DuckDuckGo is now available as a browser in beta testing mode for macOS. Here’s how to use it to protect your online privacy.
Image: Adobe Stock
The privacy-conscious DuckDuckGo makes a complete living as a search engine, a browser extension, and a mobile app. But now it is also available as a dedicated web browser for Mac. With DuckDuckGo browser for macOS, you can block third-party trackers, disable cookies, turn on HTTPS for websites and strengthen other security and privacy through browser settings. let’s find out.
Must read Apple coverage
DuckDuckGo is now in beta testing for macOS that was promised later in 2022. As such, you’ll need to request an invite to use the Mac version you currently have. To do so, download and install the DuckDuckGo mobile app for iOS or Android. Go to Settings, select DuckDuckGo for Desktop, and then tap the button to Join the Private Waitlist.
When you are granted access, you will receive a notification in the app providing you with a URL where you can download the program along with an invitation code to enter. On your Mac, browse to the following URL. The download should start automatically. Start the installation for the downloaded file and enter the invitation code. Click Continue and then click Start.
DuckDuckGo browser opens and offers to help you get started using it. Click on the Start button (Figure A,
Figure A
If you prefer, you can choose to import your bookmarks from a different browser, or you can skip that step. Next, you can set DuckDuckGo as your default browser. The program then offers to show you how it tries to protect your privacy. By default, the browser allows trackers ownership of any site you visit, but blocks trackers from third party websites.
See: Feature Comparison: Time Tracking Software and Systems (techrepublic premium)
Visit a website that normally tries to monitor you using third-party trackers. Click the DuckDuckGo Shield icon at the beginning of the Address field. This feature tells you how many trackers were blocked (Figure B,
Figure B
Click the entry for Blocked Trackers to see which trackers were allowed and which were blocked (Figure C,
Figure C
Continue browsing on different websites. To see a list of all the sites you’ve browsed with tracking data, open a new tab. The page tells you how many tracking attempts were blocked overall and how many attempts were made for each site (Figure D,
Figure D
As you continue to browse more sites, cookies and other browsing data are collected. To delete them all in one fell swoop, click the fire icon in the top right and then click the Got it button. On the next screen, click the Details arrow to see which sites will be included in this purge, and then click the Clear button (Figure E,
Figure E
You can change some privacy settings for DuckDuckGo browser. Click on the ellipsis icon in the top right and select Settings. Click on Settings for Privacy. By default, the browser deletes cookies for the sites you visit. But, you can tell it to “fireproof” certain sites for which you want to place cookies to allow you to stay signed in. To do this, make sure that the box for Ask to fireproof websites when signing in is checked.
See: Windows, Linux and Mac Everyone Should Know (Free PDF) (Tech Republic)
After this, many websites will ask you if you want to allow cookies. DuckDuckGo Browser may automatically detect these types of consent notifications and set your preferences for reducing cookies. Check the box for the cookie consent pop-up.
Finally, Global Privacy Control, or GPC, is a specification under the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) and Europe’s Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through which you can tell websites not to track you or your Do not sell or share personal information. DuckDuckGo is one of the few browsers that directly supports GPC. To enable this option, check the box for Global Privacy Control (GPC) (Figure F,
Figure F
