DuckDuckGo's Safari Privacy Browser Extension Now Available for macOS Catalina

[MacRumors]

Privacy oriented search engine DuckDuckGo today released an updated version of its browser extension for desktop Safari users running macOS Catalina.

The launch comes after DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials had to be removed from the Safari extensions gallery following major changes introduced in Safari 12 that made the extension incompatible. From the DuckDuckGo website:

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.

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials blocks hidden third-party trackers on websites and features a Privacy Dashboard, which generates a Privacy Grade rating (A-F) information card whenever a user visits a site. The rating aims to let them see at a glance how protected they are, while providing additional options to dig deeper into the details of blocked tracking attempts.

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 users search and browse privately.

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is only available for desktop browsers, however DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser is available for iOS and uses the same privacy protection technology.

Article Link: DuckDuckGo's Safari Privacy Browser Extension Now Available for macOS Catalina

 

[Villarrealadrian]

Great search engine! Best for searching torrents

 

[acousticbiker]

Does the Safari browser extension and/or iOS app block ads, too?

 

[Classie]

DuckDuckGo is still quite a bit behind google when it comes to search results. I still use it as my primary engine, but sometimes have to switch to google...

 

[Weaselboy]

Does the Safari browser extension and/or iOS app block ads, too?

I installed and did a test at cnn.com and it only blocks trackers and not ads.

DuckDuckGo is still quite a bit behind google when it comes to search results. I still use it as my primary engine, but sometimes have to switch to google...

Startpage - Private Search Engine. No Tracking. No Search History.

Search and browse the internet without being tracked or targeted. Startpage is the world's most private search engine. Use Startpage to protect your personal data.

www.startpage.com

Same here, but I uses StartPage for when I need Google results. You get Google results without going to the Google web page and being tracked.

 

[UltraInstinct]

Is this not a bit suspect..? ?

 

[Weaselboy]

Is this not a bit suspect..?

Not at all... any extension that has an end user accessible GUI like this needs access to your data like that to work. You can uncheck the dashboard part of the extension and the extension will still work, but you just won't see the widget up top showing what was blocked.

 

[UltraInstinct]

Not at all... any extension that has an end user accessible GUI like this needs access to your data like that to work. You can uncheck the dashboard part of the extension and the extension will still work, but you just won't see the widget up top showing what was blocked.

I see, I don't have any extensions so it was a bit of a shock. I see Adblock also says the same thing, how is it not dodgy them having access to passwords and CC details?

 

[Weaselboy]

I see, I don't have any extensions so it was a bit of a shock. I see Adblock also says the same thing, how is it not dodgy them having access to passwords and CC details?

It is just not possible to have that GUI without the extension seeing that data. If you don't want them to have the data, just disable the GUI. For example the adblocker Wipr does not have that warning because they have no GUI to see what is blocked. 1Blocker on the other hand does have a GUI, so they do have the warning.

I guess you have to decide if you trust the company to see your data or not, but it is not something they are doing for no reason.

 

[UltraInstinct]

So these extensions still work like this..?

 

[Weaselboy]

So these extensions still work like this..?

Yep... exactly. It uses the Safari content blocker API in the background, but you just cannot see what it is doing like how many ads blocked and that sort of thing.

 

[luvbug]

I've been using the Brave browser with great success. No ads, no tracking, stats if you want them, and very fast. I am using DuckDuckGo as my search engine, which also allows you to '!s' a search to use Start Page.

Marketing folks don't seem to get the concept that some people, by choice, are *never* going to respond to an ad, where they see it or not.

 

[anthonymoody]

Yep... exactly. It uses the Safari content blocker API in the background, but you just cannot see what it is doing like how many ads blocked and that sort of thing.

My concern then becomes: how likely is DuckDuckGo to be hacked somehow and this data gotten from them?

 

[Weaselboy]

My concern then becomes: how likely is DuckDuckGo to be hacked somehow and this data gotten from them?

If DDG is to be believed, they are not collecting this data at all, they are just notifying you the extension can see that data. So in theory, DDG has nothing of yours to be hacked.

 

[Pangalactic]

If DDG is to be believed, they are not collecting this data at all, they are just notifying you the extension can see that data. So in theory, DDG has nothing of yours to be hacked.

That is a very big "If". There has never been a public audit of DDG, so in fact we have no idea how much data they are really collecting.

 

[Weaselboy]

That is a very big "If". There has never been a public audit of DDG, so in fact we have no idea how much data they are really collecting.

I think the same could be said about any company. Bottom line is there is an element of trust here, and if you don't trust them, disable the feature or don't use their software or services.

 

[Stella]

Does the Safari browser extension and/or iOS app block ads, too?

I use pi.hole for blocking ads ( as well as tracker sites etc )- works very well.

 

[nvmls]

Same here, but I uses StartPage for when I need Google results. You get Google results without going to the Google web page and being tracked.

From our experience you don't get Google results, although they may look like a closer version than duckduckgo's, but so far it seems no privacy focused search engine is able to match Google results quality-wise (sadly).

 

[Pangalactic]

I think the same could be said about any company. Bottom line is there is an element of trust here, and if you don't trust them, disable the feature or don't use their software or services.

Not quite, if it’s an open source software that underwent a public audit (like Truecrypt used to be) then there is no reason not to trust them.

as for the private companies - all of them are a risk factor. Some (like Apple) probably take fewer liberties with privacy than others, but overall it’s just hoping that thy won’t screw you over if they decide to.

 

[Spendlove]

Someone here pointed me to Startpage a few months ago and I loved it. I was VERY annoyed when Apple removed the search bar function from the new Safari. I also lost Ublock Origin. Not a happy bunny.

 

[Yptcn]

Is anyone able to download Version 1.0.1 from the AppStore . When I try it goes into the loop and back to the update button .

 

[revmacian]

Someone here pointed me to Startpage a few months ago and I loved it. I was VERY annoyed when Apple removed the search bar function from the new Safari. I also lost Ublock Origin. Not a happy bunny.

Yep, I love Start Page. Also, as far as ad-blocking, there is Adguard for Desktop Safari and also Adguard for Mobile Safari. The free versions work great and have many options.

 

[notrack]

DuckDuckGo is still quite a bit behind google when it comes to search results. I still use it as my primary engine, but sometimes have to switch to google...

From our experience you don't get Google results, although they may look like a closer version than duckduckgo's, but so far it seems no privacy focused search engine is able to match Google results quality-wise (sadly).

Never missed Google results after I switched to DDG. After a while I stopped comparing bc Google wouldn't find anything better than DDG. I have the impression that google shows more commercial stuff for shopping.

 

[Classie]

Never missed Google results after I switched to DDG. After a while I stopped comparing bc Google wouldn't find anything better than DDG. I have the impression that google shows more commercial stuff for shopping.

The most obvious difference is when your search for images. DDG sometimes shows ridiculous few images, while Google seems to have an endless scroll, with good match.

 

[Internet Enzyme]

uh oh macrumors...