DuckDuckGo Claims to Block Microsoft Trackers

According to DuckDuckGo, its browser extensions and mobile apps will now both disable Microsoft trackers.
SIA Team
August 6, 2022

In response to recent complaints, DuckDuckGo said that Microsoft tracking scripts will now be included in the third-party tracking scripts it disables.

“Raising that standard means maximizing the privacy we offer by default, being transparent about how our privacy protections work, and doing our best to make the Internet less creepy. Recently, I’ve heard from a number of users and understand that we didn’t meet their expectations around one of our browser’s web tracking protections. So today we are announcing more privacy and transparency around DuckDuckGo’s web tracking protections.” Gabriel Weinberg, CEO said in their blog post.

He dismissed the problem, claiming “nothing can give 100% safety,” as a result of DuckDuckGo’s search syndication agreement with Microsoft Bing.

As he announced DuckDuckGo is improving third-party tracker loading protection, Weinberg is now on a quest to “raise the level of trust.”

A security researcher found that while using certain websites, DuckDuckGo’s mobile browser sent information to Microsoft-owned properties earlier this year. When the security researcher posted his results online, DuckDuckGo—a startup that makes a commitment to never track users—found itself in hot water.