Mobile versions of the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser, which is positioned by developers as a safe and secure product, transmit user data to Microsoft and does not block its trackers. This was noticed by security researcher Zach Edwards during a browser security audit.

Image Source: Bleeping Computer

The DuckDuckGo browser was created by the developers of the search engine of the same name, who position it as a confidential product that does not collect user data. “Tracker Radar automatically blocks hidden third-party trackers it finds on websites while using DuckDuckGo, preventing the companies behind those trackers from collecting and selling your data,” DuckDuckGo’s iOS version description reads.

In fact, it turned out that the mobile versions of DuckDuckGo do not block some Microsoft trackers associated with the bing.com and linkedin.com domains, but they do block Google and Facebook * trackers. Zach Edwards shared his find on Twitter, suggesting that the browser’s privacy feature was not working properly. This announcement caught the attention of users, and as a result, DuckDuckGo CEO and founder Gabriel Weinberg joined the discussion. He stated that the browser is functioning normally, and Microsoft trackers are not blocked because DuckDuckGo has an agreement with the software giant. As part of this agreement, Microsoft pays DuckDuckGo for the ability to collect browser user data.

“We have always been extremely careful never to promise anonymity when browsing the web, because that is frankly impossible given how quickly trackers are changing to bypass the protections and tools we currently offer <…> what we’re talking about is unsurpassed security that most browsers don’t even try to implement, ie. blocking third-party tracking scripts. Because we do it where we can. Users continue to enjoy significantly greater privacy protection in DuckDuckGo than with Safari, Firefox, and other browsers ,” said Gabriel Weinberg, CEO of DuckDuckGo.

* Included in the list of public associations and religious organizations in respect of which the court has made a final decision to liquidate or ban activities on the grounds provided for by Federal Law No. 114-FZ of July 25, 2002 “On Counteracting Extremist Activities”.