--- title: DuckDuckGo Browser Blocks Microsoft Trackers description: DuckDuckGo Browser Blocks Microsoft Trackers --- [Securafy Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) - [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) - [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) - [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) [Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) / IT Operations IT Operations # DuckDuckGo Browser Blocks Microsoft Trackers DuckDuckGo Browser Blocks Microsoft Trackers ![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) By Randy Hall Updated Jul 2024 2 min read Share [**](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2022/09/07/duckduckgo-browser-blocks-microsoft-trackers) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.securafy.com/2022/09/07/duckduckgo-browser-blocks-microsoft-trackers&text=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EDuckDuckGo+Browser+Blocks+Microsoft+Trackers%3C%2Fspan%3E) [**](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EDuckDuckGo+Browser+Blocks+Microsoft+Trackers%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https://blog.securafy.com/2022/09/07/duckduckgo-browser-blocks-microsoft-trackers) ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)If you haven't heard of DuckDuckGo, it's a tiny browser that only gets a fraction of the traffic that Google does. If we're being honest, it gets only a fraction of the web traffic that Bing does.  The search engine does have some pluck though and bills itself as the engine of choice for those who value their privacy. In fact, blocking trackers is DuckDuckGo's main selling point. It is the overriding reason that those who use the tiny search engine don't simply go somewhere else. That's why when Jack Edwards discovered that DuckDuckGo did not stop data flows to Microsoft's Linkedin domains or their Bing advertising domains, the company received fierce backlash from their user base, who felt betrayed. The reason that DuckDuckGo was in the habit of letting Microsoft trackers through lies in the fact that they're in an advertising partnership with the much larger company. To block all their trackers would be to cut off their own revenue streams and the company makes a big chunk of its revenue via Microsoft Advertising. The backlash against the discovery, posted and widely shared on Twitter, prompted CEO Gabriel Weinberg to issue a statement. **Weinberg's statement reads:** *"Recently, I've heard from a number of users and understand that we didn't meet their expectations around one of our browser's web tracking protections.  So today we are announcing more privacy and transparency around DuckjDuckGo's web tracking protections."* The new policy can be summed up as follows:  DuckDuckGo will now block most of Microsoft's trackers for most of the time.  They are making exceptions for trackers used by Microsoft Advertising, because without that, the company would be down a vital revenue stream. Significantly, this means that all third-party trackers affiliated with Microsoft are now blocked, and while it's not a perfect solution, it should be enough to mollify the engine's user base. Tagged Under IT OperationsBusiness Continuity In This Article Need Help With Your Current Setup? Talk through your current systems, risks, and support gaps with Securafy. [Book a Strategy Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call) ## Join The Conversation Have a question or perspective on this topic? Add it below. ![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) About The Author Randy Hall · CEO & Founder Randy Hall is the CEO and Founder of Securafy, with decades of experience helping organizations make smarter, safer decisions about technology. A frequent speaker and instructor at national IT events, Randy has advised thousands of organizations, from startups and SMBs to large enterprises and U.S. government entities, on secure, practical technology adoption. He writes about the decisions business leaders are often expected to make without enough context, including cybersecurity, compliance, AI, cyber insurance, IT strategy, and business resilience. Outside the office, you’ll often find Randy on Lake Erie enjoying time on his 38-foot Chris-Craft. **Writes about:** Cybersecurity strategy, compliance, AI security, business resilience, cyber insurance, SMB risk, IT leadership [More From This Author →](https://blog.securafy.com/author/randyhall) Related Articles Business Continuity [Compliance Risk Assessment: How Downtime Impacts Your Bottom Line](https://blog.securafy.com/compliance-risk-assessment-how-downtime-impacts-your-bottom-line) When systems go down, compliance obligations don't pause—and the financial consequences ... Jul 28, 2026 Compliance [HIPAA Security Rule Changes Are Delayed To 2027: Why Healthcare Organizations Should Not Wait](https://blog.securafy.com/hipaa-security-rule-changes-are-delayed-to-2027-why-healthcare-organizations-should-not-wait) The updated HIPAA Security Rule won't take effect until 2027, but healthcare ... 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