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

86 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
86 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
86 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
86 months ago
Is this not a bit suspect..? 🤨

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

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens

macOS 27: Two More Changes Leaked Ahead of WWDC Next Month

Sunday May 10, 2026 9:45 am PDT by
macOS 27 will have a "slight redesign" compared to macOS Tahoe, according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the design changes will help to improve the readability of macOS Tahoe's Liquid Glass interface:If you've used Tahoe, you're likely familiar with some of the quirks — particularly the transparency effects and shadows that...
apple lock security bug vulnerability fix privacy

Apple Warns Canada's Bill C-22 Could Force Encryption Backdoors

Friday May 8, 2026 4:22 am PDT by
Apple and Meta have opposed a Canadian bill that the companies say could force them to create backdoor access to encrypted user data, should it pass through the country's parliament. Proposed by Canada's ruling Liberal Party, Bill C-22 contains provisions that could be similar ​to a UK data access provision order sent to Apple last year, depending on how they are implemented. Back in Feb...
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Tuesday May 26, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...