Search & Privacy Basics
"Private search" gets used a lot without much explanation. Here's a general walkthrough of the concepts behind it.
Search history vs. no search history
Many mainstream search engines store your search history to personalize results and ads over time; DuckDuckGo's stated approach is not to save that history to build a long-term profile.
Contextual ads instead of profile-based ads
Instead of using a stored profile, ads are generally based on the keywords in your current search alone.
Tracker blocking is a separate, complementary layer
Search privacy and tracker blocking while browsing are related but distinct — one covers your searches, the other covers what happens after you click a result.
No single tool covers everything
Search privacy, tracker blocking, encrypted connections, and hiding your traffic from your ISP are all different layers — no single feature covers every kind of online privacy.
Common questions
Does DuckDuckGo still show ads?
Generally, yes — DuckDuckGo's stated model shows ads based on the keywords in your current search rather than a stored profile built from your search history over time. For exact current details, check DuckDuckGo's own privacy policy.
Does using DuckDuckGo hide my browsing from my internet provider?
Not by itself. A privacy-focused search engine or browser can reduce tracking by websites and advertisers, but your internet service provider can generally still see which sites you connect to unless you're also using something like a VPN or encrypted DNS.