safari search duckduckgo

• Generative AI
• Office Suites
• Collaboration Software
• Productivity Software
• Augmented Reality
• Emerging Technology
• Remote Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Operating Systems
• IT Leadership
• IT Management
• IT Operations
• Cloud Computing
• Computers and Peripherals
• Data Center
• Enterprise Applications
• Vendors and Providers
• Enterprise Buyer’s Guides
• United States
• Netherlands
• United Kingdom
• New Zealand
• Newsletters
• Foundry Careers
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Copyright Notice
• Member Preferences
• About AdChoices
• E-commerce Affiliate Relationships
• Your California Privacy Rights

Our Network

• Network World

How and why Apple users should switch to DuckDuckGo for search

Apple users who care about privacy are moving to duckduckgo for search. these tips will get you started with it..

Like liberty for all, privacy demands vigilance, and that’s why Apple users who care about those things are moving to DuckDuckGo for search.

Why use DuckDuckGo?

Privacy is under attack.

It doesn’t take much effort to prove this truth. At time of writing, recent news is full of creeping privacy erosion:

• We’ve seen video conferencing solutions that surreptitiously install software on your Macs .
• A face-changing photography app perhaps implicated in the assembly of a vast database of faces .
• A household name in smart speakers has  shared private conversations with people you don’t know, including chatter you didn’t know was recorded in the first place.

And then there’s Duck Duck Go.

With Duck Duck Go, you are the searcher, not the searched

I think most Apple users know about DuckDuckGo. It is an independent search engine designed from the ground up to maintain your privacy .

It means the search service doesn’t collect information about you, doesn’t gather your search queries, and doesn’t install cookies or tracking code on your systems.

It now also provides highly accurate maps thanks to a deal with Apple that lets it use the also private-by-design Apple Maps service. To do this, the search engine is using Apple’s MapKit JS framework, which Apple created so website owners could embed maps in their sites.

Maps on DuckDuckGo are quite satisfying and will only improve as Apple introduces more detailed maps, better local business listings, and additional feature. You should see this service in action here .

How Apple Maps works on DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo added Apple Maps support at the beginning of 2019.

Since then, it has introduced a set of compelling improvements to how it works, thanks to Apple’s framework. You now get better implementation of Maps in your search, including the benefit of local search results. Additional enhancements include:

• Map re-querying : You can now refine search queries within the expanded maps view. You can also zoom in and out or move around the map to find other results that match your search.
• Local autocomplete : You will be provided with search suggestions as you type based on the local region visible on your map. Type fuel in a map of the Arizona desert, and you can see how many miles you’ll need to walk if your fuel runs out.
• Dedicated Maps tag : Look at the top of a search result, and you’ll find a Maps tab, which joins the images, videos, news, and meanings tabs.

There’s even a Dark Mode that is enabled when you switch to DuckDuckGo’s dark theme – when you switch, you’ll see the embedded Apple Maps also do so.

(Switch to dark theme in the search engine’s Settings, which you’ll find here . You can also discover much more information on how the search engine protects your privacy, primarily by not collecting it in the first place.)

How do they ensure your privacy when running map and address-related searches?  DuckDuck Go explains :

“With Apple, as with all other third parties we work with, we do not share any personally identifiable information such as IP address. And for local searches in particular, where your approximate location information is sent by your browser to us, we discard it immediately after use.”

How to set DuckDuckGo as default search on Apple devices

There are two ways to use DuckDuckGo rather than Google for search:

1. You can visit the DuckDuckGo.com website and use search in your browser there.

2. You can also change your Mac, iPhone or iPad’s default search service in order to use the far more private alternative. I think most readers know about this, but just in case:

• On a Mac:  Safari Preferences>choose the Search tab and choose DuckDuckGo in the drop down list of search engine choices.
• On iOS/iPad OS:  Settings>Safari and select DuckDuckGo from the options provided in the Search Engine section. You need to do this for all your devices individually.

Once you change your default search engine, all the searches you make in the future will be made using the more private service. You may even want to switch to using MeWe as a social network to replace Facebook while you’re at it.

Up next…

“We believe there should be no trade-off for people wanting to protect their personal data while searching,” the search engine explains. “Working with Apple Maps to enhance DuckDuckGo Search is an example of how we do this and pushes us further in our vision of setting a new standard of trust online.”

This is all well and good, but how do they see this experience extending itself in future?

I am not currently in possession of a working crystal ball, but here are two realistic and possible ways the service could be extended:

• Imagine how cool this would be with the addition of Apple’s delightfully lag-free Look Around Street View-killer.
• Imagine how embedded AR experiences could also become part of what’s on offer through the search service.

Why not? We know Apple takes this stuff seriously . It is surely only a matter of time until it declines Google for search .

Like liberty for all, privacy demands vigilance. Be vigilant.

Please follow me on   Twitter , or join me in the  AppleHolic’s bar & grill  and  Apple Discussions  groups on MeWe.

Related content

Apple loses $14b as europe claws back tax, genai could make the apple watch a powerful healthcare tool, apple might take a stake in openai as it gets intelligent on ai, when was the last time a mac caused a business disaster, from our editors straight to your inbox.

Hello, and thanks for dropping in. I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Jonny Evans, and I've been writing (mainly about Apple) since 1999. These days I write my daily  AppleHolic blog at Computerworld.com, where I explore Apple's growing identity in the enterprise. You can also keep up with my work at AppleMust , and follow me on Mastodon , LinkedIn and (maybe) Twitter .

More from this author

The big reveal: apple’s iphone 16 ‘glowtime’ event, now that qualcomm’s interested, will apple buy (a little more) intel, apple mdm vendor mosyle gets into asset management, openai might use apple’s tsmc for chips, apple gives it the power to switch off apple intelligence, what to expect at apple’s sept. 9 ‘glowtime’ special event, jamf teams with okta for enterprise-class simplicity, how apple can fight the tyranny of ‘choice’, show me more, the dueling realities of google's pixel 9 pro fold.

8 ways to protect your Windows laptop's battery health

Will potential security gaps derail Microsoft’s Copilot?

Podcast: AI firms continue to raise money, expand despite disillusionment

Podcast: How to pick the right LLM for your AI project

Podcast: More cash for OpenAI, and sunlight on demand seems goofy

Tech news roundup: AI companies continue to expand offerings, raise cash

Why all large language models are not the same

Tech news roundup: Will more cash help OpenAI improve its generative AI?

Sponsored Links

• Visibility, monitoring, analytics. See Cisco SD-WAN in a live demo.
• OpenText Financial Services Summit 2024 in New York City!

DuckDuckGo Privacy for Safari 4+

Privacy, simplified‪.‬, duckduckgo, inc..

• 4.5 • 53 Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

Tired of being tracked online? We can help.      DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials comes packed with best-in-class privacy essentials and makes browsing Safari even faster.    Block Tracking Cookies — prevent most 3rd-party cookies from tracking you as you browse from site to site.   Escape Website Trackers Before They Load - we automatically stop most hidden trackers (3rd-party scripts) from loading, which prevents companies from collecting and using any personal data from these trackers.  Our cutting-edge tracker blocking technology – called 3rd-Party Tracker Loading Protection – goes above and beyond what you get in most popular browsers by default.   After you install our extension, you’ll be asked to enable Tracker Blocking and the Privacy Dashboard within Safari. While the extension doesn’t include DuckDuckGo Private Search, it is built into Safari as a default search option. Enabling all three gives you seamless privacy protection.    Privacy, simplified.   Note about our 3rd-Party Tracker Loading Protection following DuckDuckGo ad clicks: Our 3rd-Party Tracker Protection goes above and beyond what you get in most popular browsers by default, but we’re constantly working to make it more comprehensive. Currently, if an advertiser wants to detect conversions on their own website for our private DuckDuckGo search ads, our 3rd-Party Tracker Loading Protection will not stop bat.bing.com requests from loading on the advertiser’s website following DuckDuckGo ad clicks, but those requests are stopped in all other contexts. This is because DuckDuckGo private search advertising is in partnership with Microsoft. As part of that partnership, viewing ads on DuckDuckGo is anonymous and Microsoft has committed to not profile our users’ ad clicks.   Read more about this and our Tracking Protections at https://help.duckduckgo.com/privacy/web-tracking-protections/    You don't need to wait to take back your privacy. Join the millions of people using DuckDuckGo and protect many of your everyday online activities with one app. It's privacy, simplified.   More About DuckDuckGo  • About Us: https://duckduckgo.com/about/  • Privacy Newsletter: https://duckduckgo.com/newsletter  • Privacy Policy: https://duckduckgo.com/privacy/  • Open Source Code: https://github.com/duckduckgo/duckduckgo-privacy-extension 

Version 1.8.0

Bug fixes and improvements.

Ratings and Reviews

An essential plugin for safari.

I utilize DDG as the search engine for my Safari and I really appreciate seeing their security ratings on the websites that I am shopping through. The added Privacy Essential plugin gives me peace of mind when logging into bank websites etc. Duck Duck Go stand by their mantra and I appreciate that.

My fav Search Engine

DDG is my fav search engine. It avoid the google tracking but provides reliable results. Also, the interafce is really neat.

Do not listen to 1 star reviews

This is really helpful if you don't want to be tracked online! The proof is when I go to my history, it sometimes doesn't show the websites you went as if they forgot in which website I went. Of course, it doesn't block youtube ads and people are just silly of thinking it would actually block Youtube ads. Duck Duck Go has no control on Youtube because Youtube is Google's property.

App Privacy

The developer, DuckDuckGo, Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy .

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

DuckDuckGo Private Browser

How to use DuckDuckGo: Everything you need to know

What DuckDuckGo is, and isn't, good for

If privacy is what you're after and you want to get away from using Google, DuckDuckGo is a great alternative. The service focuses on putting privacy first, from internet browsing to email forwarding . However, the results aren't as relevant or robust, so you may not always find exactly what you're looking for. 

Thousands of privacy-conscious users have already made the switch from messaging platforms like WhatsApp to more secure-seeming options such as Signal and Telegram . 

At the same time, many people may be opting to use DuckDuckGo instead of Google or Bing for web searches, likely because the lesser-known search engine does not collect user data or track what you search. 

DuckDuckGo has seen more than 4 million users install its apps and browser extensions, making it their default search engine, and you can too.

Here's how to switch to — and use — DuckDuckGo. 

How to add DuckDuckGo to your browser

If you simply want to try out DuckDuckGo, type duckduckgo.com into your browser's address bar and enter your search query. Use it for a while and see if you like it. Once you're ready to make the switch, you can either select DuckDuckGo as your default search engine or add the appropriate app or extension to your browser. 

Adding DuckDuckGo to Chrome

Chrome users have two options for using DuckDuckGo on the desktop. The simplest option, if you're looking only for the private search function, is to make DuckDuckGo the default search engine.

Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.

Go to Settings (the three vertical dots at the top right of your browser bar) > Search engine > Manage search engine. Click the vertical dots next to DuckDuckGo and select Make default. This will make DuckDuckGo the default search engine in your address search bar as well. 

An alternative for extra privacy is to install the DuckDuckGo Chrome extension . This will block hidden trackers and connect you to encrypted versions of websites if available. 

If you change your mind about DuckDuckGo, both the default setting and the browser extension can be disabled in Chrome's settings. 

Adding DuckDuckGo to Firefox

To make DuckDuckGo your default search engine in Firefox, toggle open the Settings options with the three horizontal lines to the far right of your address bar. Click Preferences and open the Default Search Engine drop-down menu to select DuckDuckGo. This will change the settings for search in your address bar.

To make DuckDuckGo your homepage in Firefox, drag this link to the Home icon and select Yes in the pop-up window. 

Like Chrome, Firefox has an add-on called DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials that has extra privacy features. 

Adding DuckDuckGo to other browsers

Safari users can simply tap the magnifying glass in the search bar, which will bring up a drop-down to select the default search engine. You can also add the DuckDuckGo extension from the App Store. 

With Brave, open the hamburger menu at the top right and go to Settings > Search Engine. Open the dropdown menu at the top of the page and select DuckDuckGo as your default. 

In Edge, click the three horizontal dots (they look like " … ") in the top right and select Settings. On the next page, click the three stacked lines in the top left and select > Privacy, Search and Services. 

Scroll all the way down the page and, under the Services heading, click Address Bar and Search. Open the dropdown menu next to Search Engine Used in the Address Bar and select DuckDuckGo. You can also get the Privacy Essentials add-on . 

Adding DuckDuckGo on mobile

DuckDuckGo has browsing apps for both iOS and Android . If you prefer to use DuckDuckGo as your default search engine within Safari, Firefox, or Brave, follow the steps on DuckDuckGo's help pages. 

How to use DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo isn't all that different from any other search engine. Type your query into the search bar and get your results. As with Google, you can narrow your search to images, videos, news, maps and shopping.

DuckDuckGo's results pages look fairly similar to Google's, with knowledge panels, news carousels and related searches. However, you'll get more with Google search results, such as recent tweets, People Also Ask and videos, than you'll get with DuckDuckGo. 

Google also returns different, and perhaps more relevant, results, depending on your perspective. When we searched for "Sundance Film Festival," Google's first four results (punctuated by People Also Ask and tweets from @SundanceFest) were from different pages on Sundance.org. 

With DuckDuckGo, we got only one link, to the main festival page. The second result was from Wikipedia. 

Microsoft's Bing splits the difference between the two, with results similar to DuckDuckGo but more robust knowledge panels. 

It's also worth noting that DuckDuckGo uses Apple Maps (with pretty mediocre results) and Yelp reviews. Google obviously shows Google Maps and Google reviews. Bing runs on OpenStreetMap and TripAdvisor. 

All that is to say, DuckDuckGo isn't anything special once you get beyond the privacy features. However, it can be a useful alternative if you're looking for a new search engine.

Anthony Spadafora is the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. Before joining the team, he wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home. 

Yelp files antitrust suit against Google — what's next

Google updates AI Overviews to make it easier to check its accurate

Apple 'Glowtime' event live blog — iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, AirPods 4 and more

admin said: DuckDuckGo is a famously privacy-conscious search engine. Here's how to set it up and use it. How to use DuckDuckGo: Everything you need to know : Read more

• bobc4012 This site needs to do a better job for posting comments. It keeps sending me to this comment for my own comment. This article is generally about you can have DuckGoas an add-on for some browsers. It does not discuss how to use DuckGo to do searching, At least I can find the various search techniques for Google, but not for DuckGo, which I was expecting to find in this article, instead of making it an add-on. Either rename the article or include how to various types of searching using DuckGo Reply
• View All 2 Comments

Most Popular

• 2 Apple delaying key AI features ahead of Glowtime event
• 3 NYT Connections today hints and answers — Monday, September 9 (#456)
• 4 NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #190 (Monday, September 9 2024)
• 5 5 Apple TV Plus shows with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes to watch now

• Skip to main content

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials for Safari: Tracker Blocking & Privacy Dashboard

Millions of Firefox and Chrome users rely on DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials , our desktop browser extension that helps protect you no matter where you go on the web. Today, we're delighted to announce that the wait is over: DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is once again available for Safari users !

As you may be aware, major structural changes in Safari 12 meant that we had to remove DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials from the Safari extensions gallery. With Safari 13, new functionality was thankfully added that enabled us to put it back. Consequently, you'll need Safari 13+ on macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or newer to install the updated version.

Tracker Blocking

At the heart of DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is our powerful tracker blocking technology, which automatically blocks hidden third-party trackers on the sites you visit, preventing the companies behind those trackers from collecting and selling your data. We've developed it to start protecting you immediately with no need for ongoing tweaking, although you're able to whitelist sites easily should you wish. Privacy, simplified.

Privacy Dashboard

While our tracker blocking technology works quietly in the background, there are times when you might want to see the effect it's having. The Privacy Dashboard takes the guesswork out of online privacy by showing you how we enhance each site's privacy, including showing a Privacy Grade. You'll quickly know how protected you are, even at a glance.

Private Search

While the extension doesn't include private search, DuckDuckGo Search is built into Safari as a default search option, and they work together to help you search and browse privately. Follow these simple steps below to set DuckDuckGo Search as your default search engine, and take advantage of the search improvements we recently announced :

• Open a new tab.
• Click the magnifying glass in the search bar.
• Select the option for DuckDuckGo.

Is the new DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extension similar to the old Safari extension? While a lot of the functionality is the same, behind the scenes there have been big changes in making it compatible with the new extension structure that Safari now uses. Unfortunately, in this process we had to remove DuckDuckGo Smarter Encryption (our technology for enforcing secure website connections), but we are hopeful to restore this functionality to Safari as well soon. In the meantime, we also took the liberty to increase our tracker blocking coverage, and enhance the user interface for a better overall extension experience.

Does this work on mobile? DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is only available for desktop browsers. For mobile, we provide DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser for iOS and Android , which is a mobile app that uses the same technology to give you privacy protection wherever you go on the web.

Where can I get DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials? Please visit duckduckgo.com/app , or for Safari you can go direct to apps.apple.com/app/duckduckgo-privacy-essentials/id1482920575

For more privacy advice follow us on Twitter , and stay protected and informed with our privacy newsletters .

How-To Geek

How to switch to duckduckgo, a private search engine.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Quick Links

Most browsers already include duckduckgo as a search option, install the duckduckgo browser extension, use duckduckgo for media, news, maps, and directions, get answers just like with google, use bangs to search specific websites, don't forget the duckduckgo mobile app, better privacy while browsing the web.

DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that's been online since 2008. Find websites, maps, videos, news, and more---without tracking your searches and serving you targetted ads. Here's how to make the switch from Google, Bing, or any other search engine.

DuckDuckGo has been gaining ground for over a decade, finally breaking through to the "mainstream" in September of 2014 when Apple offered it as a default search engine option in Safari for iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. Later, in November of the same year, Mozilla added it to Firefox 33.1.

Related: What Is DuckDuckGo? Meet the Google Alternative for Privacy

Since then, almost every major browser has recognized DuckDuckGo by making it an optional default search engine. This includes Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera.

Google Chrome

Launch Chrome, click on the "three dots" menu icon in the top-right corner of the window, and click "Settings."

Choose "Search engine" in the list on the left of the screen. Click on the drop-down box next to "Search engine used in the address bar" and choose DuckDuckGo.

Mozilla Firefox

Launch Firefox, click on the "three lines" hamburger menu icon in the top-right corner of the window, then click "Preferences."

Click on "Search" in the menu to the left of the screen, then under "Default Search Engine," click the drop-down box and choose DuckDuckGo.

Microsoft Edge

Launch Edge and click on the "three dots" menu button in the top-right corner of the window, then select "Settings." Click on "Privacy, Search and Services" in the menu that appears on the left, and scroll down to the "Services" menu and choose "Address bar and search."

From here, click the dropdown menu next to "Search engine used in the address bar" and choose DuckDuckGo.

Apple Safari

On a Mac, launch Safari, click "Safari" in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then click "Preferences." You can also use the Command+, shortcut to quickly bring up Safari's Preferences. Click on the Search tab, then choose DuckDuckGo under the "Search engine" drop-down box.

In Safari for iPhone and iPad, launch the Settings app and tap "Safari." Tap "Search Engine" and choose DuckDuckGo from the list.

Launch Opera, then click on the Settings "cog" button in the sidebar on the left of the screen. Under "Basic" settings, scroll down until you see "Search engine" and a drop-down box. Select DuckDuckGo from the list.

Using Another Browser?

DuckDuckGo is available as a search engine option in a broad range of niche browsers .

If simply switching your search engine to DuckDuckGo isn't enough, you can go a step further and install the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials browser extension instead. The extension is available for Chrome , Firefox , Safari , Edge , and Opera .

The extension blocks tracker networks by default, so advertisers will have a much harder time tracking you across the web. You'll also get an idea of who is trying to track you. The extension forces websites to use an encrypted connection (denoted by https:// in the address bar ) where possible to help hide your browsing habits from ISPs and other snoopers.

The extension also offers to make your default search engine DuckDuckGo (if you haven't done that already) and awards a privacy score to websites you visit through a collaboration with Terms of Service Didn't Read .

Just like Google and other big search engines, DuckDuckGo allows you to filter results by type, including videos and images. After you've searched for something, you can click on the various filters at the top of the page, just like you would in Google.

In addition to media searches, DuckDuckGo can also show you news results, recipes, and places. You can search for "pizza near me," then share your location to get localized results on a map. You can also just use DuckDuckGo as a mapping tool for directions or reference thanks to Apple's MapKit integration.

To do this, either search for "map of Australia" (replacing Australia with wherever it is that you're searching for) or search for the place name, then click on Maps. Though DuckDuckGo uses Apple's map API, no identifying information is shared with Apple, so your privacy remains unaffected.

Since this is the same mapping solution built into macOS and seen on the iPhone and iPad, you can use it to get directions, view satellite imagery, or see businesses on a map. Click on the map pin in the top-right corner of the page to share your location (DuckDuckGo promises not to store this data).

When you ask Google a question, you often get a reply in the form of a snippet of relevant information at the top of the search results. DuckDuckGo performs a similar task, so try asking questions to get what the search engine calls Instant Answers.

This also applies to functions found in other search engines, like simple math calculations ("what is 2+2"), unit conversion ("2oz in grams"), and exchange rates ("10 USD in AUD"). You can also use DuckDuckGo to define words ("define malware") or to find synonyms ("thesaurus happy").

Bangs are qualifiers that you can add to your search query to limit your search results to a particular website. For example, to search How-To Geek, you can add !howtogeek to your search query, e.g. "!howtogeek windows networking".

There are thousands of bangs available for all sorts of websites, from the obvious ones like !youtube and !reddit to niche services. If you use a website that doesn't currently have a bang, you can submit it . Keep in mind that DuckDuckGo has previously purged a lot of bangs for liability reasons, including websites that enable piracy.

You can even quickly access Google from DuckDuckGo if you find yourself needing to perform the occasional search that just needs Google. The Google bang is a simple !g. For example, you can type "!g example" to search for "example" on Google.

Last, but certainly not least, is the DuckDuckGo mobile app, available for both iPhone and iPad as well as Android . This app is optional, and you can likely already switch to DuckDuckGo in your mobile browser of choice, whether it's Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.

It's most comparable to the Google app for iPhone and iPad in that it functions as a web browser, except that it replaces Google's data collection and tracking for DuckDuckGo's private browsing approach.

The app makes it easy to quickly switch your default browser to DuckDuckGo as well as providing many of the other benefits found in the browser extension. This includes making it as difficult as possible for advertisers to track you and providing forced encryption and a privacy grade for each website you visit.

The browser also includes a Fire Button, which burns your entire browsing history and currently open tabs in a single tap. You can also secure the browser with a fingerprint or facial recognition for added security.

Of course, you can also use DuckDuckGo as your default search engine in mobile browsers like Safari and Google Chrome.

Google is an advertising company. The more it knows about you, the better it can serve you relevant advertisements. This is why the company tracks so much of what you do online. Google's algorithms take into account everything from the videos you watch on YouTube to the websites you browse that use Google Analytics to build a profile of your interests for advertisers to target.

DuckDuckGo makes money from ads served by Microsoft and affiliates like Amazon and eBay, but they do so in a manner that doesn't track or identify you. Learn more about how DuckDuckGo makes its money .

While Google may be the more powerful search engine, using it comes at the cost of privacy. Ditching Google in favor of a search engine like DuckDuckGo is one small change you can make for a more private online experience.

Looking for something a little different? Take a look at Ecosia, a not-for-profit search engine that uses its revenue to plant trees .

Related: What Is Ecosia? Meet a Google Alternative That Plants Trees

• Cloud & Internet

Comment: I’ve used DuckDuckGo as my search engine for a year, and here’s what I learned

Sometime in late 2019, I became increasingly more concerned with personal privacy. I’ve never been the type of person to lean into sharing details with companies when I didn’t need to, but I became aware of the ways I was “leaking” data to companies. One of the easiest things I did to help curtail some of the data I was sharing was changing my default web search to DuckDuckGo , and after a year of using it, I wanted to share some of my thoughts on it.

Table of contents

Google is better, but i still use duckduckgo, duckduckgo is using bing results with extra data added, changing your default is easy, google isn’t selling your data, should apple buy duckduckgo, wrap up on duckduckgo as my default search.

One of the opinions I’ve heard from others about switching to DuckDuckGo is that they believe Google provides better search results. I agree with them, but that hasn’t changed my opinion. Google is the best search engine globally, and there is no changing that fact. Just because it’s the best doesn’t mean it’s good to use. Facebook is the best way to stay connected to people, but I still don’t want to use it.

If you want the best search results, then use Google. If you want excellent search results that aren’t used to target you with better ads, use DuckDuckGo. For me, I’ve decided that protecting my privacy is a worthy trade-off for slightly worse search results. I still generally find what I am looking for when searching.

DuckDuckGo isn’t crawling the web in the same way that Google crawls it. Yes, they do have some crawlers, but they use a host of data they pull together in such a way where you aren’t tracked by it. Some of the search results are pulled in from Bing, while others are populated from Apple Maps, Wikipedia, Wolfram Alpha, etc. It’s estimated that they use over 400 sources in total to populate their data. I personally like this approach of sourcing data from multiple places in order to provide better results.

I particularly like the integration with Apple Maps on iPhone as I can quickly search for a place and then launch the directions in Apple Maps. Google Search obviously integrates with Google Maps, and that’s yet another service I’ve chosen not to use.

Although DuckDuckGo has sponsored search results, they aren’t based on targeted data they know about you. On top of that, Google’s search results have, in my use, started showing increasingly more ads above the organic results, so it’s become even harder to use. DuckDuckGo lets me quickly find what I need.

While Apple still ships Google as the default browser search engine, it’s straightforward to switch to DuckDuckGo as your default. On the Mac, there is a tab in your preferences for default search in Safari.

On iOS, go to Setting > Safari > Search Engine, and you’ll see the option to switch to DuckDuckGo.

Now, all of your Safari searches will be routed through DDG instead of Google. I have the DuckDuckGo homepage set as my default homepage on the Mac as it loads super fast with only a search window.

A common misconception with Google (and Facebook) is that they collect all of this information and then “sell” it to other companies. The truth is your data is so valuable that they want to be the only ones that have it. They sell access to your data by letting companies advertise to use in a targeted way based on the data Google and Facebook knows about you. For some people, that’s a fair trade. They love Facebook and Google’s services enough that they’re willing to trade that data for access to free services.

I was willing to do that for a long time, but today, I am not. I’ve personally been off of Facebook since 2009 and Instagram from 2016. I use iCloud for my personal email. I’ve started using ‘Sign in with Apple’ whenever possible when signing up for new services. When I am on Wi-Fi networks that I don’t manage, I use a VPN service to protect my privacy. I want to use services who aren’t interesting in knowing who I am in order to better target me with ads.

I’ve seen this comment floated around the tech community for years, and while it’s an excellent idea, I don’t think it’s needed. DuckDuckGo’s mission aligns nicely with Apple’s mission of protecting personal privacy. Apple should be making more aggressive moves to teach its users about your search history, though.

Apple’s problem is they make billions each year from Google from being the default search provider. I don’t think Apple should change the default, not for privacy reasons, but from a user experience reason. If Apple set DDG as the default search provider in iOS 15, it would create chaos for Apple Support as people would be confused about what was happening. What Apple should do is when Safari is launched for the first time, asking users which search engine they want to use. Under the icon for DDG, there should be a mention that they don’t track you, store identifiable information, etc. Doing this would undoubtedly cause many people to switch, but they would be choosing to change so they’d understand the experience.

I didn’t think to write this article until recently as I’ve become so used to having DuckDuckGo as my provider that it stopped seeming different. In my head, I replaced one search engine for another. In reality, I traded a search engine that wants to know more about me to one that actively works to avoid knowing anything about me.

The older I get, the more I turn into Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec in terms of privacy. The right to privacy is something I place more importance on as the years go by. The more we rely on technology to power our lives, the easier it is for companies to think they have the right to know as much about us as possible. Changing your default search engine to DuckDuckGo is an easy first step to taking back your privacy. Give it a shot for 30 days to see how easy is it to take back a small part of your privacy.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Tips, feedback, corrections and questions can be sent to [email protected].

Bradley Chambers's favorite gear

MacBook Air

The MacBook Air is the best value on the market for laptops.

AirPods Pro 2

The best day to day headphones for iOS and macOS.

Manage push notifications

You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you  sign up with your Apple ID , you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by  upvoting helpful replies and User Tips .

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

DuckDuckGo becomes unresponsive in Safari

Running macOS Ventura 13.6, Safari 17.0 (18616.1.27.111.22, 18616).

Since I updated to Safari 17.0, DuckDuckGo has become unreliable. The page often locks up, at which point it doesn't allow me to scroll, click on a link, or type in the search box on the webpage. It's the only website that seems to have this issue.

Is this happening to anyone else, and is there a way of fixing this issue?

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)

Posted on Oct 18, 2023 8:42 AM

Posted on Oct 24, 2023 8:09 AM

Things started working smoothly for me again once I went into Safari > Settings > Search and unchecked "Preload Top Hit in the background".

Similar questions

• Safari stops loading webpages Issue: Type web address into address bar select enter progress bar appears, but stops part way (estimate about 10%, judging how far the blue line moves) after a period, the progress bar disappears and a white page is displayed For pages that are already open, content stops refreshing The issue is only temporarily resolved by restarting the machine. I have a 14'' MacBook Pro with M1Pro chip I'm running MacOS version 12.3 and Safari version 15.4 2203 4
• safari will not open web pages Safari 16.1 on MBP 12.6.1 Monterey Safari will not open pages, especially those at top of a search. Multiple pages freeze or load only partial content. Safari itself is glitchy, has random slow-downs and short-terms freezes which do not seem to be related to computer activity. This has been an issue for several versions of Safari, including the latest. I tried the multiple suggestions from Apple support (like reload, purge history, etc) none of which do anything. Anyone has a solution or explanation? Other browser like Edge and Brave work fine... 1060 2
• safari hang up Safari hangs up on my 2019 MacBook Pro os v 12.5.1 and 2.3 ghz i8 any ideas why? 176 1

Loading page content

Page content loaded

Oct 24, 2023 8:09 AM in response to wilbur808

Oct 19, 2023 2:52 AM in response to brbo

DuckDuckGo is my default search engine. I can search normally by typing a search into the Safari URL box.

It's that when DuckDuckGo loads up a page with search results, sometimes the DuckDuckGo web page will freeze and become unresponsive. This doesn't always happen, but it happens often enough that it is very annoying.

It's not an issue with locking private tabs/windows. This happens with regular tabs/windows.

Oct 26, 2023 11:14 AM in response to Jedka

Bad news, if anything the problem is worse in 17.1. Unchecking Preload Top Hit no longer seems to help at all on my system

Oct 31, 2023 6:39 AM in response to wilbur808

i wondered if this was just me! guess not.

one awkward workaround:

• close the tab
• immediately bring it back with "History -> Reopen Last Closed Tab" (or use keyboard shortcut command-shift-T or command-Z)

then the resurrected tab is able to scroll again (at least for me). it's still a hassle though!

Oct 19, 2023 2:53 AM in response to Community User

Glad it's not just me. I agree that it has something to do with moving to Safari 17.

Feb 3, 2024 10:33 AM in response to skyshock21

Workaround : keyboard shortcut Shift Command r Then close Reader tab with Shift Command r

Oct 26, 2023 2:49 PM in response to wilbur808

Update: now running Safari 17.1 on macOS Ventura 13.6.1, and turned off the "Preload top hit in the background" option in settings. Still having occasional issues with DuckDuckGo locking up after typing a search term in the URL box.

I can get the page to be responsive by reloading the page a few times. But still not a great experience.

Feb 1, 2024 8:08 PM in response to nyemanyiksa

Safari 17,2,1 /Monterey 12.7.2; To regain control on Duck Duck Go page :Go to Safari View menu. Click Show Reader .Then remove the reader page by clicking Hide Reader. in the

same menu .The page will be usable.

Oct 19, 2023 1:54 PM in response to wilbur808

Thank you kindly for your reply and added info., wilbur808.

Seems it would be a good idea to send feedback to those who work on Safari behind-the-scenes. They will likely not reply, yet your feedback will reach those who can make changes, and, if others are also sending feedback on the issue, we may see an update that addresses the issue.

Web-form for feedback:

Feedback - Safari - Apple

Oct 19, 2023 9:26 AM in response to wilbur808

Similar issue: MacOS 13.6, DuckDuckGo, and sometimes the page won't scroll with the trackpad or scroll-wheel, sometimes after scrolling part-way down the page stops responding to trackpad or scroll-wheel scrolling. Reloading the page sometimes works. But I don't think this is limited to DuckDuckGo as I've had the same issues on other sites in Safari since updating the 13.6. Think this is a Safari issue as Chrome which I use roughly as much on the same Mac I've not had any issues.

I suspect the problem is triggered by some ads that display. A common trait with all the sites I've had issues with is all display ads.

I enabled a Safari extension I had previously used (Ka-Block!), and this week haven't had weird scrolling or lockups with DuckDuckGo or other sites. Also forgot how fast browsing is without the constant barrage of images and videos loading trying to get your attention.

Oct 30, 2023 8:45 AM in response to wilbur808

I'm having the same problem. It doesn't freeze on every page, but around half of them. Refreshing the page doesn't help.

I'm still on macOS 12.7 because I'm running an older macBook. I'm using Safari 17.0.

Jan 30, 2024 5:05 AM in response to skyshock21

I am on Sonoma 14.2.1 and Safari 17.2.1 (coincidence?). I never used any of the preloading settings but still have the same problem. What fixed it for now is manually setting ddg as default for private windows.

Settings > Search > Private Browsing search engine

instead of checking "Also Use in Private Browsing"

(Strange capitalisation btw)

Oct 18, 2023 7:59 PM in response to wilbur808

Re: "DuckDuckGo becomes unresponsive in Safari". "It's the only website that seems to have this issue".

Wondering if DuckDuckGo is your default search engine:

Choose a search engine for Safari on Mac - Apple Support

if so, what happens if you type your search terms in the Safari URL / "Smart Search" field, instead.

If not, maybe the default search engine is conflicting somehow. (You could experiment by using that to search.)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: "The page often locks up, at which point it doesn't allow me to scroll, click on a link,

or type in the search box on the webpage".

Am assuming "the page" is the DuckDuckGo webpage itself, the one with the search field.

Wondering if you may accidentally: Lock private browsing windows in Safari on Mac - Apple Support

_______________________________

Re: "Is this happening to anyone else"

All seems as normal on my Mac using DuckDuckGo with same MacOS and Safari version (am in Australia).

________________________________

Re: "is there a way of fixing this issue?"

Troubleshoot:

Try making DuckDuckGo your default search engine, and just enter your search terms in the Safari URL field

You could check whether DuckDuckGo is down / has problems / if it becomes unreliable again:

(Choose your country by clicking on the tiny globe with "US" under in the top menu of linked webpage below.)

https://downdetector.com/status/duckduckgo/

If needed: Safari Support webpage (info. / support / contact options etc.)

Safari - Official Apple Support

All the best :-)

Nov 18, 2023 8:30 AM in response to wilbur808

New update: I haven't seen the frozen DuckDuckGo webpage bug in a while. I'm on Safari 17.1 (19616.2.9.11.7) and macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 (23B81). Not sure if the recent updates fixed things, or if the DuckDuckGo people did something on their end, but it's been good for the recent past.

As an experiment, I'm turning the "Preload top hit in the background" option again to see what happens.

Hope things stay this way.

Nov 18, 2023 1:11 PM in response to wilbur808

Thank you, wilbur808.

I have Safari 17.1, Ventura 13.6.1 so it appears Sonoma is the fix.

Apple advises my "vintage" 2017 iMac cannot be updated to Sonoma but is good for "scrap". I reinstalled the OS with zero improvement.

Apple considered switching to DuckDuckGo from Google for Safari - Bloomberg News

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

Bankman-Fried's ex-girlfriend Ellison urges judge to spare her prison for FTX fraud

Former cryptocurrency executive Caroline Ellison urged a federal judge not to send her to prison after she pleaded guilty over her role in the theft of $8 billion from customers of Sam Bankman-Fried's bankrupt FTX exchange.

• Mobile Site
• Staff Directory
• Advertise with Ars

Filter by topic

• Biz & IT
• Gaming & Culture

Front page layout

Search shuffle —

Apple considered ditching google for duckduckgo in safari’s private mode, but apple exec argued duckduckgo wasn't as private as believed..

Samuel Axon - Oct 5, 2023 9:17 pm UTC

In iOS 17 , Apple recently made it easier to use alternatives to Google search in the Safari web browser's private browsing mode—but the company considered going even further by making DuckDuckGo, which is marketed as a more private alternative, the default choice in that context.

As reported by Bloomberg's Leah Nylen, the information came to light when Amit Mehta, the US District Judge who is handling the US antitrust trial over Google search, unsealed transcripts of testimonies by DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg and Apple SVP of machine learning and AI strategy John Giannandrea. Giannandrea worked as Google's head of search before his current role at Apple .

Further Reading

Giannandrea had a different take, though. He was heavily involved in Apple's discussions about its future with search, and he dismissed a switch to DuckDuckGo, partly because he felt that DuckDuckGo's "marketing about privacy is somewhat incongruent with the details" because DuckDuckGo relies on Bing in some areas. He said he would have wanted to do "a lot more due diligence with DuckDuckGo" should the switch have happened. He previously argued against switching to DuckDuckGo in an internal company email.

These conversations happened in the wider context of the antitrust trial over Google search, which, by some estimates, accounts for 90 percent of the market. Apple famously has a highly lucrative deal with Google to use the latter's search engine as the default option in Safari, which is the default web browser on iPads, Macs, and, most importantly, iPhones.

Previous trial testimonies revealed that Apple and Microsoft considered a wide-ranging partnership or even acquisition that would lead to Microsoft-developed search engine Bing becoming the default for Apple devices. Apple reportedly believed at another point that the only viable alternative to Google would be to develop its own search engine—which it didn't, perhaps because the Google deal was so lucrative.

Judge Mehta is looking closely at Google's deal with Apple as the trial weighs whether the search giant's dominance is anti-competitive in the US.

For DuckDuckGo's part, a company spokesperson was quoted in Bloomberg saying that the search engine takes measures to prevent "hosting and content providers from creating a history of your searches," in contrast to Giannandrea's statement that DuckDuckGo wasn't as comprehensively private as it claimed.

reader comments

Channel ars technica.

• a. Send us an email
• b. Anonymous form
• Buyer's Guide
• Upcoming Products
• Tips / Contact Us
• Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Mastodon YouTube Notifications RSS Newsletter

Apple Considered Making DuckDuckGo Default Search Engine in Safari Private Browsing Mode

Back in 2018, Apple held talks with DuckDuckGo to replace Google as the default search engine in private browsing mode, but ultimately rejected the idea, according to transcripts unsealed by the judge overseeing the US government's antitrust trial against Google in Washington.

According to Bloomberg , Apple did not move forward with the deal because John Giannandrea, who joined Apple as head of search in 2018, assumed that since DuckDuckGo relies on Bing for its search information, it also likely provides Microsoft some user information.

That led Giannandrea to believe that DuckDuckGo's privacy marketing is "somewhat incongruent with the details." In a February 2019 email to other Apple executives, Giannandrea said it was therefore "probably a bad idea" to switch to DuckDuckGo for private browsing in Safari.

If Apple seriously wanted to switch to DuckDuckGo, "I would probably insist on doing a lot more due diligence with DuckDuckGo," he said.

The trial is between the U.S. Department of Justice and Google, with the DoJ pointing toward Google's dominance on Apple devices as evidence that Google has a search engine monopoly. A multi-billion dollar deal between Apple and Google sees that Google is set as the default search engine on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Last week the trial revealed that Microsoft considered selling its Bing search engine to Apple. Had the acquisition happened, Bing would have replaced Google as the default search engine on Apple devices.

Apple's services chief ‌Eddy Cue‌ also had to testify, and he explained why Google is the ‌iPhone‌'s default search engine. "We make Google be the default search engine because we've always thought it was the best," Cue said. He went on to say that Apple has not gone with another search engine provider because there is no "valid alternative."

• How to Set a Different Default Search Engine When Private Browsing in Safari

While Google is the default search engine on Apple devices, users can choose to swap to Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia as an alternative.

Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.

Popular Stories

Apple Announces iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with Larger Displays, New Camera Control, and More

Apple Event Live Blog: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, and New AirPods!

Apple Updates AirPods Max With USB-C Port and New Colors

First iPhone 16 Carrier Deals Include iPhone 16/16 Pro For Free, $1,000 Off iPhone 16 Pro Max

Apple Announces Thinner Apple Watch Series 10 With Bigger Screen Than Ultra

New iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Colors Revealed Ahead of Apple Event

Apple Discontinues iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 13

Top rated comments.

DuckDuckGo is too long and I cannot be bothered to keep typing that long name into a web browsers address bar.

I chose Google search engine for the simple reason that it is easy to use and easy on the eye. There is bloatware on the screen like there is with Bing. Another reason for using Google search engine is the name. If I am using a device/computer that is not my own and I need to search for something, it is so easy to just open the device/computer web browser, type in google.com in the address bar and there is it. Clean, simple, easy to use. DuckDuckGo is too long and I cannot be bothered to keep typing that long name into a web browsers address bar.

According to Bloomberg ('https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-04/apple-considered-switch-to-search-engine-duckduckgo-from-google?srnd=technology-vp') , Apple did not move forward with the deal because John Giannandrea, who joined Apple as head of search in 2018, assumed that since DuckDuckGo relies on Bing for its search information, it also likely provides Microsoft some user information. That led Giannandrea to believe that DuckDuckGo's privacy marketing is "somewhat incongruent with the details." In a February 2019 email to other Apple executives, Giannandrea said it was therefore "probably a bad idea" to switch to DuckDuckGo for private browsing in Safari.

it is so easy to just open the device/computer web browser, type in google.com in the address bar and there is it. Clean, simple, easy to use. DuckDuckGo is too long and I cannot be bothered to keep typing that long name into a web browsers address bar.

Next Article

iOS 18 brings major changes to the Messages app, with Apple adding several fun features.

The Photos app redesign has been one of the most controversial changes that Apple made in iOS 18.

iOS 18 is an update designed for the iPhone, but it adds several new features to the AirPods

The Phone app doesn't often get updated, but with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence, it's getting a major overhaul.

Action and Camera Control buttons, A18 chip, camera improvements, and more.

Larger displays, new Camera Control button, camera improvements, and more.

Updates to Mail, Photos, Messages, and more, with Apple Intelligence features throughout.

iPhone Mirroring, Safari improvements, new Passwords app, and Apple Intelligence features throughout.

Other Stories

5 days ago by Joe Rossignol

6 days ago by Joe Rossignol

6 days ago by Tim Hardwick

• Full Stack Course
• React Native
• CSS Frameworks
• JS Frameworks
• Web Development

DuckDuckGo vs Safari

DuckDuckGo is a web browser that was built mainly to respect the privacy of the users so this web browser is known for its transparency towards its users. It was built by DuckDuckGo Incorporation. The development credit for this browser goes to Gabriel Weinberg and his team. It supports various operating systems like Mac, Windows, Android etc. 

Safari is also a web browser used for surfing the internet and it was built by Apple. It was mainly used on the Mac operating system but it can also be used on Windows operating system. Initially, it was released in 2003, just like chrome it is also freeware. It is open source and is written using different programming languages like C++, Swift etc.

Following is a table of differences between DuckDuckGo and Safari:

Please Login to comment...

Similar reads.

• Difference Between
• Web Technologies
• Web Technologies - Difference Between
• 105 Funny Things to Do to Make Someone Laugh
• Best PS5 SSDs in 2024: Top Picks for Expanding Your Storage
• Best Nintendo Switch Controllers in 2024
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: Features, Benefits, and Pricing in 2024
• #geekstreak2024 – 21 Days POTD Challenge Powered By Deutsche Bank

Improve your Coding Skills with Practice

What kind of Experience do you want to share?

DuckDuckGo Help Pages

How to get duckduckgo / get the duckduckgo browser, how to get the duckduckgo browser on windows.

Our free web browser is a privacy-protecting alternative to Google Chrome and other browsers. It comes with seamless privacy protection built-in, including our search engine that replaces Google and doesn’t track your search history, plus tracker blocking , increased encryption , Email Protection , and more. The DuckDuckGo browser is available for Mac , Windows , iOS , and Android .

• Download the DuckDuckGo Private Browser for Windows

Problems with installation?

Unsupported Versions of Windows If you get an error message when attempting to install DuckDuckGo on Windows indicating “this package is not compatible with the device”, try the following:

• Check to make sure you’ve updated Windows to the latest version .
• Note: DuckDuckGo for Windows requires Windows 10 (May 2020) or later.

Application Package Error Message If you get an error message when attempting to install DuckDuckGo on Windows that says “Error parsing application package”, try the following:

• Download the following MSIXbundle installation file instead: https://staticcdn.duckduckgo.com/windows-desktop-browser/help-pages/DuckDuckGo.msixbundle
• Once downloaded, open the DuckDuckGo MSIXbundle in Downloads
• Select Install

Learn more about DuckDuckGo for Windows .