DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials

Simple and seamless privacy protection for your browser.
What is DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials?
DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is an innovative Edge add-on designed to enhance online privacy. It's equipped with features that block third-party trackers, enforce encrypted connections, and prevent email tracking. The add-on also includes built-in private search, fingerprinting protection, link tracking protection, and more. Experience a safe browsing experience like never before with DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials.

Add-on stats

Users: 1,398,277
Rating: 4.50 (190)
Version: 2024.7.24 (Last updated: 2024-07-25)
Creation date: 2022-01-25
Risk impact: High risk impact
Risk likelihood: Very low risk likelihood
Manifest version: 3
Overrides search engine: Yes
Permissions:
  • activeTab
  • alarms
  • contextMenus
  • declarativeNetRequest
  • declarativeNetRequestFeedback
  • scripting
  • storage
  • tabs
  • webRequest
  • webNavigation
  • See more
Host permissions:
  • *://*/*
Size: 4.23M

Other platforms

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials (v2024.7.24)
4.26 (2,058) 5,000,000
DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials (v2024.7.24)
4.34 (2,199) 1,447,179
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Add-on summary

Analyze keywords

Simple and seamless privacy protection for your browser.  

Protecting your privacy online is like protecting your home. Locking the front door won’t stop the most determined folks from getting inside, especially if you’ve left the back door and windows unlocked and an extra key under the doormat. That’s why we offer multiple types of privacy protection, most of which aren’t offered in most popular browsers by default.   

With the press of a button, you get seamless protection from most 3rd-party trackers while you search and browse, access to tracking protections for emails you receive, and much more. Together these privacy essentials make more privacy your default.     FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS 

• Search Privately by Default - DuckDuckGo Private Search comes built-in, so you can easily search the web without being tracked. 

• Escape Website Trackers Before They Load - automatically stop most hidden trackers (3rd-party scripts) from loading, which prevents companies from collecting and using (e.g. sale, ads, etc.) any data from these trackers. Our cutting-edge tracker blocking technology goes well above and beyond what you get in most popular browsers by default. 

• Automatically Enforce Encryption - force many sites you visit to automatically use an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, which helps shield your data from Wi-Fi snoopers and network onlookers like your Internet provider. Most popular browsers only direct users to encrypted versions of pages in specific circumstances, like when you navigate directly to a page in the address bar. We check our list of upgradable sites for all links you click. 

• Enable Built-in Email Protection - Over 85% of emails sent to Duck Addresses contained trackers that can detect when you’ve opened a message, where you were when you opened it, and what device you were using. Email Protection makes it easy to block most email trackers and hide your existing address when signing up for things online, all without switching email providers. 

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User reviews

These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Edge Add-on Store does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Helps in cleaning up cookies and reducing the need for defragmentation.
  • Provides privacy by blocking trackers.
  • Integrates DuckDuckGo as a search engine, emphasizing privacy.
Cons
  • Issues with the extension becoming greyed out or not loading properly after updates.
  • Forces the use of DuckDuckGo as the default search engine, which some users find limiting.
  • Conflicts with privacy settings or other extensions (e.g., uBlock Origin) leading to functionality issues.
Most mentioned
  • The extension has technical issues after Microsoft Edge updates.
  • Users are frustrated with being forced to use DuckDuckGo as the default search engine.
  • Appreciation for privacy features and tracker blocking.
Recent reviews
👍😁
by Leslie, 2024-09-24

Robert, if you are not using the duck search it will compromise the security of the add-on, it is built on the DAX search engine. It would be like trying to swap the engine between a Ford F-150 and a crappy Fiat. The app has saved a-lot of cleanups of cookies and defragmentation needs for me.
by G, 2024-09-11

the extension is greyed out, opening the popup displays nothing and accessing options menu won't let you change anything. tried with both Edge and Chrome store versions. Clearing data won't do it. Latest Edge beta.
by Uriele, 2024-08-13
View all user reviews

Add-on safety

Risk impact

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is risky to use as it requires a number of sensitive permissions that can potentially harm your browser and steal your data. Exercise caution when installing this add-on. Review carefully before installing. We recommend that you only install DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials if you trust the publisher.

Risk likelihood

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials has earned a good reputation and can be trusted.

Upgrade to see risk analysis details

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