DuckDuckGo has introduced Privacy Pro, a premium subscription service that combines a VPN service, a personal information removal tool, and an identity theft restoration service into a single consolidated package that costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year.
DuckDuckGo, known for its uncompromising stance on protecting user data and safeguarding privacy, previously marketed free privacy-focused services, including its search engine and browser extensions that block trackers and encrypt web searches. Hence, the launch of Privacy Pro is a notable new direction, being the firm’s first paid offering.
Privacy Pro VPN
DuckDuckGo’s take on a VPN product is a no-logs VPN service that’s based on the WireGuard protocol and supports up to five simultaneous connections (devices), including smartphones, tablets, and computers.
The VPN nests within the DuckDuckGo browser through an integration that simplifies installation while also allowing users to activate the VPN connection with a single click and easily monitor its status while browsing.
In connection interruption cases, the service attempts to reconnect automatically while activating data leak prevention mechanisms to maintain privacy during those issues. The VPN routes DNS queries through the VPN connection to DuckDuckGo’s own DNS resolvers, further enhancing privacy by hiding browsing history from ISPs.
Payment is handled by third-party providers, and new users are assigned a random ID that cannot be linked to their identity, so DuckDuckGo essentially holds no data about the user that it can share with the authorities in case of data requests.
Of course, being a new product, the server network isn’t extensive, so performance may not be optimal in all cases, and block circumvention may not work as intended for specific services. Also, the lack of independent audits that validate the security and privacy claims is something to consider. The announcement also does not mention any power-user features like dedicated IP addresses or split tunneling, so those are assumed to be missing from the product.
The most significant hurdle would be the integration within DuckDuckGo, which is touted as an advantage but could work negatively for users who rely on extensions or features exclusive to other browsers.
Identity protections
To enrich the Privacy Pro product, DuckDuckGo has partnered with Iris to provide support in cases of identity theft and used technology from Removaly, acquired in 2022, to delete user data from platforms that funnel it to marketers and advertisers.
DuckDuckGo’s Personal Information Removal feature tackles privacy issues by identifying and removing users’ personal details from data broker sites. It operates directly from the user’s device for enhanced privacy, targets only verified data brokers that hold the user’s information and provides ongoing protection by regularly re-scanning these sites.
At $9.99 a month, the service is already cheaper than many data removal tools on the market today. And when you combine this with a VPN service, the value becomes even more appealing.
The Identity Theft Restoration service, offered in partnership with Iris® Powered by Generali, provides comprehensive assistance for identity theft victims. It includes 24/7 support, help with restoring credit and accounts, document replacement, and financial reimbursement for expenses related to identity theft recovery.
In summary, the three services bundled under DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Pro subscription provide a comprehensive suite of privacy and security protections, but whether or not the VPN product matches the promises and aligns with DuckDuckGo’s privacy standards, we will have to wait and find out in our forthcoming review.