DuckDuckGo will now block Microsoft trackers in its Android app and browser extension.
The developers of DuckDuckGo have announced that the browser extension and smartphone app will block all third-party scripts that Microsoft uses to spy on users. Previously, these trackers were ignored due to an agreement between the two companies.
This is due to the outrage that hit DuckDuckGo in May when the company didn’t block some of Microsoft’s third-party trackers. Users reminded the company of the Tracker Radar feature and an old description of the browser that said it blocked all hidden trackers found on websites.
The first person to notice the lack of blocking of Microsoft’s tracking scripts was Zack Edwards, an information security specialist, as he reported on his Twitter.
Edwards’ tweet from May 23, 2022.
The DuckDuckGo mobile version, as well as the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, and Opera, will now correctly block Microsoft trackers. 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 advertisements for Microsoft products, trackers from the tech giant will still be allowed, albeit in very limited numbers. This is so that advertisers can track how well their ad campaigns are performing.