When it comes to privacy in search engines, many of the most famous ones you know do not offer private searches. Some search engines may gather data from you and may others limit your searches to make you do less clicking. Regardless, you deserve to do your research without having someone watch your every move and possibly interact with you. In the article “10 BEST Private Search Engines in 2022” by Amanda Henderson, Henderson provides the 10 best websites that do not track your data and anonymously search for what you are looking for. The article says “You can use private browsing with the help of the incognito modes in Chrome or Firefox. However, it does not offer the level of privacy you think you will get.” This clarifies how many may think the private/incognito mode in their search engines is protecting them, but they are still keeping track regardless of them telling you any different. For this reason, you should use these anonymous websites the article is providing. Duck Duck Go is the most famous because of how easy it is to use on mobile and website devices. Searx is second and Disconnect Search is 3rd. I used all 3 and all are very easy to use and to keep in your bookmark. Unlike Google, anonymous search engines show the most relevant websites first before any ad you’ve seen before. Using an anonymous website doesn’t save your searches so you’re going to have to get used to remembering or bookmarking your daily websites.
https://duckduckgo.com/
There are also different ways that you can stop search engines from tracking you and it may include fixing your system preferences on your computer. The article “ How to stop search engines from tracking you” by Team Vivaldi explains clearly how to change your preferences in your setting and also provided private search engines anyone can use. Team Vivaldi explains how search engines collect information about yourself and turn this data collection into something that can benefit their own company which includes ads. The article reveals “A search engine will also be able to track you across websites if it owns that website. This is the case with YouTube, for example.” Youtube has changed throughout the years and advertisements have gotten longer. I feel like I try to watch a 5-minute video and I have to watch 4 15-second ads just to finish it. Each ad is different and at least one of them you have in your searches on google. You’ve ever wondered how you search for something once on Google and all of a sudden you see what you’ve been searching for on your social media feed? It is because of all of the cookies and public system preferences you have installed on your computer. Your computer will always ask you to read the terms and conditions when entering a website/app because the organization knows that other apps are watching what you are seeing, clicking, and sending. All are watching you so whenever you search for something more than once, all other apps track your activity and use that to their advantage!
https://help.rescuetime.com/article/59-how-do-i-enable-accessibility-permissions-on-mac-osx
Search engines that track your data aren’t the only party in this monitoring. Your phone plays a part in allowing organizations to track your activity based on the accounts you make with different apps. The article “How to Stop Google From Tracking on any Device” by Dave Johnson explains how to change your account settings while also providing links to how to fix your system whether it is Apple or Andriod. Johnson explains how ad presentations are following what you are doing and pushing marketing ads throughout your account. It states “The Ad personalization section of the Data & personalization page displays a wealth of information about what Google knows about you and how it is applied to the ads you are served.” These apps use your personalized searches and provide you with information you may feel is useful but they are really helping other organizations. Instagram has been a huge platform for influencers but Tiktok has now started showing viewers ads while also giving them the choice to swipe away. Before quarantine, TikTok never had ads and now after quarantine, everyone’s For-You-Page is flooded with sponsored ads because they know what you are constantly watching so they know what will catch your attention.
Sources:
Vivaldi, Written by Team. “How to Stop Search Engines from Tracking You.” Vivaldi Browser, 21 Oct. 2020, https://vivaldi.com/blog/stop-search-engines-from-tracking/.
Henderson, Amanda. “10 Best Private Search Engines [Anonymous & Secure] in 2022.” Guru99, 18 Apr. 2022, https://www.guru99.com/private-search-engines-anonymous-no-tracking.html.
Johnson, Dave. “How to Stop Google from Tracking You on Any Device.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 27 Nov. 2020, https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-stop-google-from-tracking-me#:~:text=Google%20tracks%20your%20search%20history,all%20of%20Google’s%20personalization%20features.