DuckDuckGo browser now blocks all third-party Microsoft trackers:
DuckDuckGo announced today that they will now be blocking all third-party Microsoft tracking scripts in their privacy browser after failing to block them in the past.
This change comes after the company faced massive blowback in May for not blocking some third-party Microsoft trackers in the DuckDuckGo browser due to a syndicated search content agreement between the two companies.
[...] The fact that some Microsoft trackers were allowed was discovered by security researcher Zach Edwards, who found that the DuckDuckGo browser blocked Google and Facebook trackers but allowed some of Microsoft's trackers on Linkedin and Bing domains.
[...] "Recently, I've heard from a number of users and understand that we didn't meet their expectations around one of our browser's web tracking protections. So today we are announcing more privacy and transparency around DuckDuckGo's web tracking protections," reads an announcement by DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg.
[...] However, as DuckDuckGo relies on Microsoft Advertising for ads shown in the search engine, there will be some limited allowance of Microsoft trackers when using the privacy browser.
When clicking on an advertisement in the DuckDuckGo search, the DDG browser will allow tracking scripts from bat.bing.com to execute once on the advertiser's site. This allowance enables advertisers to track how well their advertising campaigns are working.
However, DuckDuckGo will block all further calls on that site that attempt to load trackers from bat.bing.com.
This is not a perfect solution, but DuckDuckGo says that they are hoping to replace bat.bing.com trackers in the future with private ad conversion implementations that are currently in development by Firefox and Safari.
[...] Finally, Weinberg announced more transparency around its web tracking protection features by launching a dedicated help page and sharing the list of blocked trackers on GitHub.
Previously: DuckDuckGo Browser Allows Microsoft Trackers Due to Search Agreement
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DuckDuckGo browser allows Microsoft trackers due to search agreement:
The privacy-focused DuckDuckGo browser purposely allows Microsoft trackers on third-party sites due to an agreement in their syndicated search content contract between the two companies.
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that prides itself on its privacy by not tracking your searches or your behavior while performing searches. Furthermore, instead of building user profiles to display interest-based advertisements, DuckDuckGo will use contextual advertisements from partners, like Ads by Microsoft.
While DuckDuckGo does not store any personal identifiers with your search queries, Microsoft advertising may track your IP address and other information when clicking on an ad link for "accounting purposes."
DuckDuckGo also offers a privacy-centric web browser for iOS and Android that promotes many privacy features, including HTTPS-always encryption, third-party cookie blocking, and tracker blocking.
[...] However, while performing a security audit of the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser, security researcher Zach Edwards discovered that while the browser blocks Google and Facebook trackers, it allowed Microsoft trackers to continue running.
[...] Further tests showed that DuckDuckGo allowed trackers related to the bing.com and linkedin.com domains while blocking all other trackers.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Monday August 08 2022, @12:43PM
This just goes to show that you don't rely on a browser for privacy. You don't rely on any one measure, no matter how good you think that measure might be. Blacklist advertisers and trackers at the router. Use a proven HOSTS file. Install ad blocking software. Use the most private browser, probably Brave or DuckDuckGo. Avoid sites known for malware and tracking. Don't buy products known for tracking, bloatware, and advertising. If you own such a product, de-google and de-bloat it. Specifically, the most private browser in the world does you little good if your Android device reports back to Google, to the manufacturer, as well as your cell provider. And, for crying out loud, DON't INSTALL EVERY APPLICATION WITH A COOL DESCRIPTION!!!
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 08 2022, @05:02PM (1 child)
In other words, nothing really changes..
Privacy does not allow for "limited allowance of Microsoft trackers". DDG is bogus theatrics, probably owned by Microsoft
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 09 2022, @07:48PM
And it's shit. I reverted to google a year ago - yep, fuck me in the ass - because a search engine that can't find "google" is fucking lame.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by mcgrew on Monday August 08 2022, @06:08PM
"Companies like Google", they say, with the creep with a Google t-shirt watching over surfers' shoulders. The humor was that the Microsoft creep was invisible and didn't get pulled away like the Google creep.
By the way, the word "googling" was used in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn and had nothing to do with internet searches, but denoted slow speed.
Carbon, The only element in the known universe to ever gain sentience
(Score: 4, Insightful) by corey on Monday August 08 2022, @10:27PM (1 child)
All I hear about this DDG browser is tracking this, Microsoft tracking that. In my mind it’s tainted and not worth using as I care about privacy and tracking protection. Maybe it’s the same for others but I suspect it’s going to die off soon because of all this bad (but accurate) press. Pretty big fail by DDG really. I use their search engine every day.
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Tuesday August 09 2022, @04:38AM
You realize that DDG's founder's previous project was a huge user data harvesting pyramid scheme that he then sold off for profit? If you use DDG you deserve to have your data sold.
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