DuckDuckGo now runs 30 million private searches a day.

The privacy-focused search engine on Thursday said in a tweet that "it took us seven years to reach 10 million private searches in one day, then another two years to hit 20 million, and now less than a year later we're at 30 million! Thank you all. #ComeToTheDuckSide."

Founded in 2008, DuckDuckGo lets users search online anonymously. It doesn't collect or share your personal information, and by default, it doesn't use cookies to recognize your browser.

Online privacy is a growing concern among many people -- and lawmakers -- following a string of privacy related scandals this year. Facebook said in September that 30 million accounts were compromised after a long year of data breach news involving the company since Cambridge Analytica. In September Google reportedly faced an investigation for tracking users' location without consent.

"We're glad to have more people joining us in our work to raise the standard of trust online, and are meeting the increased demand with additional tools, such as a Privacy Essentials browser extension and mobile app, to protect users no matter where they go on the Internet," said a DuckDuckGo spokesperson in an email statement. "We believe the Internet shouldn't feel so creepy, and getting the privacy you deserve online should be as simple as closing the blinds."

First published on Oct. 12, 12:02 p.m. PT.

Updates, 1:48 p.m. PT: Adds DuckDuckGo spokesperson statement.