DuckDuckGo says its browser now blocks most video ads by default, including ads shown on YouTube. Multiple outlets report that the feature covers common pre‑roll ads that appear before a video starts and ads that play during the video. The update positions the capability as part of DuckDuckGo’s browsing experience rather than requiring users to manually change settings.
CNET and Engadget both describe the change as a new, default ad-blocking behavior for video ads. Bleeping Computer similarly reports that DuckDuckGo’s announcement highlights blocking of most video ads on YouTube, with coverage that includes both ads before playback and during playback. ZDNet adds that DuckDuckGo’s related “Duck Player” functionality is available on multiple platforms, including macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS, and says testing shows YouTube ads are blocked.
Across the reports, the common point is that DuckDuckGo’s browser introduces video ad blocking for most ads on YouTube by default, while the exact scope may be framed as “most” rather than all ads.
