DuckDuckGo's Safari Privacy Browser Extension Now Available for macOS Catalina - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

DuckDuckGo's Safari Privacy Browser Extension Now Available for macOS Catalina

by

Privacy oriented search engine DuckDuckGo today released an updated version of its browser extension for desktop Safari users running macOS Catalina.

safari duckduckgo privacy extension
The launch comes after DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials had to be removed from the Safari extensions gallery following major changes introduced in Safari 12 that made the extension incompatible. From the DuckDuckGo website:

As you may be aware, major structural changes in Safari 12 meant that we had to remove DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials from the Safari extensions gallery. With Safari 13, new functionality was thankfully added that enabled us to put it back. Consequently, you'll need Safari 13+ on macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or newer to install the updated version.

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials blocks hidden third-party trackers on websites and features a Privacy Dashboard, which generates a Privacy Grade rating (A-F) information card whenever a user visits a site. The rating aims to let them see at a glance how protected they are, while providing additional options to dig deeper into the details of blocked tracking attempts.

While the extension doesn't include private search, DuckDuckGo Search is built into Safari as a default search option, and they work together to help users search and browse privately.

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials is only available for desktop browsers, however DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser is available for iOS and uses the same privacy protection technology.

Top Rated Comments

88 months ago
DuckDuckGo is still quite a bit behind google when it comes to search results. I still use it as my primary engine, but sometimes have to switch to google...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Weaselboy Avatar
88 months ago

Does the Safari browser extension and/or iOS app block ads, too?
I installed and did a test at cnn.com and it only blocks trackers and not ads.


DuckDuckGo is still quite a bit behind google when it comes to search results. I still use it as my primary engine, but sometimes have to switch to google...
https://www.startpage.com

Same here, but I uses StartPage for when I need Google results. You get Google results without going to the Google web page and being tracked.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Weaselboy Avatar
88 months ago

So these extensions still work like this..?
Yep... exactly. It uses the Safari content blocker API in the background, but you just cannot see what it is doing like how many ads blocked and that sort of thing.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Fried_Gold Avatar
88 months ago
Is this not a bit suspect..? 🤨

Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
88 months ago
Great search engine! Best for searching torrents
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Internet Enzyme Avatar
88 months ago
uh oh macrumors...

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

duck duck go youtube ads blocked

DuckDuckGo Browser Now Blocks YouTube Ads on iPhone and Mac

Thursday July 9, 2026 5:14 am PDT by
DuckDuckGo's free web browser now blocks most video ads on YouTube, and the feature is on by default for iPhone and Mac users running the latest version of the app. Announced on Wednesday, YouTube Ad Blocking stops ads that play before and during videos on YouTube's website, and DuckDuckGo says the result is the regular YouTube experience minus the interruptions, so features like viewing...
Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors