In context: DuckDuckGo is greatest recognized for its identically-named, privacy-centric search engine, nevertheless it has additionally dipped its toes into the realm of internet browsers. This course of began with DuckDuckGo’s official cellular app, which was launched again in 2013. Extra lately, DuckDuckGo has expanded its attain into different markets, with its first correct desktop browser closed beta kicking off in December of final 12 months.
That closed beta wasn’t out there to the general public, however now, DuckDuckGo is opening up its browser testing to a bigger section of customers. macOS customers can join a personal waitlist which is able to mechanically invite them to the testing section when a slot opens up. When you’re invited, you can obtain the browser and supply your ideas on it to the DuckDuckGo staff. A Home windows model is “coming quickly,” however we have now no ETA on that proper now.
So, what makes the DuckDuckGo browser particular? How is it a greater possibility than, say, Firefox or Pale Moon, which additionally declare to place privateness entrance and heart? For starters, DuckDuckGo’s browser is not a fork of some present venture: not Chromium, not Firefox. This implies it has no additional litter or baggage to fret about. The browser was constructed from the bottom up to make use of your pc’s built-in rendering engine, and all extra code was written with “privateness, safety, and ease” in thoughts.
In fact, the downside of this course of is a definite lack of extension help, at the least in the intervening time. Which means your whole favourite add-ons, like Adblock Plus, Bitwarden, Return YouTube Dislikes, or any others will not be suitable with the DuckDuckGo browser.
DuckDuckGo is engaged on methods to offer correct add-on performance, nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not these makes an attempt will go wherever.
That mentioned, DuckDuckGo is not utterly barebones by way of additional options. It has a built-in password supervisor and a “creepy advert blocker,” which focuses on eliminating invasive advertisements (DuckDuckGo insists that this is not a “basic advert blocker”). The browser additionally provides you a privateness feed on its homepage, the place it gives an at-a-glance view of all of the trackers it has blocked throughout varied web sites and companies.
Lastly, DuckDuckGo’s browser for Mac can mechanically block cookies and reply to cookie pop-up prompts by choosing the least invasive possibility (comparable to “use solely obligatory cookies” or “block all cookies”).
As we mentioned earlier than, Mac homeowners can strive the browser by signing up for the waitlist, however everybody else should wait just a little longer to get their palms on it.