Dive into DuckDuckGo: Installation, tips, tricks and more

Ever noticed ads following you around the internet? You search for a vacation destination, and suddenly, travel deals appear on almost every site you visit. It’s not magic; it’s online trackers keeping tabs on where you go and what you see online. These trackers and ads can be annoying, but DuckDuckGo can help.

ALSO READ: Google reveals Chrome doesn’t always protect your activity in incognito mode

DuckDuckGo is a search engine as well as a browser that prioritises your online privacy above everything else. Unlike some search engines, DuckDuckGo doesn’t track your searches or bombard you with targeted ads, and has positioned itself as a privacy-focused alternative to search engines like Google. DuckDuckGo offers Android and iOS mobile apps, browser extensions, and desktop apps to help keep your browsing private, no matter where you use it. 

So, if you’re looking for a more anonymous browsing experience, here’s how you can download DuckDuckGo and some tips and tricks to for a lot less annoying online browsing experience.

How to install DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo offers a private browsing app instead of a standalone search engine installation. Here’s how to install DuckDuckGo on different devices:

Android smartphones

1. Open the Google Play Store.

2. Search for “DuckDuckGo.”

3. Select “DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser” from the search results.

4. Tap “Install.”

5. Once installed, tap “Open.”

iPhones:

Open the App Store on your Apple iPhone or iPad.

1. Search for “DuckDuckGo.”

2. Select “DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser” from the search results.

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3. Tap “Get” and then confirm with your Face ID or Touch ID (or your Apple ID password).

4. Once installed, tap “Open” to launch the DuckDuckGo browser.

Windows PC/Mac:

1. Visit the official DuckDuckGo website.

2. Click the “Download Browser” button and wait for the download to finish. 

3. Once downloaded, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Tips and tricks for using DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo offers a powerful search experience that goes beyond just finding websites and helping you stay anonymous online. Here are some tips and tricks to elevate your searches:

1. Silent stopwatch: Need to time something? Simply type “stopwatch” or “timer” in the search bar and DuckDuckGo will provide a built-in tool. You can set durations by typing “timer for 10 minutes”.

2. Built-in calculator: Skip the extra app. Enter your equation directly into the search bar and DuckDuckGo will solve it for you.

3. Password generator: Generate strong, secure passwords by searching “password” followed by your desired length (e.g. “password12”).

ALSO READ: Microsoft Edge users will soon be able to control how much RAM the browser uses with this feature

4. Link shortener: Shorten lengthy URLs by using “shorten” followed by the URL. DuckDuckGo will create a clean, abbreviated link for you.

5. QR code creator: Transform a URL into a QR code by typing “qr” followed by the URL. Perfect for sharing links offline.

6. Secret decoder: Unmask shortened URLs by entering them into the search bar. DuckDuckGo will reveal the full destination.

7. Search faster and better: Refine your site search by using the “!bang” syntax. For example, “!wikipedia AI” will search Wikipedia for information on Artificial Intelligence.

8. Social savvy: Track down someone’s social media presence with the “@” symbol. 

ALSO READ: Google Chrome is making browsing easier with new AI-powered features

9. Time traveler: Limit your search results to a specific timeframe. Click “Any time” on the results page to choose from options like “past week” or even a custom date range.

These are just a handful of things you can do with DuckDuckGo. With a little more exploration and time, you will find more utilities to make it your search engine (and/or browser) of choice.