An open Internet cannot exist without search engines, because they act as portals to the internet. In addition to organic web links, a search engine must offer high-quality search features that cannot all be syndicated from the top search engines, such as instant answers, maps, images, and news, to attract users.
Second, to be competitive, a search engine needs its technology to incorporate all these features and ensure they appear at the right times. However, in recent years, user privacy has become paramount, and there aren’t many search engines as focused on privacy as DuckDuckGo.
DuckDuckGo explained
Is DuckDuckGo legit? Compared to other browsers, DuckDuckGo is considerably safer and offers a lot more privacy. It entered the search engine market in 2008 and is currently ranked fourth in North America and Europe for search volume.
A privacy-focused search engine, DuckDuckGo disables trackers in its extensions and apps, including measurement tags used by market research companies. DuckDuckGo has positioned itself as a search engine substitute that prioritizes privacy.
To help keep your information secure whether you use it on your phone or computer, DuckDuckGo has released browser extensions and mobile apps for both Android and iOS. Here are the top five justifications for selecting DuckDuckGo right now.
1. No online trackers
The Web Transparency and Accountability Project at Princeton University claims that online trackers are pervasive on the internet and that they gather information about your browsing habits and interests on particular websites.
These online trackers from websites like Google and Facebook are recognized by DuckDuckGo and blocked (Google trackers are present on approximately 75% of websites, while Facebook trackers are present on approximately 25% of websites). The search engine can also display the networks that have tracked you over time to give you a complete picture of how your data is being used.
2. Fewer ads
You might see advertisements in the top search results if you use Google to conduct your search. A bolded “Ad” and separator dot separate the ads from the rest of the search results, though you won’t always see them there.
You’ll spend less time searching on DuckDuckGo and see fewer ads in your search results. Because DuckDuckGo blocks online trackers, fewer ads on the results page and fewer ads follow you around the web.
You won’t constantly see ads for pet bowls if you use DuckDuckGo to search for something like a new food bowl for your pet. These advertisements don’t follow you like a pet that keeps asking for food after you’ve just given it five minutes earlier.
3. Fast loading
Online trackers add extra data to the websites you visit, slowing the website’s load time, gathering your data, and causing ads to follow you. DuckDuckGo frees up bandwidth and speeds up website loading by preventing these trackers.
4. No influence of browsing history
Search engines like Google use your browsing history to show you things you might be interested in. For instance, if you have searched for “coffee,” your top result might show the nearest coffee shops, an article on the health benefits of coffee, or the history of coffee. DuckDuckGo doesn’t filter your search results based on browsing history, which gives you more robust search results.
5. Search privacy
Your search privacy is DuckDuckGo’s main selling point. This indicates that DuckDuckGo does not track user information or search history. Unlike Google, it doesn’t link what you search for online with your IP address. This means that you won’t constantly receive tailored advertisements. Additionally, the search engine doesn’t keep track of your past searches, so each time you use it, it’s a new experience.
Pros of DuckDuckGo
- No tracked user information: DuckDuckGo isn’t even aware of its user base size. DuckDuckGo doesn’t keep track of your browsing patterns or data.
- No user data is retained: The bare minimum necessary for spelling checks and search suggestions are stored.
- Increased privacy: It doesn’t share, leak, or use your information for marketing purposes.
- Pure search results: It won’t provide you with search results based on location or browsing history assumptions.
- No advertisements: You won’t see any intrusive pop-ups while you browse.
- One-scroll experience: A single page with all search results displayed, allowing you to scroll down to view more results.
- Instant answers: This feature allows you to receive responses to your search queries without opening any web pages, working similarly to Google’s featured snippet.
- Search results are not targeted or profiled: Regardless of where you are or what demographic you fall into, you will receive the same results.
Cons of DuckDuckGo
- Fewer services: DuckDuckGo doesn’t offer as many services as Google and other search engines.
- Not as convenient as other search engines: Since it doesn’t have the same market share as Google, many of your accounts and services cannot be synced.
- No personalization or autosuggestions: This could also be a plus since Google is the only company that can offer these features because of their tracking techniques. DuckDuckGo doesn’t collect your data, so getting personalized results for each user is impossible.
