The Journey to True Online Privacy: Why You Should Use a Private Search Engine
Once upon a time, in the vast digital landscape, a user named Alex roamed freely, relying on popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing to find information. Little did Alex know, these search engines were collecting vast amounts of data about every move made online. This data included Alex’s IP address, user agent, unique identifier stored in browser cookies, and search terms. These details helped companies understand Alex’s behavior, serve targeted ads, and even track online activities.
One day, Alex stumbled upon an article about online privacy and the importance of using private search engines. The article revealed a startling truth: EU GDPR laws classify metadata and IP addresses as personally identifiable information. To comply with these laws, companies needed to either allow users like Alex to opt-out of data collection or be transparent about it. The realization hit hard — Alex’s privacy was being compromised.
Determined to reclaim privacy, Alex decided to delve deeper into the world of private search engines. Here’s what Alex discovered on this journey:
The Quest for Privacy
Alex learned that even with a VPN, search engines could still collect data if logged into a Google account. The solution? Using a private search engine in conjunction with a VPN. Private search engines don’t track searches or store data, offering a secure and private browsing experience.
The Best Private Search Engines
Alex found a treasure trove of private search engines that promised to safeguard privacy:
- Startpage: Known for delivering Google-quality search results without collecting personal data, Startpage’s Anonymous View mode prevents websites from tracking users. (Link)
- DuckDuckGo: A popular choice, DuckDuckGo generates results from over 400 sources and features !bang for direct site searches. However, Alex noted some concerns about its transparency with a deal involving Microsoft.
- Qwant: This France-based search engine complies with European data laws, ensuring no non-consensual data recording. It also prevents users from getting stuck in a filter bubble. One con is not available in all the countries.
- Searx: A free, privacy-focused metasearch engine that blocks cookies and tracking, providing unbiased search results.
- SearchEncrypt: Utilizes local encryption and deletes search terms after browsing, offering a higher level of privacy.
- Gibiru: An encrypted search engine using Google’s algorithm for fast, untracked results.
- Ecosia: An eco-friendly search engine that plants trees with its profits and offers encrypted searches without storing user data.
- Swisscows: A family-friendly option with no data storage and AI-based contextual search results.
- Mojeek: Independent and crawler-based, Mojeek provides unfiltered results.
- MetaGer: Aggregates results from multiple search engines and offers anonymous searches on the Tor network.
- Disconnect Search: Allows private use of mainstream search engines without tracking, created by ex-Google and ex-NSA engineers.
The Reality of Privacy
Alex pondered the true privacy of these search engines. The article explained that private search engines do not track users or gather data, providing more objective results and minimizing digital footprints. However, the privacy level depended on the business model of each search engine.
Monetization Strategies
Private search engines use various monetization strategies, such as contextual advertising, affiliate link programs, and donations. This ensures they can operate without compromising user privacy.
The Myth of Incognito Mode
Alex had always believed incognito mode offered complete privacy. However, the article clarified that while incognito mode prevents the browser from storing session history, websites, search engines, and ISPs can still see activity.
Searching Privately on Google
To enhance privacy while using Google, Alex followed these steps:
- Deleted search history regularly.
- Signed out of the Google account while browsing.
- Used incognito mode for an additional layer of protection.
- Utilized a private browser and a VPN to encrypt traffic.
Conclusion: Embracing Private Search Engines
Armed with this newfound knowledge, Alex decided to switch to a private search engine. Whether using Startpage, DuckDuckGo, Qwant, or another option, Alex felt empowered, knowing that online privacy was now a priority. The journey to true online privacy had just begun, and Alex was ready to explore the digital world securely.
And so, Alex lived happily ever after, browsing the internet with enhanced privacy and peace of mind. But did he?
We have an application that operates in conjunction with Trojan and XTLS-Reality. Imagine testing this VPN client in the wild terrains of China and Iran — the results were more impressive than a cat video going viral!
