DuckDuckGo’s Windows browser is here to protect your privacy

By Alex Blake Published June 25, 2023

A few months ago, DuckDuckGo launched a privacy-focused browser on macOS. Well, Windows users no longer have to miss out, as the browser has found its way onto Microsoft’s operating system. If you want a web browsing experience that protects your privacy, it could be a good time to check it out.

The browser is available as a public beta, according to a blog post from DuckDuckGo. It comes with a bunch of built-in privacy protections that could be ideal if you’re tired of trackers and cookies snooping on your internet sessions.

The Duck Player feature of DuckDuckGo's Windows web browser, showing a video being played. — DuckDuckGo

For instance, DuckDuckGo’s app includes Duck Player, a video player that “lets you watch YouTube videos without privacy-invading ads and keeps video views from impacting your recommendations.” There’s a baked-in password manager, and if you’re sick of deceptive cookie consent pop-ups, DuckDuckGo will handle them by selecting the least invasive options for you.

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It can also automatically convert unencrypted HTTP web pages to the encrypted HTTPS standard (where available), hide your email address when you sign up for websites and newsletters, and even offers a one-click “Fire Button” that deletes your browsing data. And, being DuckDuckGo, it features robust tracker blocking that the company says goes beyond rival browsers — and results in 60% less data usage than Google Chrome, DuckDuckGo claims.

More features coming soon

The cookie pop-up manager included in DuckDuckGo's Windows web browser. — DuckDuckGo

If you’re moving across from another browser, you can import your bookmarks and passwords so you don’t need to start from scratch. The Windows beta doesn’t support extensions, although those are reportedly coming in the future.

Right now, the Windows beta doesn’t have all the features of the Mac, iOS, and Android versions, but the developer says “It’s getting closer to parity with those browsers every day.”

Among the things DuckDuckGo is working to bring to its Windows browser are “faster startup performance, the ability to pin tabs, HTML bookmark import, more options for the Fire Button, and additional privacy features like Fingerprinting Protection, Link Tracking Protection, and Referrer Tracking Protection.” Private password and bookmark syncing are also on the way.

To give DuckDuckGo’s Windows browser a try, you can download the public beta from the DuckDuckGo website. If you’re after a privacy-focused web browser for your Windows device, it might be just what you’re looking for.

Computing Writer

Alex Blake has been working with Digital Trends since 2019, where he spends most of his time writing about Mac computers…

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