Search engine?

[Watasha]

How much thought do you put into your search engine? I think the privacy/tracking issues do put it into the security category. Anyway, after years of using Google by default I recently started experimenting with assorted alternate search engine choices. I think I've decided to use DuckDuckGo for awhile & see how it goes. It's a much more private option to Google. I like it so far although Google does still have it's place.

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by Watasha

How much thought do you put into your search engine? I think the privacy/tracking issues do put it into the security category. Anyway, after years of using Google by default I recently started experimenting with assorted alternate search engine choices. I think I've decided to use DuckDuckGo for awhile & see how it goes. It's a much more private option to Google. I like it so far although Google does still have it's place.

I really don't put much thought about which search engine I use. Something
that I notice, though, is that most of the times that I have been attacked by
potential malware has been when searching for something, whatever that is.
I use and prefer Google even though I realize there are privacy issues.

Bo

[eyeb]

i use google because i like it's minimialistic design
I use yahoo for it's news articles but not it's search...

I really don't mind the privacy issues... who cares if they know what i'm looking up :S google has my email which is a lot more private and I trust them with that, why not trust them with search history? That said, I do disable tracking when possible out of habit, not a concern for privacy so much as I don't like sharing info if I don't have to lol.

The only place I have privacy issues online is facebook... because I don't like their practice of turning your posts into ads for your friends that make it look like you are selling the product to them.

edit: plus how private is private enough for people? the fact that they are online means they don't want privacy but want to pretend they can act like fools and no one is there to watch them?

[gonferreira]

In the Summer i read about 300 from the " top search words" for a Google voice recognition software

I agree with eyeb, track your searches is not that important when the same company hosts your e-mail for example. And come on, to Google you are an anonymous random Internet user.

[Watasha]

I disagree about the privacy. First off, why do they need the information in the first place? Also it's a "camel's nose under the tent" kinda thing as well; It may not be a problem now but when you surrender anything little by little you become somewhat desensitized and you don't even notice what you're giving up. Even now the amount of privacy we've given up in our lives, be it to the government or Google, would have shocked people 20 years ago. You shouldn't have to give up your privacy just to go online but what you've said is a perfect example of "they say it's okay so it must be okay". I have to believe it's gotta stop somewhere.

[eyeb]

its not that i think its ok because they say it is... I just trust google lol, better track record than other companies I've seen. Example is I found myself googling name before, I emailed google to remove that from search and next day it was gone. no other online company would be so quick to do this.

plus search tracking helps google help you find what you want next. If so many people are looking up red then red movie, when you look up red, it's a higher chance you'll be looking for the red movie instead of red hot jelly beans. But this is old example since red isn't in movies now but that's the same idea

[Watasha]

I see what you mean about it helping the search results, I guess that's why there's Google & other alternatives. Everybody's different so there's room for both sides & different search engines. Personally, I don't trust any company with my personal affairs.

[eyeb]

let me ask you why you think search history is "private" info?

The way I think of internet is that just because I'm in the house doesn't mean I'm alone... If I went out to park, people will remember me/see what I'm wearing/see my habits if I visit place enough times. I don't consider any of this "private" information if I go outside. Since the internet is a "public" domain, I also expect similiar information to be "seen". Someone will log me as being there/see what I'm doing/and over time pick up on my habits. The things I consider "private" are same online and offline, if someone asks me my name/address/phone then it's private because I wouldn't share it with strangers...

After all, going to a store, you can expect to be caught on security cameras... but if you visit an online companies "store" (the servers), you'll need to expect being caught on "camera" also.

------------------------------------
edit: I meant this post to be kind of a reply to

You shouldn't have to give up your privacy just to go online

the internet really is a "public" place and not a "private" place like your home network so don't expect the same privacy that you have at home. So no you don't have to give up your privacy to go online, but you also can't expect "privacy" either...

It's the same as the old lesson of: Don't put things online if you want it to stay private...

[Watasha]

Originally Posted by eyeb

It's the same as the old lesson of: Don't put things online if you want it to stay private...

Putting something on Facebook and typing a word into a search engine are two very different things. The internet is kinda like phones were years ago, if they would've tapped everyone's phones back when the technology was young we would've all grown up thinking it was okay. It's nobody's business what you are looking up online, I don't understand why you would think it is.

[eyeb]

it's nobody's business? Google is the company that is providing you their services... so it is their business... They are not spying on you, they are recording who is using their services and how it's being used...

Have you gone to a grocery store? While you are there and what you buy, the owners are watching... what you do with banana at home is none of their business and they don't care.

What you do on google and what you search is their business... what you do once you leave the site is none of their business...

The phone tapping thing is a bit off though. Phone companies do record who/when you make a call to/recieve.... They do not record the conversation normally because that is outside of their service since it involves a 3rd pt. What you do with Google is record because it is You<-->Google... what you do with a 3rd site is not recorded by google... 3rd Site <-- You <-->Google