Before making this distinction, it is important to note the difference between a browser and a search engine. Think of Browsers as your means of accessing the internet, while Search Engines give you the ability to search once you have obtained that access. Browser examples include Safari, Opera, and Chrome and popular search engines include Google, Yahoo!, and Bing.

Many of the safeguards implemented by secure browsers are put in place to protect the data after it leaves the device. Some browsers, like Ghostery for example, employ DuckDuckGo’s search engine to give users an additional layer of anonymity when conducting searches. These search engines do not rely on user behavior, location, or history to present a user with more filtered search options, known as the “filter bubble.” DuckDuckGo and other similar engines strive to eliminate search leakage, search history, and the collection of user data.

Redirecting HTTP referrer data in a way that search terms are no longer traceable and eliminating the unnecessary collection of items like User ID and originating IP address are just some ways that these anonymous browsers provide additional peace of mind to users. In addition, these browsers may enforce that all searches use HTTPS protocol and connect to the secure version of a website by default. This protects the data, using encryption, as it travels from the protected browser to the protected website on the other side.

While this sensitive data is no longer leaked to the Internet Service Providers or susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks, evidence of attempting to anonymize searches can still be available on the devices.

The screenshot above shows the database containing searches conducted with an alternative browser that has the capability of operating in private mode. When examining the histories table, the private searches have not been recorded. However, in non-private browsing mode, the user conducted a search while using DuckDuckGo to mask their user information. These searches will still appear in the histories table since they were not conducted in private browsing mode.

It is important to note that DuckDuckGo is now available as a mobile browser as well.