A privacy oriented alternative to Google

cantaloupe · 02-02-2009, 09:41 PM

Google and most other top search engines, as you may know, keep records
of searches and the associated ip addresses for an indefinite period and use that info as they wish, allowing the searcher no opportunity to know how it has been used or to erase it. The potential for legal, quasi-legal and illegal use of this info by governments and others is enormous, to state the obvious.
If privacy , or the lack of it, is a concern for you , please be aware that there is an alternative. The search engine http://www.ixquick.com is based in the Netherlands . On July 14, 2008 ixquick was awarded the first EU privacy seal. At that point it was their policy to delete search records after 48 hours. As of 1/28/09 it is their policy not to record your IP address AT ALL!!!!!!
Google was given the lowest privacy classification according to selected criteria you can learn more about on the site, having been deemed hostile to privacy concerns. It may be naive to think that just quitting Google could clear up these concerns, but we have to start beheading this hydra at some point. I hope we don't get seven more Googles in its place. Peace, Cantaloupe

Swanny · 02-02-2009, 10:58 PM

The trouble is how do you know ixquick is ok and not put there by TPTB??
Could be worst

cantaloupe · 02-02-2009, 11:08 PM

Yeah, Swanny, it's tough to know. I got wind of the engine by listening to a leading privacy advocate named Catherine Albrecht on c2c radio where she does a monthly privacy updatehttp://www.katherinealbrecht.com
She comes off as having the "chops" to be considered authoritative in the area of privacy advocacy.
Cheers,
Cantaloupe

Swanny · 02-03-2009, 12:09 AM

I'm going to give it a go

Trouble is google is so bloody good at what it does

cantaloupe · 02-03-2009, 12:38 AM

I have been using it for a couple three weeks with no problems. And i have no doubt Google would welcome you back to its bosom in a heartbeat.

Malynda · 04-21-2009, 07:10 PM

Any news on how this alternate search engine works?

04-21-2009, 07:20 PM

I use Scroogle - http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm - but I'll check out this one too. It's good to have options! Scroogle doesn't do images and vid, so I find myself defaulting back to Google on account its convenient search bar on my desktop and, like Swanny says, it just does it.

Malynda - So I went away to try ixquick. It has separate web, phone, video and pictures search. Its search results are compiled from * All the Web * Gigablast * Wikipedia
* Ask/Teoma * MSN UK * Yahoo
* Exalead UK * Open Directory

It worked really well, actually, in a first try - hmm, ...

Malynda · 04-21-2009, 09:22 PM

Hey no caste,

Thanks for trying it out and reporting back. I'll give it a go. Sounds decent. Thanks again. =)

02-02-2009, 09:41 PM	#1
cantaloupe Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 151	A privacy oriented alternative to Google Google and most other top search engines, as you may know, keep records of searches and the associated ip addresses for an indefinite period and use that info as they wish, allowing the searcher no opportunity to know how it has been used or to erase it. The potential for legal, quasi-legal and illegal use of this info by governments and others is enormous, to state the obvious. If privacy , or the lack of it, is a concern for you , please be aware that there is an alternative. The search engine http://www.ixquick.com is based in the Netherlands . On July 14, 2008 ixquick was awarded the first EU privacy seal. At that point it was their policy to delete search records after 48 hours. As of 1/28/09 it is their policy not to record your IP address AT ALL!!!!!! Google was given the lowest privacy classification according to selected criteria you can learn more about on the site, having been deemed hostile to privacy concerns. It may be naive to think that just quitting Google could clear up these concerns, but we have to start beheading this hydra at some point. I hope we don't get seven more Googles in its place. Peace, Cantaloupe

02-02-2009, 10:58 PM	#2
Swanny I dont need a label ! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Shire of Wilt Posts: 2,889	Re: A privacy oriented alternative to Google The trouble is how do you know ixquick is ok and not put there by TPTB?? Could be worst

02-02-2009, 11:08 PM	#3
cantaloupe Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 151	Re: A privacy oriented alternative to Google Yeah, Swanny, it's tough to know. I got wind of the engine by listening to a leading privacy advocate named Catherine Albrecht on c2c radio where she does a monthly privacy updatehttp://www.katherinealbrecht.com She comes off as having the "chops" to be considered authoritative in the area of privacy advocacy. Cheers, Cantaloupe

02-03-2009, 12:09 AM	#4
Swanny I dont need a label ! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Shire of Wilt Posts: 2,889	Re: A privacy oriented alternative to Google I'm going to give it a go Trouble is google is so bloody good at what it does

02-03-2009, 12:38 AM	#5
cantaloupe Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 151	Re: A privacy oriented alternative to Google I have been using it for a couple three weeks with no problems. And i have no doubt Google would welcome you back to its bosom in a heartbeat.

04-21-2009, 07:10 PM	#6
Malynda Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 250	Re: A privacy oriented alternative to Google Any news on how this alternate search engine works?

04-21-2009, 07:20 PM	#7
no caste Guest Posts: n/a	Re: A privacy oriented alternative to Google I use Scroogle - http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm - but I'll check out this one too. It's good to have options! Scroogle doesn't do images and vid, so I find myself defaulting back to Google on account its convenient search bar on my desktop and, like Swanny says, it just does it. Malynda - So I went away to try ixquick. It has separate web, phone, video and pictures search. Its search results are compiled from * All the Web * Gigablast * Wikipedia * Ask/Teoma * MSN UK * Yahoo * Exalead UK * Open Directory It worked really well, actually, in a first try - hmm, ... Last edited by no caste; 04-21-2009 at 07:45 PM.

04-21-2009, 09:22 PM	#8
Malynda Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 250	Re: A privacy oriented alternative to Google Hey no caste, Thanks for trying it out and reporting back. I'll give it a go. Sounds decent. Thanks again. =)