In the burgeoning market of online privacy, DuckDuckGo has long positioned itself as the antithesis of data-hungry search engines. Today, it’s taking a significant leap by launching Privacy Pro, its first subscription service aimed at enhancing user privacy beyond the search box. Privacy Pro, available for $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually, exclusively in the US, isn’t just any addition to DuckDuckGo’s suite—it’s a comprehensive privacy triad.
The keystone feature is a new tool that automates the daunting task of personal data removal from data broker websites. Gabriel Weinberg, DuckDuckGo’s CEO, describes the unique appeal of the service, asserting, “We’ve been doing it to automate it completely end-to-end, so you don’t have to do anything.” Through a partnership with Removaly, acquired in 2022, the tool operates within DuckDuckGo’s browser, scanning 53 data broker websites and automatically requesting data removal without transmitting any personal details to DuckDuckGo’s servers.
This service has a vital role to play, especially when considering the scope of the data broker industry—valued at over $200 billion—a marketplace that freely trades personal information due to the lack of comprehensive privacy laws in the US. The tool’s automated nature, which runs continuous checks for new records, is part of an ongoing effort to protect users’ digital footprints from unwanted exposure.
Bundled with this data excision capability is DuckDuckGo’s first foray into the VPN sphere. The VPN, built in-house using the WireGuard protocol, allows for up to five simultaneous device connections and operates directly within DuckDuckGo’s browser. Crucially, the company assures that it runs a no-logs policy, stating, “We don’t have any record of website visits, DNS requests, IP addresses connected, or session lengths.”
Furthermore, the Privacy Pro subscription comes with an identity theft restoration service through a collaboration with Iris, an identity protection service. This feature provides users access to trained staff who can assist with fraudulent banking activity, document replacement, and more, all without sharing information between DuckDuckGo and Iris.
DuckDuckGo’s foray into subscription-based privacy tools is not just a product expansion, but also a strategic business move, shifting from its traditionally ad-funded model to a more service-oriented revenue stream. As Weinberg notes, “It just takes a lot of bandwidth,” underpinning the VPN’s inclusion in the subscription due to its resource-intensive nature.
While DuckDuckGo has previously offered free privacy tools, this transition underscores the heightened importance and complexity of safeguarding personal information in today’s digital landscape. Weinberg affirms this commitment, highlighting that the Privacy Pro offering was developed internally to ensure maximum anonymity over third-party collaborations.
As DuckDuckGo debuts its Privacy Pro service, it does so in the shadow of the VPN industry’s checkered past and amidst a space crowded with personal-information-removal services of varying trustworthiness.
Relevant articles:
– DuckDuckGo Is Taking Its Privacy Fight to Data Brokers
– DuckDuckGo Launches 3-in-1 ‘Privacy Pro’ Subscription With VPN and Personal Data Removal Tool MacRumors, Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:41:21 GMT
– DuckDuckGo launches a premium Privacy Pro VPN service BleepingComputer, Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT
– DuckDuckGo’s new $9.99 Privacy Pro subscription should be on everyone’s radar BGR, Thu, 11 Apr 2024 22:10:00 GMT