quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:
Question for the group: I’ve been using DDG and hadn’t heard of Startpage. In checking their website they say all good things about privacy, but then I ran into this:

“Quality search results in true privacy.
Startpage delivers Google search results via our proprietary personal data protection technology.”

I’m confused. If startpage searches are repackaged google searching, is that an improvement? Don’t want to go back to google deciding what I can and can’t see in a browser search. I must be not understanding something here. Can someone clarify?

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:
...

I’m confused. If startpage searches are repackaged google searching, is that an improvement? Don’t want to go back to google deciding what I can and can’t see in a browser search. I must be not understanding something here. Can someone clarify?

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
For chrissakes, I installed the startpage search app on my phone, and the first time I tried to use it I was bombarded with ads. So much so it was unusable. I immediately uninstalled it. So much for that.

ETA: Brave works fine. I'll switch over to that for now.

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:
...

I’m confused. If startpage searches are repackaged google searching, is that an improvement? Don’t want to go back to google deciding what I can and can’t see in a browser search. I must be not understanding something here. Can someone clarify?

Start Page is a proxy search engine. Basically, the user types in whatever they are searching for, then SP searches using those search parameters, and then returns the search results to the user.

SP is using the users search parameters, but runs the search under their own internet identity. If it helps, think of SP as a buffer between the searcher and the searchee, a go-between, as a layer of insulation.

As I mentioned previously, I've been using them for about 10 years and it works, although sometimes it fails to yield as many results as Chrome. The problems I've had with SP is that it is increasingly being blocked by websites and also that users can't run searches while using a VPN.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
...

If I understand you correctly then the Startpage user is still subject to Google's algorithm and their decisions on what "boost" or feature in search results... it's just that my personal info isn't tied to the search?

In other words, not much better.

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
I used DuckDuckGo... to get the address for Brave.

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
...

If I understand you correctly then the Startpage user is still subject to Google's algorithm and their decisions on what "boost" or feature in search results... it's just that my personal info isn't tied to the search?

In other words, not much better.

One thing I'm not clear on is which engine(s) Start Page queries. Assuming for a moment that they do query Google, then yes, to an extent you are correct. You would be subject to whatever algorithm preference that particular provider uses... but keep in mind that part of the algorithm Google uses factors in the location of the user and what the user has searched before, and then tailors the search to what they believe the user wants. By using Start Page, Google (or whatever source(s) SP searches) no longer has the location info or search history to ID the user... they no longer 'recognize' the user and therefore can't tailor the search to the same degree of preference or bias.

I believe this is why many websites are starting to block Start Page searches... because they can't collect the user ID info that they previously had access to and used to determine preferences, bias, and to tailor for marketing purposes.

I should probably point out that once Start Page has reported its search results and the user clicks on a website, the user is interacting directly with the website and whatever info they collect or cookies they issue to those visiting their site. In other words, Start Page helps to protect the user during the internet search...but once the user clicks on a website they are on their own and will need to rely on the usual good internet practices and whatever anti-virus software they use.

quote:

Originally posted by Paten:
So DuckDuckGo filters Russian disinformation. How is that bad? All search engines are supposed to filter unreliable results. That's their whole purpose. And the results aren't eliminated, just down ranked. So it may not be seen on the first page of the results but you can still see it if you go deep enough.

So is the problem really the filtering or the virtue signaling?