DuckDuckGo Browser Now Available For Windows

The DuckDuckGo browser has been available on other platforms for some time now and a Windows version has just been released. It should be noted that this is a Beta version, meaning it’s still under development and susceptible to bugs.

DuckDuckGo Inc is a privacy-centric company and the DuckDuckGo browser is no exception, offering a level of privacy well above most mainstream browsers.

DuckDuckGo Browser Installation

The DuckDuckGo browser for Windows comes in the form of an app and, as such, does not install in the normal manner. After installing, you won’t find a new folder in Program Files; instead, it will be listed among the apps in Settings, and it’s from there you can also access the option to uninstall. It also adds a shortcut to the Start menu.

Installation is straightforward and upon completion, you’ll be automatically prompted to import bookmarks and passwords from your current default browser. So, no hunting around for import options.

DuckDuckGo Browser Features

As you’d expect, DuckDuckGo is the default search engine and, at this time, cannot be changed. Ads and tracking are blocked by default and all browsing data for a session can be deleted on closing by clicking an icon labeled the “Fire Button”.

If you want to stay logged into a site, you also have the option to selectively “Fireproof” specific sites so your log-ins remain persistent.

DuckDuckGo also includes:

• Secure password manager: secure and easy-to-use password manager to automatically remember and fill in login credentials
• Duck Player: a YouTube player that lets you watch YouTube videos without privacy-invading ads
• Smarter Encryption: ensures that more of the websites you visit and the links you click are encrypted
• Cookie Pop-up Management: automatically selects the most private options available and hides cookie consent pop-ups
• Email Protection: hides your real email address with unique @duck.com addresses when signing up for things online

*For more details and links to download please visit: DuckDuckGo Windows Browser

DuckDuckGo Browser: The Good

There is a lot to like about the browser and I particularly like the feature to hide one’s real email address by setting up a duck.com email address. It’s very simple to set up and works a treat. Of course, you do need to provide DuckDuckGo with your real email address so messages can be forwarded.

I’ve tested the browser’s performance over a relatively short period of time but have visited numerous websites during that time. I found it to be quick to load with no rendering issues and, overall, it performs very well.

When visiting a website, clicking a shield icon at the left of the address bar displays a list of ads and trackers that have been blocked on that site. It’s a real eye-opener seeing just how much tracking is involved with each and every website.

DuckDuckGo Browser: The Not So Good

No Browser Fingerprinting Protection: For a self-confessed privacy-centric browser I am very surprised that there is no protection against browser fingerprinting included. This feature is, in my opinion, an absolute must-have for serious privacy advocates. However, as I mentioned earlier, the browser is still in Beta mode so, hopefully, that feature is in the pipeline.

No Option To Whitelist Sites: At the moment, all ads and all trackers are blocked on all sites with no option to whitelist certain sites. Again, in my opinion, this is a serious omission. There should be an option for users to whitelist those sites they visit regularly to assist with ad revenue and help keep those sites alive.

No Extensions: At this time there are no extensions available for the DuckDuckGo browser. However, I don’t see this as a major issue because the browser is already fitted with most required features anyway. NOTE: According to DuckDuckGo, browser extensions are planned for the future.

BOTTOM LINE:

Please note that because the browser is still in Beta mode with more to come, this is not meant as a review but rather as a preliminary overview. I quite like the DuckDuckGo browser for Windows, it performs well and includes a terrific set of features. If the company adds fingerprinting protection plus an option to whitelist certain sites, it could certainly become a worthwhile challenger.

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