Things to sit up for: The firm that runs the privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo has been providing an online browser for a similar goal on cellular units for a while. It’s been engaged on bringing its browser to the desktop for the previous yr, and now solely a handful of Windows customers can begin testing it.
DuckDuckGo began closed beta testing of the Windows model of its privacy-oriented browser this week. Interested customers can enroll via the cellular model of the browser. Register, replace or obtain the most recent iOS or Android model of DuckDuckGo browser. Then go to Settings > More from DuckDuckGo > DuckDuckGo Windows App and faucet the button to affix the non-public waitlist.
The firm cautions that it hasn’t examined the Windows browser on all forms of machines, and that it lacks some options from the Mac model, akin to an ad-free video participant, Bitwarden autofill, and electronic mail safety autofill. However, it retains the Mac model’s means to routinely skip annoying cookie consent popups which have just lately appeared on web sites. To ship suggestions, click on the three dots within the higher proper nook of the window (masthead) and choose Send Feedback.
DuckDuckGo Browser routinely blocks third-party trackers that accumulate and promote person knowledge. It additionally enforces web sites to make use of HTTPS connections at any time when attainable and offers web sites a privateness ranking. It additionally routinely tells web sites to not share person knowledge in sure areas beneath knowledge safety legal guidelines just like the European Union’s GDPR. Plus, it has a button to delete all looking knowledge immediately.
DuckDuckGo launched a Mac model of its browser final yr with a closed beta in April and a public beta in October. The timing means that the Windows beta could also be launched to the general public earlier than the tip of the yr.
One attainable cause for the browser’s sluggish enlargement to Windows is the corporate’s refusal to fork Google’s Chromium browser engine, which is utilized by Chrome and Microsoft Edge. The Mac model makes use of WebKit just like the iOS model, however the Windows model calls the Windows underlying rendering API via WebView2, utilizing Blink. DuckDuckGo might transfer to a different answer if sufficient beta testers ask for it.
Last May, DuckDuckGo acknowledged that it confronted some controversy when its browser allowed sure Microsoft monitoring scripts beneath sure circumstances. The situation was brought on by the corporate’s search syndication settlement with the Redmond big, which the corporate has since been working to revise.
