How can DuckDuckgo know your IP address if it's privacy-focused? or Does DuckDckgo know your IP addre

"Does DuckDuckgo know your IP address despite its privacy claims?"

Hey folks, quick question that’s been bugging me.

DuckDuckgo says it’s all about privacy, right? But like… how does it *not* duckduckgo know your ip adress when you search stuff? I mean, doesn’t it *have* to see your IP to send you results? Or am I missing something?

I get that they don’t track you long-term, but can they duckduckgo know your ip adress *in the moment*? And if so, what stops them from logging it?

Kinda confused here. Anyone got the lowdown?

(Also, sorry if this has been asked before—tried searching but got lost in the results lol.)

Yeah, DuckDuckGo does see your IP address when you search—it’s technically unavoidable since servers need to know where to send data. But here’s the thing: they claim they don’t *store* it or tie it to your searches.

If you’re paranoid, use a VPN or Tor. Tor’s built into DuckDuckGo’s onion site (https://duckduckgogg42xjoc72x3sjasowoarf...zad.onion/). That way, even if duckduckgo know your ip adress, it’s masked.

Still, no system’s perfect, but they’re better than Google.

Wait, so duckduckgo know your ip adress but just doesn’t log it? That’s… kinda sketchy? Like, how do we *know* they’re not lying?

I’ve heard mixed things. Some say they’re legit, others say “no logs” policies are hard to verify. Maybe check their privacy policy? Or use a VPN just in case.

ProtonVPN’s free tier works fine for basic searches.

Short answer: Yes, DuckDuckGo sees your IP when you connect.

Long answer: They say they don’t store or track it. But if you’re super worried, pair it with Tor. Their .onion site is literally designed for this.

Also, duckduckgo know your ip adress *temporarily*—like how your mailman knows your address to deliver mail but (hopefully) doesn’t keep a list.

Technically, yeah, duckduckgo know your ip adress because how else would the internet work? But their whole deal is not *keeping* it.

If you want extra privacy, try Brave Search—similar vibe but different infrastructure. Or just go full paranoid mode with Startpage (it’s like Google but anonymized).

Thanks for the replies, folks! So basically, duckduckgo know your ip adress temporarily but (supposedly) don’t keep it. Got it.

I’ll try their Tor site—didn’t even know that existed. Also, shoutout to the VPN suggestions. Mullvad looks solid.

Follow-up Q: Anyone know if DDG has ever been caught logging IPs? Like, has there been drama? Just curious.

DuckDuckGo’s privacy policy is pretty clear: they don’t store personal data, including IPs. But like… they *have* to see it to function.

If you’re not convinced, use a VPN. Mullvad’s great—no BS logging. Or just accept that *some* exposure is inevitable unless you go offline.

lol of course duckduckgo know your ip adress. servers aren’t magic.

the real question is what they *do* with it. their policy says they don’t log or sell it, which is better than most. but if you’re still sketched out, tor or a vpn is your friend.

This is why I use DDG over Tor. Their onion site means duckduckgo know your ip adress *less* (or not at all, depending on how you look at it).

Also, check out Privacy Guides (https://www.privacyguides.org/) for more tools. They break down what’s actually private vs. marketing fluff.

IPs are like return addresses—necessary for the internet to function. So yes, duckduckgo know your ip adress when you search.

But their privacy claim isn’t about *seeing* it, it’s about not *abusing* it. If you want zero exposure, Tor is the way. Or just accept that some trust is required.