I tried DuckDuckGo's new video player, and it blocks YouTube ads for free

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

DuckDuckGo has a caller video subordinate that blocks ads.
Duck Player is disposable for MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.
You tin instal and usage the latest mentation of the browser for free.

With Google killing advertisement blockers successful Chrome, DuckDuckGo has decided to bash thing astir it by blocking video ads, adjacent connected YouTube.

The latest mentation of the DuckDuckGo browser includes a diagnostic that blocks video ads - I tried it, and it works truly well. The caller mentation (1.197.0) present includes the quality to artifact video ads connected YouTube, acknowledgment to the Duck Player.

According to the authoritative DuckDuckGo Help Pages, "The browser's built-in video subordinate protects you from tracking cookies and personalized ads by enforcing YouTube's strictest privateness settings for embedded video, each wrong a clean, theater-like interface."

Also: Chrome's adjacent update volition termination your adblocker - and marque the web little safe

Currently, Duck Player is disposable successful the DuckDuckGo browser for MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS (sadly, determination is inactive nary Linux mentation of the browser). Duck Player is enabled by default, truthful arsenic soon arsenic you unfastened the browser and commencement enjoying videos connected YouTube, you'll announcement that those videos are ad-free.

Of course, if you privation to usage the default mentation of YouTube, you tin simply disable Duck Player, and you're bully to go.

I tested Duck Player via the DuckDuckGo browser connected MacOS by mode of watching the afloat Rush 50-Something circuit (which is implicit 2 hours), and not 1 advertisement played. I could spot the spots successful the timeline wherever the ads should person played, yet they didn't.

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That's immoderate superior magic DuckDuckGo has pulled off, and I'm present for it.

But wherefore region ads?

I get it: People and businesses request to support the lights on, and for the longest time, it seemed online advertizing was the mode to go. But embedded video ads are problematic. For 1 thing, they tin beryllium truly startling -- particularly if you person your measurement turned up large capable to bask music. As we each know, ads are intentionally LOUDER. I've had the measurement turned up truthful large that erstwhile an advertisement started playing, I was acrophobic the dependable would stroke my speakers.

Ads tin besides beryllium problematic erstwhile you're trying to bash surface sharing on, say, a Zoom call, and a video you request to play is connected YouTube. Thanks to targeted ads, that could get embarrassing.

There's besides the privacy issue. Video ads are yet different mode websites and companies tin cod your idiosyncratic data. Consumers bash not request yet different privateness conflict connected their hands.

Also: I recovered an casual mode to automatically support AI retired of my hunt results - and it works successful astir each browser

Those are conscionable a illustration of reasons wherefore removing video ads is really the close happening to do. On apical of which, erstwhile was the past clip you clicked connected a nexus from a video ad? I honestly don't retrieve the past clip I did.

This is wherefore the caller Duck Player is specified a enactment of caller air. Couple video advertisement blocking with the different improvements DuckDuckGo has implicit the competition, and this browser is getting harder and harder to ignore. In fact, if DuckDuckGo offered a Linux mentation of its browser, you tin stake it would beryllium my default crossed each platforms.

How to get the caller version

If you don't already person the browser installed, you tin drawback an installer from the official DuckDuckGo site. Once it's downloaded, double-click the installer and locomotion done the installation wizard.

If you're utilizing a mobile device, you tin instal 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 tin spell to Menu > Help > About and past click Check for Update connected the resulting page. You'll cognize if you person the latest mentation installed if you spot Ad Blocking New successful the near sidebar.

DuckDuckGo is 1 of the astir trustworthy browsers connected the market. When utilized with the company's hunt engine, you tin beryllium definite your information isn't being utilized for thing and that your privateness is taken seriously. With the summation of the caller Duck Player, you tin present remainder assured that the aforesaid privateness is extended to YouTube videos and anyplace other that video ads mightiness different interrupt your time and your trust.

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