DuckDuckGo corrects the shot. After being at the heart of a controversy over the management of personal data, the well-known search engine will stop sharing its browsing information with Microsoft.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is an American search engine that preserves the privacy of users and prevents their data from being used for advertising or other purposes.
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Version :
5.118.0 -
Downloads:
1223 -
Release date :
02/08/2022 -
Author :
DuckDuckGo Inc. -
Licence :
Free License -
Categories:
Internet
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Operating system :
Android, Google Chrome extension, Microsoft Edge extension, Mozilla Firefox extension, Online service All Internet browsers, iOS iPhone / iPad
The DuckDuckGo search engine is positioned as an alternative to Google that is more respectful of your privacy. And if its positioning seems to be successful, the company has still not escaped some controversy. One of them concerned its mobile application, precisely a little too talkative in terms of personal data.
No more Microsoft leaks
In May 2022, a cybersecurity researcher discovered that, despite the company’s promises, the Android and iOS DuckDuckGo web browser allowed Microsoft to track your IP address on the various sites you visited from the application. The news caused a stir since data protection at all costs was THE promise of DuckDuckGo.
At the time, the CEO of the company had explained that this compromise was necessary because of the agreement between DuckDuckGo and Microsoft (the search engine relies in part on the results of Bing). A justification which, to remain polite, had not convinced many people. But this controversy is now ancient history.
In a blog post published on August 5, DuckDuckGo announced changes to its anti-tracking policy, including the automatic blocking of Microsoft tracking tools. This applies to Android and iOS apps, as well as extensions for Firefox and Chrome. “Previously, we were limited in how we deploy our Microsoft script protection tools due to the agreement that allows us to use Bing as a search source. (…) We have not had, and still do not have, a similar limitation with any other company”says the company.
DuckDuckGo has competition
The only Microsoft tracking script that DuckDuckGo will continue to allow is one that measures the “effectiveness” of a DuckDuckGo ad when someone clicks on it. But even this information is not “stored or shared by Microsoft” to establish an advertising profile, promises the firm. Internet users who are most concerned about their privacy can anyway disable ads in the search engine settings.
It remains to be hoped that this development will convince, because other competitors, such as the Brave search engine, are on the starting blocks to become the preferred tool for those looking for real alternatives to Google.