Best known for its privacy-friendly search engine, DuckDuckGo has just rolled out a very useful feature on its Android app. The latest version of its mobile software makes it possible to block tracking modules that hide in your favorite applications.
A system similar to that of Apple
The feature, called App Tracking Protection, helps block the sending of personal data to third-party sites. Just like on the web, when you use a mobile application, certain pieces of code can establish a connection with your Facebook profile, your Amazon account or your Google data. These trackers allow these different companies and different advertising agencies to discreetly collect personal information about your browsing habits. The tool offered by DuckDuckGo, still in beta phase, but open to all, makes it possible to block this data sharing directly at the OS level.
If this description reminds you of something, it’s perfectly normal, since the functionality is similar to that of Apple iOS’ App Tracking Transparency. The company even claims that its system is even more protective than that of Apple since it automatically blocks all connections to third-party services, without having to ask the question for each application installed.
A local VPN that filters connections
Concretely, the system works by installing a local VPN on your phone. This connection management module will authorize the connections essential to the proper functioning of the application, but will block all the others. To put it more simply, you will be able to view your content on Reddit without your advertising identifier, the model of your device or the brand of the latter being shared with the Branch Metrics advertising network.
Be careful though, the DuckDuckGo tool does not hide your IP address like a real VPN; it only locally filters authorized or prohibited connections by comparing them with its list of known trackers. This system makes it possible to block advertising tracking “without sending app data to DuckDuckGo or other remote servers“says the company.
If the service offered by DuckDuckGo is likely to interest you, simply download the application from the Play Store, go to its settings (three vertical dots at the top right) and activate the VPN in the menu Application Tracking Protection. The same menu will also allow you to see which applications are trying to track you and which personal information is traditionally sent to third-party services.