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4.2 1226 Reviews

DuckDuckGo Complaints Summary

7 Resolved
252 Unresolved
Our verdict: If considering services from DuckDuckGo with a critical resolution rate, extra caution is advised. Examine detailed customer feedback to understand the severity and nature of unresolved issues. Be prepared for the possibility of unsatisfactory responses and have contingency plans, including seeking assistance from consumer advocacy groups if necessary.
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DuckDuckGo reviews & complaints 276

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Newest DuckDuckGo reviews & complaints

ComplaintsBoard
J
11:09 pm EDT

DuckDuckGo Buscador

Le mando como ejemplo lo siguiente: hago una busqueda de "soldado de la patria" en argentina y obtengo una pagina llamada "el guerrillero" de cuba. Sepa ud que un guerrillero NO es un soldado de la patria en Argentina y menos un medio cubano . Así que le recomiendo que afinen su algoritmo de búsqueda. // También he notado que al hacer búsquedas de contenidos adversos al grupo gobernante de este país es infructuoso. Le recuerdo que Argentina aún NO es China y que todavía hay libertad de expresión lo cual no se refleja en los resultados de búsquedas en esta plataforma.

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J
8:13 am EDT

DuckDuckGo ads on my searches

when I do a search the first two items are ads
I thought you were supposed to be ad free
It is annoying and as irritating as being tracked by google
Tell me how I can stop this
Tried to submit this and was told it was too short and unlikely to be considered
Absolutely love corresponding with algorithms or whatever anti human
systems you are using
Am trying to submit this complaint again to see if I have fulfilled big brother's directive

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ComplaintsBoard
M
7:07 am EDT

DuckDuckGo Your ability to locate information is dismal.

The answers to some of my questions have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with my question! That is when I have to ask Google! And I must tell you, I have Google! I am in Romania at this time, so I understand that it could be hard for your to get all answers correct. However, if Google can, so do you! If you can't function properly in this country, please let me know!

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ComplaintsBoard
T
1:12 pm EDT

DuckDuckGo Search results

I am increasingly finding the search results are very poor, as if DDG is trying to guess what I'm really searching for and showing me the results from their algorithm and not what I'm looking for. Sometimes I'm searching for a phrase with a keyword and I put the phrase in quotes. The results appear to ignore the quotes and the results are any pages that have a combination of most of the words but not all. Sometimes I put in a search for an uncommon proper noun, and it returns results on a more common word, totally unrelated to my search.

Their search algorithm has gone off the rails, and though I've been using DDG for 5+ years, I'm starting to turn to other search engines. The results here are so BAD.

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M
M
Maria Anderson
, US
Aug 31, 2020 12:22 am EDT

Same thing with my questions. They are unrelated answers or politically biased towards the Left, Democrat-biased. I complained before and DDG worked good for about a week. I just want my simple questions about current events...not about mashed potatoes and Oprah Winfrey.

ComplaintsBoard
D
3:20 pm EDT

DuckDuckGo The news you feature when I do a search

Every time I search for a political issue all I get are leftists results. Why don't I ever get a right opinion? You are just like google. You are totally leftist and hide opinions from the right. I'm very disappointed because I have recommended this search engine to many people but you are just like google. How do I stop you from sending me all the liberal news and give me some conservative views?

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Maria Anderson
, US
Aug 31, 2020 12:41 am EDT

You only send my liberal leftist opinions and never what I am looking for. I don't want liberal news and want the news that I search...conservative views. I want you to search what I ask for, not a left-wing opinion slanted towards Hillary Clinton. It is obvious that you do not like President Trump. If I type President Trump in your search.. I get hateful opinions from left-wing media.

ComplaintsBoard
P
1:35 pm EDT

DuckDuckGo Browser

On various pages on CNN.com the page will only partially appear. The article will be cut off at some point - I may get the first twenty lines. When I get towards where the article has been cut off I can see that txt is missing. At this point I'll not now be able to navigate back up the page. If I enter a new URL the browser will not navigate to it and is unresponsive. I have to clear all tabs and data to get the browser to work again.

This is common on CNN but a page that didn't render correctly and caused the above issue may work correctly on revisiting.

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L
1:02 pm EDT

DuckDuckGo Mcafee

Who the hell gave anyone permission to block anything when I am online reading news articles? I do not have a subscription to McAfee. Why are they "testing" pages and blocking "harmful" content. The site was the New York Post for God's sake. Is conservative content a problem for you? Please let me know. I will find another Web browser if that is the case.

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ComplaintsBoard
J
5:42 pm EDT

DuckDuckGo search result issue

Dear Sir or Madam:

I have been contacted by the DOJ indicating I have been a victim of identity theft, per their request I did some web searches using duckduckgo. My result places me at the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. But it doesn't show me listed as an either a current or prior inmate - IT SHOULD'NT! I worked for the State of New Hampshire for over twelve years and have since retired, but I am at a loss as to how my name should point to that website at all. This seems to be a problem with the web search data. Please don't provide my personal information in this request.

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B
10:53 pm EDT

DuckDuckGo Bias

I am concerned about being tracked, true. But I am more concerned with outright bias and being propagandized. I asked a simple question about president Trump's quote quote in 2016 about the u.S. Being unprepared for a pandemic. What I got were 10 links, ten in a row, to absolutely horrifically negative articles condemning trump for his administrations dealing with this corona virus. Not one was even remotely related to my question. Three sterling examples are pictured below.

Sorry, but you have proved to be just another unbelievably leftist site to be exposed (and I will do my best to do just that, be assured.)

Goodbye duck duck go.

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Maria Anderson
, US
Aug 31, 2020 12:02 am EDT

When I ask questions about President Trump, I get something about Oprah Winfrey & sandwich shops, the moon, nothing related at all to my question. The answers are liberal biased. I stopped using Google for this same reason. If you do answer, it is about Hillary Clinton or Obama. You are a leftist site with nothing but propaganda against President Trump. I heard you are owned by Google, which explains the non-answers.

Goodbye duck duck not go.

ComplaintsBoard
P
5:45 am EDT

DuckDuckGo these people are claiming my business accounts

We actually own Shelby County Flea Market www.shelbycountyfleamarket.net and www.simpsonvilleflemarket.com which redirects to the first. The .com wasn't available when we built this site. The first one was still owned by a terrible website builder. Well the domain shelbycountyfleamarket.com must have come available and now someone is going around claiming my business on various advertising sites and so-on. I'm not sure if this is normal practice for shady people to seemingly hold your business hostage until payment or what. Need help please.

[protected]@gmail.com

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J
6:52 pm EST

DuckDuckGo Moving services

I am the owner of Roanoke Movers. Other companies are incorporating my company name into theirs. Whenever a search using "Roanoke Movers" the another company is listed in the search. Anyway of removing this?

This was similarly done on googles search engine where another company claimed my listing, make changes to phone number and added their website link...worse processed credit card payments using my company email address. Complaints were numerous demanding deposits back. We do not or have not accepted deposits before providing services.

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D
8:44 am EST

DuckDuckGo search engine

I did a search two days ago on Dyson hairdryers and the next day there was an ad from Dyson on Facebook in my news feed.
Yesterday I searched for ways to dispose of an old tube TV and this morning I got an unsolicited email from Junk-King.
Coincidence? I think not. I thought DuckDuckGo was different from Google and wouldn't track my searches or share that information. I am disappointed.

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M
Miss Childsh
, US
Feb 20, 2020 4:48 am EST

Do you have a number we can contact you at? We'd like to explain the issue further and reach out to you with compensation.
-GoDuckGo Customer Care
Deb Stark

ComplaintsBoard
J
4:10 am EST

DuckDuckGo privacy

You declaim your advocacy of Privacy, yet your Website recognises & blatantly acknowledges what Browser I am using suggesting that I add DDG to that specific platform I am on. HOW IS THAT "PRIVATE:?

MOREOVER: On this page:
https://www.complaintsboard.com/duckduckgo-b127415

DDG posts a invasive telephone search engine hosted by "BeenVerified": https://www.beenverified.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=BV_Display_Phone_CI&dclid=CIDxv7Kf3ecCFcEONwod9rsBPA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-_u-nJ_d5wIV1kE3Ch0DKA0fEAEYASAAEgJx0_D_BwE

WHAT THE [censored] IS PRIVATE ABOUT ANY OF THIS?

You boast some goddamned children educational book online ostensibly educating children about ubiquitous surveillance, but host these breaches of privacy on your own website. NO—that does not "seem" contradictory & mendacious—it is.

[censored] your [censored] prevarications. Private MY [censored]!

Moreover, I can not remain anonymous. Your Pop-up requires me to "agree" to your cookies? [censored] Off.

& then you require me to LOG-IN with "Socials"? Man, you are full-of-[censored]! How about a punch in the face, instead?

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ComplaintsBoard
R
3:35 pm EST

DuckDuckGo search result

Hello my favorite notrackem search engine. Using "2020 primary" as search criteria there's not even a mention in the results listing for the 2020 Republican primary. How can that be, for impartial notrackem DuckDuckGo, when Democrats are prominently featured?

Moreover a search for President Trump prominently features an obvious hit piece by thoroughly biased Wikipedia. Maybe you can find some more balanced listings?

Thanks for letting me vent, hope someone actually reads it.

Regards
Art

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ComplaintsBoard
G
8:03 am EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

DuckDuckGo search results are deleted immediately after display by duckduckgo

Dear DuckDuckGo Support Team, hello!
I request your technical support to clear following DDG anomaly:
Problem: As of a few days ago, DDG no longer correctly displays its search findings as it always used to. Well, it does, but they don't remain on-screen. Example: with search expression ‘Brexit' a summarised ‘quote' reference to Wikipedia is displayed (which is correct, because this is normally the case with Wikipedia entries), but this info box remains visible for only about one second, whereupon it disappears and so I then have no search result at all on the screen. The system also behaves this with other DDG search expressions.
System: Desktop Lenovo THINK-Tank; Windows 10; Office for 365; Firefox 72.0.2 (64-bit): for the past 12 months or so DuckDuckGo has served as my (excellent) default search engine (I confirm that the name is correctly displayed under Firefox options).
I hope that you can make a suggestion as to what could be causing this to happen and advise me what to do next. I am not a great expert on these things.
If you need any more information, I shall try to oblige.
Many thanks in advance for your help in this matter.

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Update by grauny37
Feb 08, 2020 8:06 am EST

No further comment.

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ComplaintsBoard
M
11:11 am EST

DuckDuckGo link removal

There is a very defamatory link to a false profile on mylife.com that comes up when I type my name. The link itself gives false information about me.

I do not get the same results on google. I have deleted my profile on mylife.com yet the link still leads to a live page.
Why is this link shown in duckduckgo but not google and what can I do to have it removed?

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S
4:23 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

DuckDuckGo your search engine

I like to keep a browser page open for quick access to your search engine. Now, if I click on the search box where DDG is my default search engine to re-open the page, I get a stupid message saying "Oops, no search Please try again". Can you provide a way to remove that?

I am now being told my message is too short: I do not know what else to say to get to 350 chs when I have already explained the issue.

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S
S
SnDe
, US
Jan 30, 2020 5:35 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Just add a whole bunch of punctuation to get the number of characters you need.

ComplaintsBoard
S
12:43 pm EST

DuckDuckGo windows 10 ver. 1909, edge. or duckduckgo

In duckduckgo settings any setting that I change and save is reset when I close and reopen Edge.
I cannot find any help online with this problem, can you folks help me I am getting tired of having to go into settings and redoing it every time I open Edge. Yes, duckduckgo is my preferred search engine.

Now I find that if this, complaint / cry for help, is not 350 char or longer no one will notice it . Okay so I am letting you know that is is a real problem I cannot change settings in duckduckgo save those changed settings, the close Edge and reopen Edge duckduckgo is my preferred search engine and duckduckgo.com is my homepage choice also so when the homepage comes up and I enter in a new search and then select one of the choices I find that the new tab setting that I changed and saved earlier has been reset and the choice that I chose has opened in the original search page and in order to get back to the choice list I have to click the arrow.

Read full review of DuckDuckGo
Update by Safety Last
Jan 23, 2020 12:58 pm EST

Fifth sentence of the post is a rambling on sentence. My apologies!
The first use of the word "the" should have been the word "then."
At the end of the sentence prior to the word "arrow" should have been the word "back."
Errors occur when I fail to use a good word processor to test my posts prior to posting them.
I beg your pardon for my errors and I still welcome a fix for my problem.
Thank you.

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ComplaintsBoard
R
11:25 am EST

DuckDuckGo how do you call yourself a search engine? i

I checked you out willing to make some sacrifice because I HATE! google. But there is no comparison. Google is half the search engine it use to be. But your not a search engine at all. If I ask for black you show me 10 pages of white. Then everything else but what I asked for. Just 5 min ago I asked for sites similar to you tube that is ad free or skips ads. Not one. Just dozens of you tube ads on how to use there bypass. Your either a joke or Google owns you.
Either way Im done!

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ComplaintsBoard
R
6:38 pm EST

DuckDuckGo search

I enter a specific search request "where in new zealand can I buy"grains of paradise" - so - I want to know where, in new zealand, I can buy grains of paradise.
I have specified - in new zealand!
Wtf does your search come up with?...
The first page contains not even one, solitary, single reference to new zealand!
The first item - ebay!
Is ebay in new zealand - is it hell!
More...
The twelfth item is mighty ape in nz - hooray!
Except they do not stock the product!
Need I go on?

I changed to your search engine in the hope it would be more objective than google and the other charlatans.
It is things like this that are totally ruining the same persons experience of the www.

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DuckDuckGo Customer Reviews Overview

DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that aims to offer users a more private alternative to other search engines. It distinguishes itself by not tracking user search activity or creating personal data profiles. DuckDuckGo also provides a mobile browser app and a desktop browser extension that block trackers and enforce privacy practices across websites. The company's services are centered on maintaining user confidentiality and offering a straightforward, user-friendly search experience.

DuckDuckGo In-depth Review

In summary, DuckDuckGo is a search engine that prioritizes user privacy and security. It offers a clean interface and useful tools, though it may not have the same level of detail in search results as some competitors. Below is a detailed review based on specific aspects.

Privacy and Security Features

  1. Search Engine Privacy: DuckDuckGo does not track your searches or link them to your personal information, providing a high level of privacy.
  2. Tracker Blocking: It blocks third-party trackers, which can prevent companies from collecting your browsing data.
  3. Encryption and Connection Security: DuckDuckGo uses secure, encrypted connections to protect your search activity.
  4. Private Search History: Your search history is not saved or shared, ensuring that your searches remain confidential.

User Experience

  1. Interface Design and Usability: The interface is clean and user-friendly, making it easy to use for everyone.
  2. Search Results Relevance: While generally good, the search results may not always be as comprehensive as those from larger search engines.
  3. Speed and Performance: DuckDuckGo offers fast search results, with minimal lag or delay.
  4. Accessibility Features: The search engine includes features that make it accessible to users with disabilities.

Additional Tools and Services

  1. Browser Extension Functionality: DuckDuckGo offers a browser extension that enhances privacy across the web.
  2. Mobile App Experience: The mobile app is robust and maintains the same privacy standards as the desktop version.
  3. Other Privacy Tools Offered: DuckDuckGo provides additional tools such as a privacy newsletter and privacy guides.

Customer Support and Resources

  1. Help and FAQ Accessibility: The help section and FAQs are easy to navigate and provide useful information.
  2. User Guides and Educational Content: DuckDuckGo offers guides and content to educate users about privacy.
  3. Support Response Times: The response times for support inquiries are not specified, but community forums can be helpful.
  4. Community and User Feedback: There is an active community that provides feedback and helps improve the service.

Company Ethics and Practices

  1. Data Handling Policies: DuckDuckGo has strict policies to ensure that user data is not misused.
  2. Transparency Reports: The company provides transparency reports, although they may not be as detailed as some users would like.
  3. Commitment to User Privacy: DuckDuckGo has a strong commitment to user privacy, which is central to its business model.
  4. Contributions to Open Source and Privacy Advocacy: The company contributes to open-source projects and advocates for privacy rights.

Comparison to Competitors

  1. Comparison with Other Search Engines: DuckDuckGo is often compared to Google for its privacy features, though it may lack in the variety of services offered.
  2. Unique Selling Points: The main selling point is its focus on privacy and not tracking users.
  3. Market Position and Popularity: DuckDuckGo is popular among privacy-conscious users, but it has a smaller market share compared to major search engines.

Business Model and Monetization

  1. Advertising and Affiliate Links: DuckDuckGo displays ads based on the search terms, not on user history, and uses affiliate links to generate revenue.
  2. User Donations and Funding: The company also accepts user donations, but details on funding are not widely publicized.
  3. Sustainability and Growth Strategy: DuckDuckGo focuses on sustainable growth by maintaining user trust and expanding its privacy features.

Future Outlook and Developments

  1. Planned Features and Updates: DuckDuckGo plans to continue improving its privacy features and expanding its services.
  2. Industry Trends and Adaptation: The company is well-positioned to adapt to increasing demands for online privacy.
  3. Expansion and Partnerships: DuckDuckGo is likely to seek partnerships that align with its privacy goals.

Pros and Cons Summary

  1. Advantages of Using DuckDuckGo: Strong privacy features, simple interface, and no tracking of personal information.
  2. Potential Drawbacks and Limitations: Less detailed search results compared to larger search engines and fewer integrated services.

Final Verdict and Recommendations

Overall Assessment: DuckDuckGo is a solid choice for those prioritizing privacy over comprehensive search features.

Target Audience Suitability: Ideal for privacy-conscious users and those looking to avoid personalized search results.

Suggestions for Potential Users: Try DuckDuckGo as a primary or secondary search engine to enhance your online privacy.

How to file a complaint about DuckDuckGo?

Here is a guide on how to file a complaint against DuckDuckGo on ComplaintsBoard.com:

1. Log in or create an account:
- Start by logging into your ComplaintsBoard.com account. If you don't have an account, create one to proceed.

2. Navigating to the complaint form:
- Locate and click on the 'File a Complaint' button on the ComplaintsBoard.com website. You can find this button at the top right corner of the website.

3. Writing the title:
- Summarize the main issue you have with DuckDuckGo in the 'Complaint Title' section.

4. Detailing the experience:
- Provide detailed information about your experience with DuckDuckGo. Mention key areas of concern, transactions with the company, steps taken to resolve the issue, personal impact, etc.

5. Attaching supporting documents:
- Attach any relevant supporting documents to strengthen your complaint. Avoid including sensitive personal data.

6. Filing optional fields:
- Use the 'Claimed Loss' field to state any financial losses and the 'Desired Outcome' field to specify the resolution you are seeking.

7. Review before submission:
- Review your complaint for clarity, accuracy, and completeness before submitting it.

8. Submission process:
- Click the 'Submit' button to submit your complaint.

9. Post-Submission Actions:
- Regularly check for responses or updates related to your complaint on ComplaintsBoard.com.

Ensure you follow these steps carefully to effectively file a complaint against DuckDuckGo on ComplaintsBoard.com.

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