Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- DuckDuckGo has a new video player that blocks ads.
- Duck Player is available for MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.
- You can install and use the latest version of the browser for free.
With Google killing ad blockers in Chrome, DuckDuckGo has decided to do something about it by blocking video ads, even on YouTube.
The latest version of the DuckDuckGo browser includes a feature that blocks video ads – I tried it, and it works really well. The new version (1.197.0) now includes the ability to block video ads on YouTube, thanks to the Duck Player.
According to the official DuckDuckGo Help Pages, “The browser’s built-in video player protects you from tracking cookies and personalized ads by enforcing YouTube’s strictest privacy settings for embedded video, all within a clean, theater-like interface.”
Also: Chrome’s next update will kill your adblocker – and make the web less safe
Currently, Duck Player is available in the DuckDuckGo browser for MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS (sadly, there is still no Linux version of the browser). Duck Player is enabled by default, so as soon as you open the browser and start enjoying videos on YouTube, you’ll notice that those videos are ad-free.
Duck Player and video ad blocking are both enabled by default.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
Of course, if you want to use the default version of YouTube, you can simply disable Duck Player, and you’re good to go.
I tested Duck Player via the DuckDuckGo browser on MacOS by way of watching the full Rush 50-Something tour (which is over two hours), and not one ad played. I could see the spots in the timeline where the ads should have played, yet they didn’t.
Also: Why the most private way to browse the web isn’t incognito mode (but this instead)
That’s some serious magic DuckDuckGo has pulled off, and I’m here for it.
But why remove ads?
I get it: People and businesses need to keep the lights on, and for the longest time, it seemed online advertising was the way to go. But embedded video ads are problematic. For one thing, they can be really startling — especially if you have your volume turned up loud enough to enjoy music. As we all know, ads are intentionally LOUDER. I’ve had the volume turned up so loud that when an ad started playing, I was afraid the sound would blow my speakers.
Ads can also be problematic when you’re trying to do screen sharing on, say, a Zoom call, and a video you need to play is on YouTube. Thanks to targeted ads, that could get embarrassing.
There’s also the privacy issue. Video ads are yet another way websites and companies can collect your personal data. Consumers do not need yet another privacy battle on their hands.
Also: I found an easy way to automatically keep AI out of my search results – and it works in nearly every browser
Those are just a sample of reasons why removing video ads is actually the right thing to do. On top of which, when was the last time you clicked on a link from a video ad? I honestly don’t remember the last time I did.
This is why the new Duck Player is such a breath of fresh air. Couple video ad blocking with the other improvements DuckDuckGo has over the competition, and this browser is getting harder and harder to ignore. In fact, if DuckDuckGo offered a Linux version of its browser, you can bet it would be my default across all platforms.
How to get the new version
If you don’t already have the browser installed, you can grab an installer from the official DuckDuckGo site. Once it’s downloaded, double-click the installer and walk through the installation wizard.
If you’re using a mobile device, you can install DuckDuckGo from the associated app store [iOS|Android].
Also: I replaced Google Search with DuckDuckGo and Perplexity – my results were noticeably better
With DuckDuckGo installed, you can go to Menu > Help > About and then click Check for Update on the resulting page. You’ll know if you have the latest version installed if you see Ad Blocking New in the left sidebar.
I regularly check for new versions of all my browsers.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
DuckDuckGo is one of the most trustworthy browsers on the market. When used with the company’s search engine, you can be certain your data isn’t being used for anything and that your privacy is taken seriously. With the addition of the new Duck Player, you can now rest assured that the same privacy is extended to YouTube videos and anywhere else that video ads might otherwise interrupt your day and your trust.
