Is DuckDuckGo safe? What to know about this private search engine | Proton
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We look at whether DuckDuckGo is legit when it comes to privacy, and how it compares to other search engines.
    • screaming in digital@lemmy.mlEnglish
      301·
      6 days ago

      from the article…

      Is DuckDuckGo right for you?

      If you’re committed to shoring up your digital privacy, using DuckDuckGo is a good choice for privacy-focused users. While no tool is perfect, DuckDuckGo offers a robust, transparent alternative to traditional search engines. It works best as part of a broader privacy strategy; combining DuckDuckGo or another private search engine with a private browser, a VPN(new window), and a password manager is an effective way to improve your privacy while online.

      • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
        7·
        6 days ago

        Thanks!
        So, sounds much the same as with prior reviews.

        I was worried something might have changed, recently. I seem to recall some negative news about DDG ~6mos ago but forgot what it was, exactly.

        • YoSoySnekBoi@kbin.earth
          7·
          6 days ago

          IIRC it was mainly backlash for them integrating Microsoft ads without tracker blocking. They did walk it back after public backlash, though they still use Microsoft ads, just anonymously.

          That and their recent generally AI-positive messaging has alienated anti-AI people, but they seem to be walking some of that back too.

          To me it feels like they are generally good, but somewhat out of touch with their userbase, which causes a blunder here and there. They’re also a US-based organization, so make of that what you will.

          Personally I still use the NoAI version of DDG because no EU-based alternatives have feature parity yet.

      • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
        4·
        6 days ago

        I’ve been using it for a while and I’ve definitely noticed an absence of ads related to my search terms, so it seems to be pretty good for that.

    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de
      78·
      6 days ago

      Dont bother. These kinds of articles are completely worthless. DuckDuckGo is a service not a reviewable open piece of software. Services are everchanging and intransparent. Trying to evaluate their privacy situation is a pointless waste of time. They have no reason to be honest about their practices.

      • Jiral@lemmy.org
        51·
        6 days ago

        So are you suggesting to use no online services (how are you doing web searches?) or make completely uninformed choices on online services (because you can’t know anyway)?