As everyone pays more and more attention to online privacy and security, many people will use VPN or DuckDuckGo, a browser that focuses on high privacy, to ensure that they will not be tracked by ads. If you use DuckDuckGo, this browser may not be as safe as the official claims. Recently, foreign researchers discovered that DuckDuckGo quietly allowed Microsoft trackers to track users’ online habits and personal information behind the scenes. The official CEO also came out to confirm that this was indeed the case.
DuckDuckGo browser found to allow Microsoft trackers
Recently, Bleeping Computer published a report that “DuckDuckGo browser allows Microsoft tracking code”, which surprised many users because DuckDuckGo has always promoted high privacy security and transparency, but it has not mentioned this before.
Zach Edwards, a security researcher at Bleeping Computer, previously conducted a security review of the DuckDuckGo browser and found that while it did block Google and Facebook trackers, it allowed Microsoft trackers to function normally. Testing shows that DuckDuckGo allows domains related to bing.com and linkedin.com, while blocking other trackers.
You can capture data within the DuckDuckGo so-called private browser on a website like Facebook's https://t.co/u8W44qvsqF and you'll see that DDG does NOT stop data flows to Microsoft's Linkedin domains or their Bing advertising domains.
iOS + Android proof:
👀🫥😮💨🤡⛈️⚖️💸💸💸 pic.twitter.com/u3Q30KIs7e— Zach Edwards (@thezedwards) May 23, 2022
As this incident came out, Gabriel Weinberg, CEO and founder of DuckDuckGo, quickly responded in the post. He confirmed that this was indeed the case, “When users use our search engine, they are completely anonymous, and this includes ads. Regarding ads, we are working with Microsoft to protect ad clicks. For more detailed information, you can read this page. Microsoft ads will not associate your ad click behavior with your personal user information.”
https://twitter.com/yegg/status/1528838114558484480
“As for non-search tracker blocking in the browser, we block most third-party trackers, but because of our search alliance agreement with Microsoft, we must allow Microsoft trackers. However, we have continued to push and improve, and hope to do more soon.”
This incident also occurred abroad Hacker News It caused a lot of discussion. DuckDuckGo has always been transparent about its advertising cooperation with Microsoft, but it is unknown why it did not disclose that Microsoft trackers were allowed. It was not until Bleeping Computer found out that it came out to put out the fire.
A few days ago the official Twttier was teasing Google, writing that “there is tracking, there is tracking, no matter what you call it”, but now DuckDuckGo is doing the same thing:
NEW: DuckDuckGo's Chrome extension now blocks Google's new tracking method "Topics" and new ad re-targeting method FLEDGE.
Google says they're better for privacy, but the simple fact is tracking is tracking, no matter what you call it.https://t.co/r9GFLdXmTT
— DuckDuckGo (@DuckDuckGo) May 11, 2022
Therefore, it is basically very difficult to have complete privacy when using the Internet. Even this browser, which focuses on high privacy and security, still has problems.
Gabriel Weinberg finally added: “We are working with Microsoft to remove the issue mentioned in this article, and we are also working hard to update the App Store description to provide users with more information.”
Source: KOCPC Chinese