I applaud the initiative, but how does the Firefox extension differ from Privacy Badger or Disconnect?
Does the extension learn trackers as it goes, like Privacy Badger? What does it offer over something like uBlock Origin with the appropriate tracking blocklists?
Also in Firefox, I now have two "Search DuckDuckGo" entries in the right click menu, one from being the default search engine, and one (with an icon) from the extension. They do the exact same thing, so why have them both?
We're trying to put all the privacy essentials we can make seamless -- tracker blocking, upgraded encryption, private search and more to come -- all in one package, across all major browsers and platforms. In this respect, on any major mobile device or desktop browser, you should be able to look up DuckDuckGo and with one download get seamless privacy protection as you search and browse the web.
With regards to other extensions, we found that they generally lack some combination of all the essentials (e.g. missing encryption, private search), aren't totally seamless (i.e. break some of the web), or aren't available across all major browsers and platforms.
With regards to tracker blocking in particular, we would like to be as comprehensive as possible while not breaking the Web, and are close to that with this initial launch, utilizing some open source lists including Disconnect and Easylist. We are not currently using the machine learning aspects of Privacy Badger, however.
There are more nuanced UX differences, however. In the UI we're trying to move away from 'x trackers blocked' and instead group trackers from networks together, trying to identify the umbrella company and purposes.
Second, we're grading each site based on its privacy measures (including privacy policies with help from TOSDR), and telling you at a glance how protected you are on an A-F scale, based on what we could do (e.g. block trackers and upgrade encryption).
Thank you for the feedback on the right-click menu. We will look into that.
What I gather is that the new DDG extension functions roughly as a replacement for Disconnect/Ghostery (or specific lists in uBlock Origin), HTTPS Everywhere and ToS;DR, as well as adding DDG search to the browser (if applicable)?
As a one-stop extension, that's a pretty good deal. In addition to the learning aspect like in Privacy Badger, have you also considered canvas blocking/scrambling, link referrer cleaning and possibly a function similar to Decentraleyes, to prevent big CDN tracking?
How are you dealing with the "temporary disabling" scenario?
I have Disconnect and uBlock, but then it's a pain to use sites like Quidco, that rely on tracking. Ideally one should be able to easily say "disable all protections for 20 minutes" or something like that, do what needs to be done, then after re-enabling protection the slate (cookies etc) is wiped clean (or ideally brought back where it was before the suspension).
The way I end up doing it, I must keep a browser (typically Safari or Explorer) fairly unprotected just to deal with those transactions, and use the hardened-up Firefox for everything else. That's suboptimal.
No issue here on 58, with uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger. Maybe HTTPS Everywhere conflicts, as it provides the same functionality as DDG (forcing pages to use HTTPS).
One privacy essential is a built-in vpn/proxy like Opera has done with its browser, this makes it slightly harder for some fingerprinting ad trackers to follow a user around.
Proxies can be useful, but I'm not comfortable with sending all my traffic over a centralized proxy operated by a single entity. Just like Cloudflare, the entity that runs the proxy gets a free pass to MITM everyone!
A decentralized solution that can be easily configured to send traffic over any third-party VPN service, HTTP proxy, or ssh tunnel would be much cleaner. Bonus points if the proxy seamlessly kicks in only when visiting a site with a low privacy score or when browsing on public Wi-Fi.
slightly off topic but will the extension work for mobile as well? [off topic bit:] because I've noticed the mobile ddg experience isn't as great as on desktop: the !bangs are harder to type, image search on mobile is frustrating, etc... (and even more off-topic: have you considered partnering with tin-eye for reverse image lookup?)
On mobile, we produced apps that have all the extension functionality, plus additional browser functionality, and more privacy browser features like a one-tap erase data button (we're calling the fire button).
Thank you for the feedback on image search -- tineye is something we've considered, though haven't implemented yet.
I'm not really interested in a different browser, though. I like Firefox, and I like the consistent sync to my other devices running Firefox.
Right now the DDG plugin doesn't work on Firefox for Android, it just says "we don't filter special pages" or somesuch, probably because it tries to filter its own tab? (Firefox Android pops up extensions in separate tabs)
btw I just tried image search again after being scared off a while ago because it was buggy, and it's in a much better state than it was back then!
Love how you guys show you don't have to sell out to be able to thrive, and that caring for freedom shouldn't come at the cost of design or functionality (quite the opposite!)
Disconnect" was killing/blocking the Google's captcha so it had to "go". I am using AdBlock+ (a slightly earlier version when Ctrl+Shift+V still works), NoScript and a BIG hosts file from someonewhocares.
I am more than happy to see and adopt any efforts that would reduce tracking and props to DDG for doing the effort!
I will of course be checking/testing their app on iOS as well!
Does the extension learn trackers as it goes, like Privacy Badger? What does it offer over something like uBlock Origin with the appropriate tracking blocklists?
Also in Firefox, I now have two "Search DuckDuckGo" entries in the right click menu, one from being the default search engine, and one (with an icon) from the extension. They do the exact same thing, so why have them both?