Is DuckDuckGo safe? Complete privacy and security breakdown

DuckDuckGo is often praised as a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream search engines like Google or Bing, but is it really as secure as it claims? While it doesn’t track your searches or build a personal data profile, there are still a few caveats worth knowing.

In this article, I'll examine DuckDuckGo’s privacy and security features, lay out its advantages and disadvantages, and provide tips on how to maximize your privacy when using this search engine.

What is DuckDuckGo?

DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused software company founded in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg. Its most well-known product is its search engine, which has earned a reputation as a safer, more private alternative to Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

While most traditional search engines track your search history, click behavior, location, and more to build a detailed profile on you, DuckDuckGo doesn’t collect or store any personal data. Instead, it shows the same results to everyone using the same search keywords and timeframe—provided the query doesn't specifically call for local context, like “coffee shops near me.”

DuckDuckGo also shows ads, but they’re strictly based on the keywords you enter during that session, not on who you are, what you’ve searched for in the past, or where you’ve been online. These keyword-based ads are powered by Microsoft Advertising, but DuckDuckGo ensures that ad clicks remain anonymous and no personal identifiers are shared.

This privacy-first approach has made DuckDuckGo popular among users seeking anonymous browsing. It’s even the default search engine in the Tor Browser, which is specifically designed to help people browse the internet without being tracked.

And just a quick note: DuckDuckGo is best known as a search engine, but it also offers its own privacy-focused web browsers for mobile and desktop. Read more to know the difference between a browser and a search engine.

Does DuckDuckGo track you?

Not really—and that’s kind of the whole point. Its privacy policy famously says, “We don’t track you. That’s our Privacy Policy in a nutshell.” And in practice, that’s exactly how it works.

Instead of collecting and storing your personal information like most major search engines do, DuckDuckGo’s data protection measures are designed to leave no trail behind. It doesn’t save:

• Your search or browsing history
• Your IP address (the unique number that can be used to identify your device online)
• Your location—even when a search includes local context. For local searches, DuckDuckGo uses a rough, approximate location rather than your exact one, and it never logs that data to disk. This way, you still get relevant results (like nearby restaurants), but your precise whereabouts stay private.
• Any unique identifiers that could be used to track you across sessions, like your browser type, language, screen size, or operating system.

Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that DuckDuckGo doesn’t receive any of this information—only that it doesn’t store it. For example, when you connect to DuckDuckGo, your device will automatically send it some information, such as your IP address, browser type, and language. DuckDuckGo needs this information to provide its service and to make sure that you're a human being (and not a bot). But it never logs any of this information.

What DuckDuckGo does track (and why)

DuckDuckGo is built around the idea that privacy should be the default, not something you have to earn by digging through settings. But that doesn’t mean the company never collects any data at all. Like most services, it does need some information to keep things working smoothly, but it does this in a way that’s completely disconnected from you as a person.When you perform a search, DuckDuckGo may collect anonymous data to help improve performance, detect bugs, and better understand how people are using the service. Here’s what that might include:

• Aggregated search trends: For example, DuckDuckGo may track that many people searched for “cute cat pictures” today—but not who searched for them. These trends help the team improve search relevance but are completely anonymized and stripped of personal identifiers like IP addresses.
• Ad performance: DuckDuckGo displays private search ads based on the keywords in your current search, not your personal history. When someone clicks an ad, that event is tracked anonymously by Microsoft’s ad platform. Microsoft has committed not to associate these clicks with user profiles or store that data beyond what's needed for basic reporting.
• Basic usage stats: The team might anonymously track how people interact with the product. For example, how many people are using a new feature, or whether changes to the interface are working as intended. These experiments never use data that can identify you or tie activity to your device.

DuckDuckGo also uses anonymous storage methods (like cookies or local storage) to remember your preferences, such as:

• Your region or language
• Whether you’ve enabled Safe Search
• Whether you’re using dark mode
• If you’ve dismissed certain popups (like install prompts)

All of this information is stored locally on your device, not on DuckDuckGo’s servers. That way, your preferences stick without the company ever knowing who you are.

Finally, if you voluntarily reach out—say, to send feedback, file a bug report, or sign up for the newsletter—DuckDuckGo will, of course, use whatever information you provide (like your email address) to follow up. But even then, your data is protected and only retained as long as necessary for that purpose.

Known privacy concerns in the past

While DuckDuckGo has a strong reputation for privacy, it faced criticism over how its browser handled third-party trackers from Microsoft.

In May 2022, security researcher Zach Edwards discovered that DuckDuckGo’s mobile browser and browser extensions were not blocking Microsoft-owned tracking scripts—specifically from Bing and LinkedIn—on third-party websites. This stood out because DuckDuckGo was blocking similar scripts from other companies like Google and Facebook.

DuckDuckGo explained that a contractual restriction related to its use of Microsoft services for search results and ads prevented it from blocking certain Microsoft trackers in its browser.

Following public concern, the company announced in August 2022 that it had removed this limitation. Microsoft trackers are now blocked just like any others, and DuckDuckGo stated that it has no similar agreements with any other partners. They also emphasized that this limitation only applied to the browser, not to the DuckDuckGo search engine itself.

While the issue was eventually resolved, the fact that it wasn’t disclosed proactively led some users to question the company’s transparency—a key value for a brand built around privacy.

DuckDuckGo security: How safe is it really?

When it comes to online safety, DuckDuckGo doesn’t just protect your privacy; it also helps safeguard your data as it moves across the internet. That said, it’s important to understand what protections come built into the search engine itself and which ones require installing DuckDuckGo’s browser app or extension.

Search engine only

These features work automatically when using the DuckDuckGo search engine on any browser:

• Encrypted searches: DuckDuckGo’s search pages are always encrypted. You can check this by looking at the web address in your browser. If it starts with “https” instead of “http,” it means your connection is secure and protected from eavesdropping.
• Search result security: DuckDuckGo’s search engine includes built-in protections that help limit what third parties can see. For example, when delivering search results (like images), DuckDuckGo fetches this content through its own servers to prevent those providers from linking your searches or building a history tied to you.

Browser app or extension required

These features only work if you're using DuckDuckGo’s browser apps (on iOS, Android, Mac, or Windows) or the Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome/Firefox:

• Forced HTTPS (Smarter Encryption): Automatically upgrades connections from HTTP to HTTPS for websites known to support encryption, helping keep your browsing more secure.
• Blocks third-party trackers: DuckDuckGo detects and blocks hidden tracking scripts from ad networks and data brokers that try to follow you across the web.
• Search term leakage prevention: When you click on a link from DuckDuckGo’s search results, it strips out information like the search terms you used so that websites you visit don’t receive that data.
• Global Privacy Control: Sends a built-in signal to websites you visit, telling them not to sell or share your personal data. DuckDuckGo enables GPC by default in all of its apps and extensions, helping you automatically exercise your privacy rights under laws like the CCPA and GDPR (on supported websites).
• Fingerprinting protection: Some trackers don’t use cookies—they try to identify you based on your device’s unique configuration (like your screen size, operating system, or fonts). DuckDuckGo blocks many of these fingerprinting attempts by stopping known fingerprinting scripts and limiting access to certain APIs that can leak identifying info.
• Fire Button: A one-click privacy eraser that instantly clears all tabs, browsing history, cookies, and data. Available in both mobile and desktop apps, it’s perfect for when you want to wipe the slate clean.

Pros and cons of using DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is a favorite among privacy-conscious users, but it’s not without trade-offs. Here's a closer look at what it does well and where it falls short.

Advantages of using DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo offers solid privacy features out of the box, without requiring complicated setup or tech know-how.

• No tracking: DuckDuckGo doesn’t store your IP address, search history, or any unique identifiers. It also takes extra precautions (like removing search terms from referrers) to prevent other sites from tracking you through third-party requests.
• No targeted ads: Ads are shown based only on your current search keywords, not your personal data or browsing history. Your ad clicks are also handled anonymously through Microsoft’s ad platform.
• Minimal cookie and local storage use: The site uses anonymous cookies or local storage to remember your settings (like language, theme, or Safe Search preferences) without tracking your activity across the web.
• Less biased results: Because searches aren’t personalized, you’re more likely to get neutral, unfiltered results, free from filter bubbles or algorithmic assumptions about your interests.
• Encrypted searches: All DuckDuckGo searches are protected using HTTPS encryption, preventing anyone in between (like your ISP) from seeing what you’re searching for or modifying your connection.

Limitations and things DuckDuckGo doesn’t protect you from

While DuckDuckGo protects your privacy during search, there are still a few limitations to keep in mind:

• Lack of personalization: The flip side of minimizing tracking is that you might not get results that are as relevant to you.
• Lower search quality: DuckDuckGo sources its results from multiple APIs, including Microsoft Bing, but it may not be as comprehensive or accurate as Google, especially for very specific or niche queries.
• No link vetting: This search engine doesn’t scan or flag malicious websites in search results. If a site contains malware or phishing content, it could still appear just like any other result. However, the DuckDuckGo browser includes a built-in blocklist (Scam Blocker) to automatically block known phishing and malware sites when you try to visit them.
• Limited protection after clicking links: DuckDuckGo only protects your privacy during the search itself. Once you click on a result and visit an external site, that site’s privacy practices apply.
• Some built-in tools aren’t best-in-class: Features like Apple Maps integration or weather tools might not be as polished or accurate as those from Google or other services.

DuckDuckGo vs. other search engines: How it compares

DuckDuckGo stands out for its strong privacy protections, but how does it stack up against search giants like Google, Bing, and Yahoo when it comes to features and performance?

DuckDuckGo vs. Google

If privacy is your top concern, DuckDuckGo is a far better choice than Google. It doesn’t log your IP address, search history, location, or any other unique identifiers. It also doesn’t build a profile on you or tailor results based on your past activity.

Google, on the other hand, collects a large amount of personal data—your search queries, clicks, location history, device information, and more. This data powers personalized search results and targeted advertising. For some users, this feels intrusive; for others, it's simply convenient.

Where Google shines is search quality. With the largest and most frequently updated search index, plus powerful machine learning trained on billions of interactions, Google consistently delivers highly relevant results—especially for complex, ambiguous, or ultra-specific queries.

Google Search is also tightly integrated with other Google services like Gmail, Maps, Calendar, and YouTube. That means it can show you personalized results, like your upcoming flights or nearby restaurant suggestions. Of course, this level of convenience comes at a cost: it relies on giving Google even more access to your personal data across services.

DuckDuckGo vs. Bing

DuckDuckGo sources many of its results from Microsoft Bing, supplemented by its own web crawler and other sources. But it’s not just a privacy wrapper on Bing—it offers a distinct experience, especially in how it handles your data.

DuckDuckGo collects the bare minimum needed to function and doesn’t track, profile, or personalize based on your search history. It also includes protections like tracker blocking and encrypted search by default. Bing, by contrast, collects data much like Google does: IP address, location, device details, and search behavior, all of which are used to personalize results and ads.

That said, performance-wise, Bing has the edge because Microsoft owns and directly manages its own index. Like Google, Microsoft also uses the data it collects on its users to improve the accuracy and relevancy of its search results

DuckDuckGo vs. Yahoo

Yahoo Search is powered by Bing, so much of what we’ve said about Bing’s performance compared to DuckDuckGo’s applies here.

Once again, though, Yahoo collects more personal data than DuckDuckGo and uses this information to personalize search results and ads, so choosing between DuckDuckGo and Yahoo boils down to choosing between stronger privacy and slightly better search relevance.

Should you use DuckDuckGo

In general, Google or Bing will be more accurate, up-to-date, and relevant and be better if you need highly specialized or deeply personalized search results due to their larger indexes, advanced machine learning, and extensive data collection from users.

But if you’re concerned about online privacy or want to reduce how much data big tech collects about you, DuckDuckGo is a strong alternative. It’s especially well-suited for people using shared or public devices, anyone searching for sensitive topics, or those who simply prefer a more private browsing experience—without needing constant personalization.

It also works well for casual users who mostly search for general information, like recipes, quick facts, or directions, where tailored results don’t add much value.Remember that using DuckDuckGo doesn't have to be all or nothing. There’s no reason why you can’t use Google or Bing for certain tasks and switch to DuckDuckGo when privacy matters more.

How to switch to DuckDuckGo on your browser

The easiest way to start using DuckDuckGo on your desktop browser is to install the DuckDuckGo extension. Once installed, it sets DuckDuckGo as your default search engine automatically.

If you’d rather not use the extension (or you’re on a mobile browser), you can switch manually by going into your browser’s search settings and selecting DuckDuckGo as the default.

The steps are pretty similar across different browsers. Here’s how to do it on Chrome and Firefox for desktop:

Chrome

1. Click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner of your Chrome window and select Settings.
2. Select the Search engine tab on the left and click Change.
3. Choose DuckDuckGo and click Set as default.

Firefox

1. Click the hamburger menu in the top right corner of your Firefox window and select Settings.
2. Select the Search tab on the left and choose DuckDuckGo in the dropdown menu under Default Search Engine.

You can find guides on how to switch to DuckDuckGo on other browsers/platforms in DuckDuckGo’s Help Pages.

How to maximize your safety on DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo offers a big privacy upgrade over mainstream search engines, but it's not a complete solution for staying anonymous online. To get the most protection, it's worth combining it with other privacy tools and smart browsing habits.

Use DuckDuckGo with a VPN

DuckDuckGo encrypts your searches, and if you're using its browser or extension, it can also block many trackers and force HTTPS on the websites you visit. But even then, your ISP and the websites themselves can still see some of your activity.

That’s where a virtual private network (VPN) comes in. A VPN, like ExpressVPN, encrypts all your internet traffic, not just your searches, so your data stays private no matter which site you're using. It also provides IP masking, replacing your real IP address with one from the VPN server, making it much harder for websites, trackers, or your ISP to link your activity back to you.

Choose the right browser setup

To boost DuckDuckGo’s effectiveness, use a privacy-focused browser like the DuckDuckGo browser, Brave, or Tor. These browsers are designed to minimize tracking and fingerprinting especially when combined with privacy extensions. For help choosing the right one, check out this guide to browser types.

It also helps to tighten your browser's built-in privacy settings. Most modern browsers let you limit third-party cookies, send “Do Not Track” requests, and clear cookies and site data automatically when you close the app. These tweaks reduce persistent tracking and limit the amount of data websites can collect about you over time.

Avoid common privacy pitfalls

Technology only goes so far—your behavior matters, too. To keep your searches private and your browsing footprint minimal, it’s a good idea to:

• Avoid staying logged into major accounts like Google, Facebook, or Amazon while browsing, since these platforms can still track you across sites.
• Limit the number of browser extensions you install. Many ask for broad permissions and could compromise your privacy.
• Don’t rely on incognito mode alone. It hides your history locally but doesn’t block trackers or mask your IP address.

Learn more: For a deeper breakdown of how a VPN enhances online security, check out our safe browsing guide.