DuckDuckGo has updated its free browser to block most video ads by default, including those on YouTube. The feature uses community filter lists and applies across several platforms.
DuckDuckGo announced the change on Wednesday. Its browser now blocks most ads that run before and during YouTube videos when users watch through the browser rather than the official app.
The feature is enabled by default for iPhone, Windows and Mac users who have the latest version. Android support will activate automatically soon, though users can turn it on manually in settings until then.
The blocking relies on open-source filter lists from uBlock Origin along with DuckDuckGo's own rules. The company noted that some extra buffering may occur before videos start and that a small number of ads could still appear.
The new capability is separate from Duck Player, DuckDuckGo's existing private YouTube viewer. It works on the regular YouTube website inside the browser.
