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'''DuckDuckGo''' is a general purpose internet [[search engine]] with a focus on user privacy and experience, founded by the company [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]], Gabriel Weinberg.<ref>[http://duckduckgo.com/Gabriel_Weinberg Duck Duck Go (Founder and CEO)]</ref> DuckDuckGo company headquarters is located in Valley Forge, [[Pennsylvania]]. The company business plan is to allow users to find the most relevant information related to their search topic, faster, and without all the "garbage" of search result pages found in other search engines.<ref>CJ. [http://www.scienceforseo.com/search-engines/duck-duck-go/ Duck Duck Go!], ''Science for SEO'', March 2009.</ref> The search engine also does not track its users, thereby respecting their search privacy.

'''DuckDuckGo''' is a general-purpose internet [[search engine]] with a focus on user privacy and experience, founded by the company [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]], Gabriel Weinberg.<ref>[http://duckduckgo.com/Gabriel_Weinberg Duck Duck Go (Founder and CEO)]</ref> DuckDuckGo company headquarters is located in [[Valley Forge]], [[Pennsylvania]]. The company business plan is to allow users to find the most relevant information related to their search topic, faster, and without all the "garbage" of search result pages found in other search engines.<ref>CJ. [http://www.scienceforseo.com/search-engines/duck-duck-go/ Duck Duck Go!], ''Science for SEO'', March 2009.</ref> The search engine also does not track its users, thereby respecting their search privacy.

==Search Vision and Goals==

==Search Vision and Goals==

According to Gabriel Weinberg, DuckDuckGo's vision is to provide "Superior search experience and great privacy at the same time."<ref name=interview>[http://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/intego-interviews-gabriel-weinberg-founder-ceo-duckduckgo/ Interview with Gabriel Weinberg on Search Privacy], [[Intego]], March 5, 2015.</ref> The primary goal of DuckDuckGo is to give users the information they're looking for faster and with less mental effort. The second goal is to help users find related information they might not otherwise have thought of. DuckDuckGo offers links to related topics, and it also has category pages that group topics with similar concepts.<ref name=pandia>[http://www.pandia.com/sew/1596-duck-duck-go.html New search engne Duck Duck Go has less spam and more content], pandia.com.</ref>  

According to Gabriel Weinberg, DuckDuckGo's vision is to provide "Superior search experience and great privacy at the same time."<ref name=interview>[http://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/intego-interviews-gabriel-weinberg-founder-ceo-duckduckgo/ Interview with Gabriel Weinberg on Search Privacy], [[Intego]], March 5, 2015.</ref> The primary goal of DuckDuckGo is to give users the information they're looking for faster and with less mental effort. The second goal is to help users find related information they might not otherwise have thought of. DuckDuckGo offers links to related topics, and it also has category pages that group topics with similar concepts.<ref name=pandia>[http://www.pandia.com/sew/1596-duck-duck-go.html New search engine Duck Duck Go has less spam and more content], pandia.com.</ref>  

==Uniqueness==

==Uniqueness==

   

   

===DuckDuckGo vs Google===

===DuckDuckGo vs Google===

The biggest difference between DuckDuckGo and other search engines is that DuckDuckGo does not track its users; it doesn't store search history or record any data that could be used to identify user computers.<ref name=interview/> Other major differences between DuckDuckGo and its primary competitors, [[Google]], [[Bing]], and [[Yahoo!]], include variations in each User Interface, and the algorithms the corporations use to 'fetch' information from the Internet. DuckDuckGo includes ''Zero-click Information'', Category Pages, ambiguous keyword detection, simpler links, topic detection, and overall much less spam; DuckDuckGo provides relevant information, faster. This information includes topic summaries, images and related topics, and often answers search queries directly.<ref name=differences>[http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-google-and-duckduckgo/ Difference Between Google and DuckDuckGo]</ref>

The biggest difference between DuckDuckGo and other search engines is that DuckDuckGo does not track its users; it doesn't store search history or record any data that could be used to identify user computers.<ref name=interview/> Other major differences between DuckDuckGo and its primary competitors, [[Google]], [[Bing]], and [[Yahoo!]], include variations in each User Interface, and the algorithms the corporations use to 'fetch' information from the Internet. DuckDuckGo includes ''Zero-click Information'', Category Pages, ambiguous keyword detection, simpler links, topic detection, and overall much less spam; DuckDuckGo provides relevant information, faster. This information includes topic summaries, images, and related topics, and often answers search queries directly.<ref name=differences>[http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-google-and-duckduckgo/ Difference Between Google and DuckDuckGo]</ref>

===Search result innovations===

===Search result innovations===

==Criticisms==

==Criticisms==

Despite its dedication to user privacy, [[One America News Network]] claimed that, through cookies and targeted advertising, the search engine may be tracking users after all, contrary to its claims and despite its innovations.<ref>https://www.oann.com/watch-private-browser-duckduckgo-may-be-giving-your-data-to-google/</ref><br />

Despite its dedication to user privacy, [[One America News Network]] claimed that, through cookies and targeted advertising, the search engine may be tracking users after all, contrary to its claims and despite its innovations.<ref>https://www.oann.com/watch-private-browser-duckduckgo-may-be-giving-your-data-to-google/</ref><br />

The platform has also been criticized for not encrypting search terms, which would be complex to implement but but should be possible. However, they do offer an optional setting to send search terms by POST, which helps conceal them.<ref>https://duckduckgo.com/settings#privacy</ref>  Additionally, some have pointed out that using DuckDuckGo still leaves traces on the local computer, such as which terms were searched and which results were viewed.  However, this is the case with any web browser, for any website or search engine.  This information can be manually purged from the browser, or a private browsing mode (if offered) can automatically delete this information.<ref>https://dzone.com/articles/duckduckgo-has-a-privacy-problem</ref><br />

The platform has also been criticized for not encrypting search terms, which would be complex to implement but should be possible. However, they do offer an optional setting to send search terms by POST, which helps conceal them.<ref>https://duckduckgo.com/settings#privacy</ref>  Additionally, some have pointed out that using DuckDuckGo still leaves traces on the local computer, such as which terms were searched and which results were viewed.  However, this is the case with any web browser, for any website or search engine.  This information can be manually purged from the browser, or a private browsing mode (if offered) can automatically delete this information.<ref>https://dzone.com/articles/duckduckgo-has-a-privacy-problem</ref><br />

It is also important to keep in mind that DuckDuckGo is not, and can not be, a complete privacy solution.  For example, the service still knows its user's IP addresses and browser fingerprints, [[Internet service provider|ISPs]] can see what websites their users are connecting with, and to some extent, determine what they are doing.  It is best to consider this, and any privacy-centric search engine, as one of several parts to securing one's privacy online.

It is also important to keep in mind that DuckDuckGo is not, and can not be, a complete privacy solution.  For example, the service still knows its user's IP addresses and browser fingerprints, [[Internet service provider|ISPs]] can see what websites their users are connecting with, and to some extent, determine what they are doing.  It is best to consider this, and any privacy-centric search engine, as one of several parts to securing one's privacy online.