Your Favorite Search Engine and Why?

jvickers · Jun 22, 2023

After @TraderGary and @WXC mentioned Startpage, I tried it out. I think I might start using that for my main search engine.

WXC · Jun 22, 2023

jvickers said:
After @TraderGary and @WXC mentioned Startpage, I tried it out. I think I might start using that for my main search engine.

Give it a try, JV.

I like it, and have been using it for three or so years. It's nice not to be tracked on every search you make.

It may not be for everyone, but I'll stick with it.

mackie · Jun 22, 2023

Qwant ...... self-explanatory on their website.

Stigg · Dec 1, 2023

I like Google, but I'm sick of googleadservices.com tracking.
DuckDuckGo is cleaner in that respect, but it's hard to beat Google's search results.

uBlock Origin block the Google tracking crap, but it's very interruptive. If there was some way to make Google's search results clean, then that would be a better option.

Other than that, is there a clean search engine that also returns results as good as Google?

Zoloft · Dec 2, 2023

Startpage for me. Google if the rare case that startpage can't deliver.

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

Zoloft said:
Startpage for me. Google if the rare case that startpage can't deliver.

I'll give that a try.

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

Why does Startpage keep prompting me to install the Startpage Firefox add-on? What's the benefit? I already have Startpage in my list. I added it via the Firefox search box.

I installed the add-on to clear the prompt from the Startpage homepage, but it doesn't seem to be any different to the one that I added via the Firefox search box.

Edit: I turned off "Promotional Messaging" in the Startpage settings, and now the page is much cleaner and no more Firefox add-on prompts.

TraderGary · Dec 2, 2023

Startpage doesn't actually have their own search engine. They contract with Google and use the Google search engine. Then they rebrand the search name to be Startpage.

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

TraderGary said:
Startpage doesn't actually have their own search engine. They contract with Google and use the Google search engine. Then they rebrand the search name to be Startpage.

So, the results should be just as good.
I noticed that Startpage is slow, so maybe that's why.

TraderGary · Dec 2, 2023

Stigg said:
So, the results should be just as good.

Yes, and Google still makes money by tracking you!

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

TraderGary said:
Yes, and Google still makes money by tracking you!

So, the world's most private search engine is not private at all?

TraderGary · Dec 2, 2023

Stigg said:
So, the world's most private search engine is not private at all?

It certainly would be interesting to see how Startpage's contract with Google actually works.

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

TraderGary said:
It certainly would be interesting to see how start pages contract with Google actually works.

Yes, there has to be a reason and money in it for them. And what's in it for Startpage?

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

@TraderGary I don't know how fast Startpage returns results for you in your part of the world, but I found it to be slower than any other search engine that I've tested. Maybe it's because they retrieve the results from Google. I'm only guessing.

TraderGary · Dec 2, 2023

@Stigg I've never used Startpage. I switched from Google Chrome and Google Search to Microsoft Edge (Chromium) and Microsoft Bing several years ago.

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

TraderGary said:
@Stigg I've never used Startpage. I switched from Google Chrome and Google Search to Microsoft Edge (Chromium) and Microsoft Bing several years ago.

I've rarely used Bing. Doesn't it track?

TraderGary · Dec 2, 2023

Stigg said:
I've rarely used Bing. Doesn't it track?

Bing tracks user data anonymously in order to improve search results. Bing keeps a user tracking history that is useful. Bing does not sell tracking information to advertisers as Google does.

zebal · Dec 2, 2023

Stigg said:
uBlock Origin block the Google tracking crap, but it's very interruptive. If there was some way to make Google's search results clean, then that would be a better option.

You need to spend some time configuring it, my google results are clean.

antspants · Dec 2, 2023

Stigg said:
Yes, there has to be a reason and money in it for them. And what's in it for Startpage?

At a guess, there is money in collecting data, there is money in holding data, there is money in selling data and being a gateway for people to provide data. Every single thing a person types into a search bar holds value.

Stigg · Dec 2, 2023

antspants said:
At a guess, there is money in collecting data, there is money in holding data, there is money in selling data and being a gateway for people to provide data. Every single thing a person types into a search bar holds value.

So, basically, you can't really trust any search engine.

Your Favorite Search Engine and Why?

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