The browser app of DuckDuckGo, a search engine that prioritizes user privacy, has a new feature for Android users that allows them to block third-party trackers in apps and games. Called 'App Tracking Protection', the feature was in beta for about a year but is now available to everyone. DuckDuckGo says the functionality works offline and does not send any data to any servers including the company's own servers. Once enabled, it will notify users every day how many tracking attempts it has blocked on your device for a week, after which the reports will be sent weekly. The search engine company says that a handful of apps like browsers, Android Auto, YouTube and WhatsApp are by default excluded from App Tracking Protection, as they might cause some issues. How to enable DuckDuckGo App Tracking Protection on Android 1. Download and install the DuckDuckGo browser on your Android device from the Google Play Store. 2. Open the app, tap on the three-dot menu that appears on the top right of the screen and click on 'Settings' 3. Under the 'Privacy' section, tap on 'App Tracking Protection'. 4. Now, enable the feature and your phone will ask if you want DuckDuckGo to set up a VPN connection. Click on the 'OK' and you are done. While DuckDuckGo's App Tracking Protection is similar to Apple's App Tracking Transparency, a major difference between the two is that Apple's implementation requires developers to stop tracking the user once they turn on the feature whereas the App Tracking Protection feature by DuckDuckGo works by keeping a tab on network traffic on the phone itself.
