Is App Tracking Protection a VPN?
App Tracking Protection is a feature in the DuckDuckGo Private Browser for Android that helps block 3rd-party trackers in your apps, even when you’re not using them. Though similar, App Tracking Protection is different from a VPN.
App Tracking Protection works locally on your device, sitting between your apps and the servers they talk to. When App Tracking Protection recognizes a tracker on our list of app trackers, it blocks the tracker from sending personal information (such as your IP address, activity, and device details) off your device. All other traffic reaches its destination, so your apps work normally.
A VPN is different. It works by establishing a secure, encrypted connection (VPN tunnel) between your device and one of its servers. All device network traffic that passes through this tunnel is anonymized and hidden from your Internet service provider and other websites you visit.
The DuckDuckGo VPN works in the same way, and secures your connection across your entire device, including your apps and browsers, on up to five devices at once. Plus, it has a strict no-logging policy, and you can connect in just a click, directly from the DuckDuckGo browser. Learn more
Is my data private?
Yes. As explained above, App Tracking Protection just works on your device and doesn’t send your personal data off your device to DuckDuckGo or other companies.
If not a VPN, then why does App Tracking Protection use a VPN connection?
You will be asked to set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection, but you don’t need to install a VPN app for App Tracking Protection to work.
This permission allows App Tracking Protection, which just works locally on your device, to monitor network traffic so that it can block trackers on our list.
Will App Tracking Protection work if I also use a VPN app?
App Tracking Protection is only compatible with the DuckDuckGo VPN. Because Android only allows one active VPN connection per device, App Tracking Protection won’t work with other VPNs. However, the DuckDuckGo VPN can share the same VPN connection because both features are managed by the DuckDuckGo browser.
If using a different VPN, we recommend that you enable App Tracking Protection when you are not using other VPNs. Just make sure your VPN app isn’t set to “Always-on.” Go to Android Network settings > VPN. Then, check the gear icon for any listed VPN apps and disable “Always-on.” Some VPN apps may also have an auto-connect setting which must be disabled.
Learn More
Prior versions on GitHub.
FAQs
Is App Tracking Protection a VPN? No. Instead of sending your data to a VPN server, App Tracking Protection works locally on your device, sitting between your apps and the servers they talk to.
Is the DuckDuckGo app tracking protection a VPN? ›
App Tracking Protection is a feature in the DuckDuckGo Private Browser for Android that helps block 3rd-party trackers in your apps, even when you're not using them. Though similar, App Tracking Protection is different from a VPN.
Does a VPN prevent app tracking? ›
VPNs can hide your IP address, location and online activities from ISPs and potential eavesdroppers, providing a significant level of privacy and security. However, they can't protect against cookies, website-level tracking, malware or the information you voluntarily share online.
How does DuckDuckGo app tracking protection work? ›
App Tracking Protection detects when other apps on your phone are about to send data to any of the 3rd-party tracking companies in our list of app trackers. For example, when Facebook tries to track you in a health app.
Does a VPN protect you on apps? ›
Ultimately, while using a VPN can enhance your online privacy and security, it does not guarantee complete anonymity or prevent all forms of tracking by apps.
Does DuckDuckGo have a built-in VPN? ›
DuckDuckGo VPN is included in the DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro subscription. To subscribe to Privacy Pro and use our VPN, first download the DuckDuckGo Browser on mobile or desktop and subscribe to Privacy Pro in the browser's settings.
Can your internet provider see your history if you use DuckDuckGo? ›
No. Because the connection between you and DuckDuckGo Search is encrypted, that means your internet provider cannot see the searches you make on DuckDuckGo.
How do I know if I'm using a VPN? ›
To see if you're using a proxy/VPN online, go to www.whatismyproxy.com. It will say if you're connected to a proxy or not. PC: Check under your WiFi settings, to see if there is a VPN/proxy showing up. Mac: Check your top status bar.
Does DuckDuckGo really block trackers? ›
DuckDuckGo also actively blocks external trackers from following you around online. For a more detailed explanation of DuckDuckGo's privacy features, check out DuckDuckGo's blog. The DuckDuckGo search engine emphasizes privacy.
How do I turn off VPN tracking? ›
Android
- Open Settings.
- Tap Network & Internet.
- Tap VPN.
- Select the VPN service in use.
- Tap the On/Off slider until it's in the Off position.
Does DuckDuckGo share my search and browsing history with governments? No. Per our strict Privacy Policy: “Critically, it's not possible for us to provide search or browsing histories linked to you in response to legal requests because we don't have them.”
Can anything be tracked on DuckDuckGo? ›
DuckDuckGo doesn't store or track user data, which goes a long way in boosting your online privacy. And since it doesn't have any of your data, your search results stay pure and without user bias.
Does Google control DuckDuckGo? ›
We are not and have never been owned by Google or any other entity. We have been an independent company since our founding in 2008. We also do not source any of our search results from Google.
How do I know if an app is using VPN? ›
Go to any reliable IP checker like whatismyip to see your current location based on your IP address. You can also try visiting a streaming platform that is only available in your country/region. If the service is blocked, you're probably connected to a VPN.
Does VPN block app tracking? ›
A VPN can only encrypt your data and hide your IP address, but it cannot prevent the apps from collecting your personal information, accessing your contacts, or tracking your online behavior. Therefore, you need to be careful about what apps you install and what permissions you grant them.
Can VPN see what I'm doing on my phone? ›
VPNs encrypt all internet traffic before they leave your device, so even if someone intercepts traffic that contains PII, they won't be able to see the actual data.
Is the DuckDuckGo VPN trustworthy? ›
Yes, DuckDuckGo is safe to use. Known for its commitment to not tracking users, it offers greater user privacy than widely used search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.
How do I turn off VPN in DuckDuckGo? ›
To exclude apps from the VPN on Android, open the DuckDuckGo browser and tap on the three dot icon, then go to Settings > VPN > Excluded Apps. There, you can scroll through a list of all installed apps on your device and disable VPN protections for any apps that you want to exclude from the VPN.
Can my IP address be tracked on DuckDuckGo? ›
Searching the web with DuckDuckGo is completely anonymous; we simply never collect or share any personal information, in line with our strict privacy policy. For example, we don't store IP addresses or any other unique identifiers in our server logs.
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