A lot of people have started using DuckDuckGo as a more private and safer alternative to Google. But, is it really as safe and secure as it claims? Is DuckDuckGo safe enough to be your primary search engine? Let’s find out here. If you wanted to know the same, just keep reading.
In this post, we’ll find a brief answer to the frequently asked question- Is DuckDuckGo safe? or is it spyware? Also, we’ll see if it is safe, then how and how much safe it is. And, if you should start using it instead of Google.
What is DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo, also known as DDG, is an internet search engine just like Google. However, it is considered much safer, secure, and private than Google. This search engine aims to protect the searcher’s privacy and avoids the filter bubble of personalized search results. It doesn’t track down the users and shows the same search results to everyone for a particular search term.
It was founded on February 29 2008 in a dusty basement. Now the company is headquartered in Paoli, Pennsylvania, in Greater Philadelphia. It has over 93 employees working day in and day out. As of 2019, DuckDuck was getting over 1 billion monthly searches. This is happening because more and more people are switching to it.
The search results on DuckDuckGo are a compilation of more than 400 sources that include Yahoo!, Bing, Yandex, and many more. They are specifically popular for their strong privacy policies and security. That’s why a lot of users even use it to access the deeper layers of the internet.
Why are people switching to DuckDuckGo?
During the past 3 to 4 years, DDG has gained a lot of users globally. More and more people are switching over to DuckDuckGo as it promises to provide strict security and doesn’t track down the users. It claims to provide the privacy that every user deserves.
It even has an app and browser extension that prevents people from tracking you down. Additionally, it offers tips and ways to protect their privacy on the internet. Due to these reasons, a lot of people have already shifted to DuckDuckGo.
Is DuckDuckGo Safe?
If you are new to DuckDuckGo, it is normal to have the ‘Is DuckDuckGo safe‘ question on your mind. Since the internet is full of a lot of fake promises, trusting any service claiming to be so good could be hard. So, the shortest answer to your question is Yes, DuckDuckGo is completely safe to use.
The search engine works exactly like it claims to be. It is actually too good. DuckDuckGo is even safer and more secure than a lot of search engines that are much popular than it, such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc. There are no issues that you’ll find in DuckDuckGo.
Your privacy will be protected. Your data won’t leak. And, you’ll have the ability to browse the web anonymously.
How is DuckDuckGo Safer Than Other Search Engines?
DuckDuckGo is a lot safer and more secure than the other big names as it focuses to protect your privacy first. Let’s take a look at how it does that.
- DuckDuckGo avoids search history pitfalls– Other search engines often collect the information about how you use them. This includes your search terms, the date and time of searches, your internet address, browser specifications, and even your account information. So, there is a risk of that information leaking. But, when you use DuckDuckGo, you can avoid the problem as it doesn’t collect any personal or usage data.
- DuckDuckGo blocks Search Leakage– The search leakage is a phenomenon where your information such as your internet address, browser info, and the search term is sent to your website when you click on a result. But, when you are using DuckDuckGo, it redirects you in a way that prevents your search terms from getting sent.
- DuckDuckGo doesn’t collect any sensitive information– This search engine simply avoids gathering any sensitive information from you. It only keeps unharmful information like cookies, search terms for spelling suggestions only, affiliate codes, and any information that you provide them with feedback.
- DuckDuckGo never tracks you– While the other search engines track you down at all times, even in the incognito mode, this search engine never tracks you.
These facts cement the genuineness of DuckDuckGo completely.
Some Cons of Using DuckDuckGo
As everything good thing has a dark side hidden, the same is the case with DDG. This search engine might be safer than the other options but it still poses certain risks. Let’s take a look at them.
- It doesn’t block any websites, so innocent users, especially children can easily reach the darker side of the internet.
- DuckDuckGo is the easiest search engine out there. The search results it provides are too vast. Sometimes it may lead users to unwanted pages.
- It doesn’t filter out sensitive content. You may end up seeing violent or NSFW graphics on normal searches.
- If you like personalized ads, then you won’t get them.
These are some of the cons of this search engine. The list is short but still, you should use it carefully.
Should You Use DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo is often called as ‘anti-Google’ search engine. This is due to the fact that it never tracks down the users and never collects their personal or usage information. On the other hand, Google tracks you at all times even when you are browsing through the ‘Incognito’ window. It collects all the information about why and how you are using it.
This is done to provide you personalized search results, ads, and filter out content. So, if you don’t like being tracked down, want to protect your privacy, and browse the internet truly anonymously, you should use DuckDuckGo.
Final Verdict
DuckDuckGo is a well-known search engine that is especially popular for protecting user’s privacy. A lot of users are concerned if it is safe to use or not. Now you know that it is completely safe. I’d recommend using it if you want to truly browse the internet anonymously and don’t want to be tracked down. I personally use it and I’m satisfied with the experience.
You should also give it a try. That’s all for this post. I hope you find it helpful. Feel free to comment on if you have any questions or suggestions for us.
