14 DAY TRIAL // Privacy-obsessed DuckDuckGo is getting ready to release its very own desktop browser that will be entirely built around advanced privacy controls offered to users.
In an announcement published recently, DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg explains the purpose of the browser is to provide users with a very straightforward experience that doesn’t include any complicated configuration settings.
The privacy focus will obviously be maintained, and Weinberg says the company will try to stick with the same approach it used on mobile but upgraded to power a browser which can easily serve the daily needs of users out there.
“Like we’ve done on mobile, DuckDuckGo for desktop will redefine user expectations of everyday online privacy. No complicated settings, no misleading warnings, no “levels” of privacy protection – just robust privacy protection that works by default, across search, browsing, email, and more. It's not a "privacy browser"; it's an everyday browsing app that respects your privacy because there's never a bad time to stop companies from spying on your search and browsing history,” the CEO explained.
Early builds already significantly faster than Google Chrome
As for the engine that will power the browser, Weinberg says the DuckDuckGo desktop app wouldn’t use Chromium but stick with the native rendering engines available on each platform.
In theory, this should allow for enhanced performance and fewer compatibility problems.
“Instead of forking Chromium or anything else, we’re building our desktop app around the OS-provided rendering engines (like on mobile), allowing us to strip away a lot of the unnecessary cruft and clutter that’s accumulated over the years in major browsers,” Weinberg noted.
At this point, there’s no ETA as to when the browser could launch, but we’re being told the early testing is already showing promising performance improvements, as the app appears to be significantly faster than Google Chrome.