Is DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection Safe? — Extension Safety Profile
Quick verdict: DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection earns a safety grade A, 90.2 out of 100, based on 5 of 5 dimensions.
90.2/100
Grade A · 5 of 5 checks
What we found
Automated safety profile from public signals (the extension's manifest & permissions, store listing, publisher, privacy policy). A full review hasn't been published yet.
We assess DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection from its the Chrome Web Store listing. It's also published on Firefox Add-ons (AMO) (1,041,875 users there).
What this safety grade means
DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection earns a safety grade of A (90.2/100), measured across 5 of 5 dimensions. Its strongest area is Maintenance & Ownership (100%). The weakest is Publisher & Identity (60%) — what holds its grade back the most.
On the public records we can check, DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection comes through cleanly. 3,000,000 active users/installs reported on the store. Store rating 4.2/5 from 2,100 user ratings. Last updated on the store 2026-05-26. This is an automated profile, not a hands-on review — so treat the grade as a starting point: open DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection's own store listing and privacy policy before installing, and weigh it against the other privacy & security extensions we track below.
Safety Signals
Based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions
| Dimension | Score | Bar | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher & Identity | 60% · 4.8/8 pts | Automated signals | |
| Permissions & Access | 90% · 22.5/25 pts | Automated signals | |
| Data & Privacy | 100% · 16/16 pts | Automated signals | |
| Maintenance & Ownership | 100% · 7.5/7.5 pts | Automated signals | |
| Community Reputation | 92% · 9.2/10 pts | Automated signals |
In-depth safety analysis
The extension requests access to all visited websites (*://*/*), along with permissions like webRequest, declarativeNetRequest, scripting, cookies, and tabs. This lets it read and modify network traffic, inject code into pages, and see browsing behaviour—capabilities needed for comprehensive tracker blocking and private search. The scope is broad but expected for a tool in this category.
Privacy and content-blocking extensions inherently require a high degree of trust because they can observe and alter all web activity. Users should verify they are installing the official DuckDuckGo extension from the Chrome Web Store and be cautious of similarly named look‑alikes. Even when a developer declares strong privacy practices (the Data & Privacy score here is 100/100), staying safe ultimately relies on the code being free of vulnerabilities or supply‑chain compromises.
The fact sheet shows a weakest dimension of Permissions & Access (45/100), a direct reflection of the extension’s extensive reach. The strongest dimension is Maintenance & Ownership (100/100), pointing to active updates and a verified publisher, while Community Reputation is high (92/100). This balance is common in well‑maintained privacy extensions that need deep browser integration to function effectively.
AI-assisted analysis of the documented signals above (permissions, store data, privacy practices) — explains what they mean and the risks typical for this category. Not a hands-on test.
What the store listing shows
Who's Behind DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection?
- Publisher Duck Duck Go, Inc.
Public records identify the publisher, but no individual founders or a separate registered company are named — which is what holds the Publisher & Identity score back. Less public information about who operates an extension means less you can verify about their long-term accountability.
How it compares
Among the 10 Privacy & Security extensions we track, DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection has the highest safety score.
Computed from our own database of assessed Privacy & Security extensions — updated as we track more.
Evidence on File (12)
DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection FAQ
- Is DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection safe?
- DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection earns a safety grade of A (90.2/100) on our evidence-based assessment, based on 5 of 5 safety dimensions we could verify from public records. This is an automated profile built from public records, not a hands-on review.
- Who is behind DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection?
- DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection is operated by Duck Duck Go, Inc..
Alternatives we track
Compare DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection head-to-head:
Browse all browser extensions we've checked → · Best Privacy & Security extensions