pop-up handling, and Bitwarden integration.

While you may think DuckDuckGo is only for users who care about privacy above all else, there’s a lot more to it than that. The search engine has become popular by providing an alternative to Google, and the company offers other products, including extensions and mobile browsers, and now a macOS desktop browser as well. When you hear the name DuckDuckGo, privacy is the first thing that comes to mind.
