DuckDuckGo's "App Tracking Protection"

protonuser2

I recently discovered this feature within the DuckDuckGo android app.

They have a feature which creates a firewall for all apps installed and blocks trackers. It is in Beta but it has a log to show what time certain apps tried to send tracking things to 3rd parties.

This seems great but the downside is that it uses the VPN connection part of Android's OS. So if I have this turned on, I am unable to have my regular VPN on at all times.

I know there is not a way for Android to have 2 VPNs active at once, so is there a similar solution to this? Sounds like it is essentially a firewall.

I would love to have 3rd party trackers blocked across all my apps (Uber, Venmo, Sleeper Fantasy, etc) are all issues, while having my regular VPN enabled.

[deleted]

protonuser2 there is a setting in Proton VPN to block trackers. Have you used it? I presume you use Proton VPN thanks to your name.

protonuser2

Here is a better follow up question: For apps like Uber that are essential to me, is there anything I can do to limit or disable 3rd party trackers?

Aru

Tracker blocking is privacy theater but if you don't mind/really want it, why not.
What VPN do you currently use? Some providers like Mullvad offer tracker blocking, as far as I know.

protonuser2

Aru

Proton, maybe worth trying out Mullvad I guess

protonuser2

[deleted] yes proton, I just checked in the app settings and dont see any setting for that

FlyingRacoon

protonuser2

Another option beyond ddg or vpn, is setting a custom private DNS in android settings (for example nextdns)

In theory it would be better to just use Protons NetShield though, cause with a custom DNS Resolver you have to trust 2 entities

@Aru didn't mean Proton is a privacy theatre I guess, he meant the concept of ad/track blocking.
I disagree with this view though. Don't expect anonymity, but rather minimizing your footprint and ad/tracker blocking is perfectly fine imo

FlyingRacoon

Are you a paid proton user cause there is definitely a setting (don't know for free uaer)

Settings -> Netshield

protonuser2

FlyingRacoon Free user :)

protonuser2

FlyingRacoon Yea I completely agree, if there is a way to block 3rd party trackers at the app level, seems like it would be very important to me.

And yes, I see the NetSheild option now, I don't pay for proton but this may be the thing that pushes me over the edge to buy it.