DuckDuckGo, known for its anonymous browser of the same name, has launched a new tool for owners of Android smartphones that provides protection from surveillance and data collection by various applications.
This feature is called App Tracking Protection – it is identical to the transparency function of tracking applications in iPhones, but «more powerful,» according to a blog post by DuckDuckGo.
It is noted that enabling the feature in the DuckDuckGo app for Android installs a local VPN service on the phone, which then automatically blocks third–party trackers in apps and games — even if they are not used.
According to the developers, about 35 applications are installed on an average Android smartphone, each of which sends confidential information to at least 70 companies. Subsequently, this data is used to configure targeted advertising for a specific user.
How to activate the feature:
Download DuckDuckGo on Android or update it to the latest version (5.143.1).
Open the app, go to «Settings» → «Application Tracking Protection».
Follow the on-screen instructions.
It is worth noting that all these operations take place on the user’s device without sending data to the DuckDuckGo servers.
