This is just what you get with the ad-supported model. Ads track views and interactions, it’s how ads work. I don’t like it, so I paid for no ads, and DDG has not picked up a single tracking attempt since then.
Unfortunately the app & privacy policy is extremely unclear about that.
Would be amazing if the privacy policy had clear commitments to protect the privacy of paying users. I’d be willing to pay for Sync if I knew I would no longer be the product.
There’s a privacy thread around here with a screenshot of the dev confirming via Discord that when you purchase ad removal or a subscription then the ads module isn’t even loaded… so no tracking.
Would be nice if the dev could answer this and sticky it. Seems like lots of people are asking.
I kept DDG monitoring after I paid and can confirm there appears to be no tracking.
All I had were a few tracking attempts from Google’s ad platform 36 hours ago, which was right after I first downloaded the app and before I had a chance to pay for no ads.
I also haven’t seen any request to trackers yet after subscribing. The dev himself said the ad SDK won’t be initialized at all if you pay for the ad free option or have a subscription.
Fearmongering.
This is just what you get with the ad-supported model. Ads track views and interactions, it’s how ads work. I don’t like it, so I paid for no ads, and DDG has not picked up a single tracking attempt since then.
Do you know if these trackers should hypothetically stop occurring once ad-removal has been purchased?
I have a few apps I pay for that still seem to interact a bit with Google ads
I did a quick test and confirmed no trackers were present after paying for ultra.
Interesting, thanks
Unfortunately the app & privacy policy is extremely unclear about that.
Would be amazing if the privacy policy had clear commitments to protect the privacy of paying users. I’d be willing to pay for Sync if I knew I would no longer be the product.
at least for Sync lj said that if ads are disabled the trackers are disabled as well
There’s a privacy thread around here with a screenshot of the dev confirming via Discord that when you purchase ad removal or a subscription then the ads module isn’t even loaded… so no tracking.
Would be nice if the dev could answer this and sticky it. Seems like lots of people are asking.
I kept DDG monitoring after I paid and can confirm there appears to be no tracking.
All I had were a few tracking attempts from Google’s ad platform 36 hours ago, which was right after I first downloaded the app and before I had a chance to pay for no ads.
I also haven’t seen any request to trackers yet after subscribing. The dev himself said the ad SDK won’t be initialized at all if you pay for the ad free option or have a subscription.