DuckDuckGo Gets Boost from Apple
DuckDuckGo, a relatively new search engine developed with users’ privacy in mind, got a huge boost this week when Apple announced it was including the upstart service as an option for users of its new operating systems. According to an announcement issued Tuesday, Apple’s soon-to-be-available iOS 8 and Mac OS X Yosemite will each offer DuckDuckGo as an option for default web search. With past incarnations of Apple’s OS products, users were allowed to choose between Google, Yahoo and Bing for default searches. While not every Apple user is likely to opt for DuckDuckGo as a default, the inclusion of an option will definitely help get the word out for the privacy-focused search firm. The service launched in 2008, but is still relatively unknown among Web users. Apple’s inclusion of DuckDuckGo as a search option is seen by some as a message to Google, while others view the move as an attempt to address user security concerns. Regardless of the reason behind the move, however, public awareness of DuckDuckGo will surely rise as a result.
