DuckDuckGo, DDG (search engine)

2022: Blocking Microsoft trackers

DuckDuckGo will block trackers Microsoft in its application for Android and extension for. browsers This became known on August 8, 2022.

Previously, these trackers were ignored due to an agreement between the two companies.

This is due to the wave of outrage that hit DuckDuckGo in May 2022, when the company did not block some of Microsoft's third-party trackers. Users reminded the company of the Tracker Radar feature and an old browser description that said it blocks all hidden trackers found on websites.

The first to notice the lack of blocking of Microsoft tracking scripts was information security specialist Zuk Edwards, which he announced on his Twitter.

Edwards' tweet, made on May 23, 2022.

Now the mobile version of DuckDuckGo, as well as the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge and Opera, will correctly block Microsoft trackers. The scripts of the following domains will be blocked:

• adnxs.com
• adnxs-simple.com
• adsymptotic.com
• adv-cloudfilse.azureedge.net
• app-fnsp-matomo-analytics-prod.azurewebsites.net
• azure.com
• azure.net
• bing.com
• cdnnwlive.azureedge.net
• clarity.ms
• dynamics.com
• fp-cdn.azureedge.net
• licdn.com
• linkedin.com
• live-tfs-omnilytics.azurewebsites.net
• msecnd.net
• nlo-stl-web.azureedge.net
• nuance.com
• pestcontrol-uc1.azureedge.net
• sdtagging.azureedge.net
• serviceschipotlecom.trafficmanager.net

However, since DuckDuckGo shows ads for Microsoft products, trackers will still be allowed, albeit in very limited quantities. This is necessary so that advertisers can track how well their advertising campaigns work.

Also, the CEO of DuckDuckGo announced the launch of a special page on blocking trackers. The list of blocked scripts can be found on GitHub DDG^[1]

Notes