DuckDuckGo Browser for Windows

Private and secure web browser

DuckDuckGo Browser is a free-to-use web browser from DuckDuckGo, the tech company known for advocating internet privacy. It has a number of features and capabilities that clearly sets it apart from other internet browsers. For starters, it automatically rejects cookies–small bits of code that collect data from users such as device information, identifiers, location detail, and more–from most websites.

Essentially, DuckDuckGo Browser is a more private and secure alternative to commercially-available browsers like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Through its features, DuckDuckGo reportedly uses 60 percent less data compared to Chrome, making it more streamlined and faster.

Limit your online footprint

DuckDuckGo Browser retains its team’s ideals of valuing user privacy at every turn. As mentioned, it rejects cookies whenever possible. This leaves websites unable to trace or monitor your behavior and information as you visit their sites. The community and developers behind the project also continue testing and checking the app, making sure it covers more websites with succeeding updates.

It also makes it easier to clear the users' digital footprint. You can remove your login information, records of visits, and transactions on the internet with just a single button. Instead of other browsers requiring you to go into settings and choose which information to delete, DuckDuckGo makes the same feature possible with only the Fire Button. It also offers a built-in password manager not shared with other browsers and a similar email protection capability.

In terms of ads, it still features advertisements that help the team generate profit. However, these are general ones. It doesn’t feature personalized ads as with other browsers. Usually, when you search for a term or product, it starts appearing as an app. However, the biggest weakness of this online alternative is its weaker protection against malware and other forms of ransomware.

Secure alternative for casual browsing

Although the DuckDuckGo Browser is poised to be a safer, more private alternative to the mainstream options, it still has ways to go. For one, it automatically blocks those trackers that have become the standard for internet browsing. On the other hand, however, it doesn’t have the same extensive rapid-response security systems adopted by its more popular competitors. If you’re casually browsing without plans to leave a trace, try this.