If you're serious about privacy, it's time to use DuckDuckGo as your default Android browser

2 years ago 259

Third-party app trackers person go a existent occupation connected Android, and DuckDuckGo is doing thing astir it. Find retired wherefore Jack Wallen believes this is the browser you request to beryllium using.

In the never-ending conflict for privateness connected mobile phones, I look to beryllium everlastingly searching for the close operation of apps and services to assistance Android to a much unafraid place. Recently, I made the telephone for dumping Chrome arsenic the default browser. In that piece, I suggested Firefox. I similar Firefox. I usage Firefox arsenic my default browser connected Linux and person nary problems with it whatsoever.

SEE: Mobile Device Security Policy (TechRepublic Premium)

But connected Android, information risks are acold much rampant than they are connected Linux. Ergo, a spot much caution is required. And though I wouldn't hesitate to suggest Firefox arsenic the default browser for the Linux operating system, connected Android ... I've go a spot little apt to.

That's wherever DuckDuckGo comes in.

Recently the privacy-centric browser took yet different measurement forward, 1 that had maine instantly acceptable it arsenic my default Android browser. That measurement is the preventing of different Android apps from tracking each determination you make. With a bold caller App Tracking Protection feature, the DuckDuckGo browser mightiness not support you from perfectly each app tracking you, it volition support you from those the institution is alert of.

In different words, DuckDuckGo is tracking the apps that are tracking you to marque definite they can't.

Why is this important?

This comes from the bureau of what you don't cognize could harm you. Many of those apps you usage tin way your browser behavior, whether they are moving oregon not. For example, the Exodus Privacy Organization discovered the Nike app included Google tracking. So erstwhile you searched connected Google, the Nike app knew astir it. This benignant of behaviour is rampant, and the lone mode you could guarantee those apps weren't tracking you was to region them.

It's a nefarious practice, and it's astir apt not going to halt successful the adjacent future...because, successful the eyes of galore companies, the ever-growing request for information is acold much important than your privacy.

That's wherever DuckDuckGo comes in. With its caller App tracking Protection diagnostic (which is present successful beta), the browser volition artifact third-party trackers (such arsenic Google and Facebook) that lurk successful different apps. And this benignant of behaviour is happening crossed each of your apps, with your idiosyncratic accusation sent to galore 3rd parties passim the day, week, period and year. So prevalent is this that the lone mode to perfectly halt it is to unopen your telephone off.

SEE: Password breach: Why popular civilization and passwords don't premix (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

DuckDuckGo ran a trial of the astir fashionable escaped Android apps and recovered that much than 96% of those apps contained hidden trackers. Of those trackers, 87% sent their information to Google, and 68% sent the information to Facebook. The institution besides recovered an AppCensus study that backed up their findings.

If you person escaped apps connected your phone, it's astir a certainty you're being tracked.

But astatine slightest companies similar DuckDuckGo are doing thing astir it. And this caller App Tracking Protection should marque a important dent successful however easy third-party trackers tin way you.

For now.

And that's portion of the problem. DuckDuckGo volition spell to large lengths to support your privateness against trackers, but cognize that those companies volition proceed to find caller ways astir the protection. This changeless backmost and distant puts consumers successful the middle, with our information and privateness the spoils of the war.

In beta

At the moment, the caller App Tracking Protection diagnostic is successful beta. In fact, you person to petition to beryllium added to the hold database to effort it out. For that you indispensable instal the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser. Once installed, unfastened the browser, pat the paper (three vertical buttons successful the apical right), pat Settings and scroll to adjacent the bottom. Tap App Tracking Protection (Figure A).

Figure A

When prompted, pat Join the Private Waitlist to beryllium added to the mailing list. After that, it's conscionable a substance of waiting until you're added. There's nary denotation arsenic to erstwhile you'll beryllium added, but hopefully, it won't instrumentality long.

I cannot urge this enough. Even if you don't marque the beta program, astatine slightest you'll beryllium utilizing a browser that goes retired of its mode to support your privacy. And, eventually, the App Tracking Protection diagnostic volition travel retired of beta and beryllium disposable to everyone. When that happens, switching to the DuckDuckGo browser arsenic your Android default volition beryllium the lone prime for those who worth their privacy.

Cybersecurity Insider Newsletter

Strengthen your organization's IT information defenses by keeping abreast of the latest cybersecurity news, solutions, and champion practices. Delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays