# DuckDuckGo Browser privacy rating

Browser from DuckDuckGo that uses the system web engine, blocks third-party trackers, and includes a one-tap Fire Button for clearing data, email protection and DuckDuckGo search by default.

## Summary

DuckDuckGo Browser scores 70 out of 100 (grade C) on the browsers criteria. It meets 4 of 8 criteria: blocks trackers by default, fingerprinting protection, no calls to big-tech services and timely security updates. It partly meets open source, no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales. It does not meet independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.

- Website: https://duckduckgo.com/app
- Source code: https://github.com/duckduckgo/Android
- License: Apache-2.0
- Jurisdiction: United States. Five Eyes member. Subject to the US CLOUD Act.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
- Home page trackers: none found
- Category: [Browsers](https://privacyratings.com/browsers/)
- Also rated: [DuckDuckGo Email Protection](https://privacyratings.com/email-forwarding/duckduckgo-email-protection/) (Email forwarding and aliases), [Privacy Essentials](https://privacyratings.com/browser-extensions/privacy-essentials/) (Browser extensions), [DuckDuckGo](https://privacyratings.com/search-engines/duckduckgo/) (Search engines)
- Grade: C (70/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Partial | The Android, iOS and macOS apps are Apache-2.0. The Windows app is closed source. | https://github.com/duckduckgo/Android/blob/develop/LICENSE |
| No trackers or telemetry | Partial | The Android app has 0 trackers in Exodus. The apps send anonymous usage pixels without identifiers by default. | https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/atb |
| No ads or data sales | Partial | The browser has no ads, but the default DuckDuckGo search shows ads based on the search query, not the user. No data is sold. | https://duckduckgo.com/privacy |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |
| Blocks trackers by default | Yes | Third-party tracker scripts on its block list are blocked by default. | https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/web-tracking-protections |
| Fingerprinting protection | Yes | Fingerprinting scripts are blocked and browser APIs used for fingerprinting are overridden by default. | https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/web-tracking-protections |
| No calls to big-tech services | Yes | Uses its own malicious-site list instead of Google Safe Browsing, with no data sent to third parties. | https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/threat-protection/scam-blocker |
| Timely security updates | Yes | Uses the operating system's web engine (WebKit, WebView2 or Android System WebView), which receives security fixes through automatic system updates. | https://github.com/duckduckgo/apple-browsers |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/browsers/duckduckgo-browser/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/browsers/duckduckgo-browser.md