DuckDuckGo allows Microsoft ads to intentionally track users of what it describes as a “privacy-focused” web browser as part of its agreement with the tech giant Microsoft.
About DuckDuckGo Browser
The DuckDuckGo browser, which promises its users to block tracking, is one of the recent projects of the privacy-focused search engine, according to a story from Bleeping Computer .
The privacy web browser, which is trying to be an alternative to other giant names like Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari, offers an iOS and Android app for smartphone users.
It features privacy features to entice users to make the big switch from their default web browser. It includes functionality and features such as cookie and third-party blocking, as well as HTTPS encryption.
There are other useful options as well, like the Run Clean button, which allows users to clean up their browsing data with a single click. It also allows them to enjoy experimental features such as email protection and app protection to prevent further tracking.
DuckDuckGo allows tracking of Microsoft
However, according to a recent report by Tech Crunch , it turns out that the privacy-focused browser has some limitations in blocking its trackers that its users are not aware of.
Thanks to a researcher who made the effort to check out the privacy browser, the hidden limits of DuckDuckGo are now open.
Researcher Zack Edwards shared that the Privacy Browser blocks Facebook and Google trackers, but turns a blind eye to its Microsoft counterparts.
Edwards tweeted that the iOS and Android apps allow Microsoft trackers to visit sites like Bing and LinkedIn, which are owned by the famous tech giant.
Then he tried to visit the Workplace website on Facebook, where he saw that the mobile browser was blocking trackers other than the Bing and LinkedIn ad domains.
I tested the DuckDuckGo so-called private browser for both iOS and Android, yet *neither version* blocked data transfers to Microsoft's Linkedin + Bing ads while viewing Facebook's workplace[.]com homepage.
Look at DDG bragging about stopping Facebook on Workplace, no MSFT..: pic.twitter.com/xfqhUOZMmf
— ℨ??? ??????? (@thezedwards) May 23, 2022
DuckDuckGo CEO Explains Why
DuckDuckGo CEO and founder Gabriel Weinberg confirmed Edwards’ findings to verify that his privacy browser allows Microsoft trackers. He added that his search engine, on the other hand, is not affected by the same restrictions as his browser.
The DuckDuckGo founder highlighted Microsoft’s lack of blocking of trackers, saying it was part of a sharing agreement with the company behind Bing. The CEO further revealed that their agreement prevents Privacy Browser from “stopping Microsoft-owned scripts from downloading.”
I won't hold my breath that DuckDuckGo will update their own so-called private browser to actually stop data flows to their own ad tech partners, but this is one of those things that makes a privacy auditor … annoyed? bitter? confrontational?
Does Google / Apple care? </?> pic.twitter.com/SB0jrizrVi
— ℨ??? ??????? (@thezedwards) May 23, 2022
In a more recent tweet on Bleeping Computer, Weinberg assured his users that they are indeed trying to fix the restrictions on blocking his tracking.
