Choosing A Search Engine
Your web browser is likely the application that you use most on your computer. All of the major browsers on the market have similar features but you may not know much about their differences. If you want help deciding which browser, or browsers to use, check out the "Choosing A Web Browser" article from Between The Hacks..
Once you pick the right browser or browsers for you, the next step is learning how to use them in a way that protects your security and privacy. Choosing the right search engine, or search engines, is an important decision. While your browser is likely the most utilized application on your computer, the search engine is likely the most used website in your browser.
Search Engines
Image from Statista.com
There is no doubt that Google changed the world of the search engine. Before Google, we had the Virtual Library, Yahoo!, AltaVista and many others, but nothing made the resources of the Internet as accessible as Google. Today, while some of those old search engines are no longer in place, Google does have some competition. Below is a overview of the privacy concerns with using Google and a few alternatives.
Powerful, fast, and ubiquitous, Google is arguably the best search engine to ever exist. This article won’t go into the reasons why someone would use Google, those are obvious. Rather, it will address some of the privacy concerns with using Google and share some alternatives.
So why are there other search engines and why should you consider using them? Google is amazing and free but using Google services comes at a cost. Google collects massive amounts of information about its users. Whether this is bad or good, is up for each of us to decide on our own. According to the Search Engine Journal, “Google’s easy-to-use interface and personalized user experience comes at a cost. It’s no secret the search engine giant catalogs the browsing habits of its users and shares that information with advertisers and other interested parties.” If this is something that concerns you, fear. not, there are alternatives. Two of which we cover below and many others are reviewed in links at the bottom of this article.
To better understand what Google is storing about you, read this article from cnet that walks you through how to view the data that Google has stored about you, and how to change some of the default settings to more privacy-friendly settings. Not all of this data is coming from your Google searches, but much of it is. You can check your Google search history here.
Now that you know more about what information Google is storing about you, consider changing your default browser to something more privacy-focused than Google and use Google when you have a specific need to use it. Why change your default browser? Most people are not likely to think to switch to a more private search engine when researching an embarrassing medical issue or looking up a radical political group they heard about on the news. Just because you search for it, doesn’t mean you support it and with a privacy-focused search engine, you are not defined by your searches.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is an Internet search engine that is focused on end-user privacy. DuckDuckGo makes a great default search engine for all of your devices and browsers and is full of additional features like “bangs” that are search shortcuts, and a built in password generator.
The DuckDuckGo privacy policy states, "DuckDuckGo prevents search leakage by default. Instead, when you click on a link on our site, we route (redirect) that request in such a way so that it does not send your search terms to other sites. The other sites will still know that you visited them, but they will not know what search you entered beforehand . . . DuckDuckGo takes the approach to not collect any personal information. The decisions of whether and how to comply with law enforcement requests, whether and how to anonymize data, and how to best protect your information from hackers are out of our hands. Your search history is safe with us because it cannot be tied to you in any way."
To learn more about some of the unique DuckDuckGo features, read 10 Things DuckDuckGo Can Do for You, from Lifewire and visit the DuckDuckGo website.
To add DuckDuckGo as your default search engine, choose the appropriate link below.
For integrating DuckDuckGo with other browsers, check out the full list here.
StartPage
StartPage is another privacy-focused search engine that is fast and provides great search results, it event will serve up results from Google but in a way that protects your privacy. Even the StartPage search engine settings are stored using an anonymous browser cookie. Alternatively, you can not use a cookie at all and load your settings into a URL bookmark.
Another cool feature of StartPage is the optional “Anonymous View” link which will open a web page through a proxy and blocks the website you’re visiting from seeing that you visited that page. While it takes a bit more time to load the page, it adds an extra layer of anonymity when visiting a website. You can seen an example below.
StartPage Anonymous View
Anonymous View
Based in the Netherlands, StartPage defines personal data, “based on the privacy laws and regulations of the EU, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These are widely regarded as the strongest privacy protections in the world.”
The StartPage privacy policy is actually easy to read and understand. The short version states, “Startpage.com doesn’t log or share your personal information. We don’t track you. We don’t profile you. Period.”
The longer version starts off by stating, “We believe privacy is a fundamental human right. With Startpage.com you can search and browse the internet privately. Not because you have something to hide, but because you have a lot to protect! Protecting your privacy is all about having control over your data. At Startpage.com, we help you control and protect what’s yours: It’s Your Data. Not Big Data! !”
If you’re looking for a search engine that protects your privacy, you can feel confident with StartPage.
To learn more, read the StartPage blog called, Privacy Please.
Other Search Engines
Below are links to articles that do comparative reviews of the most popular search engines.
If you want to try out some of these search engines, you can visit the Search Engine Launch Pad.
Conclusion
Removing Google from your life is not likely a reasonable goal for most people, and it shouldn’t’ be. Google is a great tool. However, knowing how Google uses your data, and making informed decisions around how you use Google services, is reasonable. Moving to a new browser or search engine may scare some people but it is a pretty painless process.
If you want to take control of your privacy, consider switching your default browser and use Google when you feel that you need it.