Looks like DuckDuckGo shot itself in its own foot

[helium]

https://www.blacklistednews.com/arti...d-russian.html

Am rather disgusted that DDG would do such a thing. So in response I thought I'd search DDG for derogetory phrases (during the past hour) and found quite a few sites offering lots of alternatives to DDG.

Then searched DDG for each alternative, Metager, Infinity Search, and many others. Guess what? DDG does not provide links to any of these alternatives. BUT, go to google (I refuse to capitalize their name) and the very first hit when searching for the same alternative sites gives me a direct link to each alternative.

DDG simply doesn't want you to find an alternative search engine.

Another one bites the dust.

Anyone have previous experience with a good alternative search engine?

[Ewan]

In the same boat as you, I had been using them as a default engine and avoiding gooble. Need to find a new one.

[ExomatrixTV]

• I Warned You About DuckDuckGo Bro! Sellout Browser to Tackle "Disinformation":

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=bN1lmKJknKw

• Use Brave, Startpage, Ecosia, or Yandex

[Gwin Ru]

Posted by Ewan (here)
In the same boat as you, I had been using them as a default engine and avoiding gooble. Need to find a new one.

...

Yandex

[Mari]

I've no experience with DDG, so can't comment here, but I ditched google years ago and switched to Startpage as my search engine. Its totally private, fuss free.

https://www.startpage.com/

[helium]

I changed the default search in my browser to Brave (https://search.brave.com/) but know nothing about them. Perhaps if DDG sees a flood of fleeing users they will respond positively. Am not holding my breath.

Have been experimenting with search phrases that I anticipate will be targeted such as 'Where's Fauci?' and other goofy items. Brave seems to provide more alternative website hits right up front than DDG, but DDG still does provide access to sites that have been defunded (looking at you StrangeSounds). Probably better that I experiment with phrases directly related to Russia. Also have played around with various VPN locations to see if there's a difference in hits by location. I think this is the only way to discover which search engine is best to use. Being behind a really tough firewall and using multiple hop VPN service makes me feel fairly safe, along with blocking/obfuscating as much browser metadata as possible that identifies the user. In the end, there is no such thing as true privacy or safety from five-eyes, not even TOR.

I only use search for generic stuff so I don't feel as if I'd suffer DDG's 'changes' if they are current changes. I still use groogle for highly technical stuff like electronic engineering. Most of the alternative news aggregators do a decent job of providing links to everything I need to know (https://www.censored.news/). PA forum is a great source as well.

Bottom line - our data is like our money. We can spend it where we wish and maybe create the change we want to see.

[helium]

I used Startpage as default until about a year and half back when it became obvious that the new investors were not my cup of tea. But if you want Bing(e) and groogle searches, hopefully without the tracking, then StartPage is great. However, I want to make it clear that I did not start this thread to pontificate. Everyone has different needs and desires. I'm hoping that we can have a good discussion about search engines. If DDG wants to block access to topics that are essential to freedom of thought, I think they deserve to be challenged.

We know that google and microsoft block content important to many of us.

Posted by Mari (here)
I've no experience with DDG, so can't comment here, but I ditched google years ago and switched to Startpage as my search engine. Its totally private, fuss free.

https://www.startpage.com/

[norman]

The DDG change may be as simple as pulling out of a deal with a Russian search engine ( sanctions mania ) and doing a deal with google instead. Google's deal probably only provides what google provides it's own direct users.

DDG can put lipstick on that and say anything they want

Only guessing, of course.

[helium]

Hmm. Owned by Russia but based in Netherlands. They will provide all your data to five-eyes with no hesitation if you're outisde of Russia. Inside Russia Yandex works directly for the Russian government. Now, that's something I've read but haven't fully reseearched. Anyone what to back that info up with good evidence?

Fact is, Yandex in years past provided really good searches, especially in technical fields. I haven't used them for quite a long time. Not since that oyama guy took the reins.

Posted by Gwin Ru (here)

Posted by Ewan (here)
In the same boat as you, I had been using them as a default engine and avoiding gooble. Need to find a new one.

...

Yandex

[Spiral]

The brave browser has it's own search engine that seems better than DDG, it also has a built in Tor browser...

There is a new browser called Vivaldi, it has a choice of search engines inc "ecosia" https://vivaldi.com/

[Le Chat]

I've been using Qwant for some time....

[helium]

Yes, the Brave browser is great. Except that if you want the best security using it you cannot use addons. There are a few addons I need, one of the most necessary is the dark mode addon so I don't have whitespace banging out my eyes. One alternative is to load both Brave and Firefox or Vivaldi and use Brave when you need the added security.

The addons in your browser identify you to some extent. The Brave browser gains it's security by being the same on every machine. If millions of users' browsers report the same meta-data then everyone is anonymous.

The Brave search engine works fine in Firefox as default. There are addons for Firefox that report spoofed meta-data. But I agree, the Brave browser is as foolproof as you can get for the average user.

Playing around with the Brave search engine today makes me think I'll keep using it. My idea was to cease using DDG mostly for the sake of sending a message to the owners.

Tor may become the default for savvy users everywhere given the idiocy that the world is buying into. But Tor is painfully slow for everyday use unless you are at serious risk.

Ecosia is a search engine I've not heard of yet. Will have to investigate . . .

Posted by Spiral (here)
The brave browser has it's own search engine that seems better than DDG, it also has a built in Tor browser...

There is a new browser called Vivaldi, it has a choice of search engines inc "ecosia" https://vivaldi.com/

[Vicus]

Well, now understand what's happen to me in the last 10 days...by searching...

When DDG sold out it is a big to me, because what I normally use , now is useless.

Like useless became TOR in BRAVE with DDG by default...

And the worse for me is that original TOR use DDG by default too...


Starpage is old news for me , I will try Vivaldi, and Yandex just because it is Russian...

[apokalypse]

pretty much we on same boat and seems Brave search is way to go...

[apokalypse]

Posted by Vicus (here)
Well, now understand what's happen to me in the last 10 days...by searching...

When DDG sold out it is a big to me, because what I normally use , now is useless.

Like useless became TOR in BRAVE with DDG by default...

And the worse for me is that original TOR use DDG by default too...


Starpage is old news for me , I will try Vivaldi, and Yandex just because it is Russian...

i heard about yandex today and worth a try...i added Brave Search and test out Yandex(russian search engine)...

just try russia ukraine justification and "massive vaccine deaths" yandex gave interesting link...using yandex right now. you guys might also tested it out with "controversial topics" for mainstream...

Tried to use brave search but only have 1 pages of result.

[Mike Gorman]

This is a genuine disappointment, we have been supporting this project for years now, I have directed people to use DDG myself, to offset the appalling dominance of Google. DDG is also voicing an intention to 'control misinformation' which we all know is code for : Censoring opinion and information which does not match the mainstream narratives. How really dreadfully disappointing: this produces a huge opportunity for other data scientists and entrepreneurs to build an alternative, this is going to be made difficult, but it is possible!
I have switched to the BRAVE browser, and I am also looking for options to search, Yandex I know of, but there are others out there.

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Interesting, never thought about using Brave but think I'll give it a try. Been using Firefox for at least 10 years since making the switch from IE. Firefox's biggest drawback for me is bloat. Here, with just a handful of tabs open and running it relatively bare bones, its gobbling near 2Gb of memory. Definitely will give it a try and see how it goes.

[Vicus]

new experiences...


A) Opera in normal modus (without VPN) can change from DDG to Starpage

B) Opera with VPN can´t change DDG for Starpage...

C) Brave don't like to change to Starpage...

D) I just find Rense.com is out, no new license bla bla...

[gord]

Posted by Mark (Star Mariner) (here)
Interesting, never thought about using Brave but think I'll give it a try. Been using Firefox for at least 10 years since making the switch from IE. Firefox's biggest drawback for me is bloat. Here, with just a handful of tabs open and running it relatively bare bones, its gobbling near 2Gb of memory. Definitely will give it a try and see how it goes.

Attachment 48601

I've been using Brave for a few years, and I still use Firefox, Chrome and LibreWolf for some things. Firefox users might like to check out LibreWolf, "A fork of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom."

To stay on topic, here's a list of alternative search engines and some information about them: Alternative Search Engines That Respect Your Privacy. Personally, I like the Random searX Redirector.

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

Well I downloaded Brave and had a look at it. Don't like it. It doesn't have a menu bar, you know, the Classic Menu Bar in the top left i.e. File | Edit | View | Tools etc...

I found out Brave used to have one, then phased it out. Why the hell would they do that? Do they want to shed their user base? That's a braindead move, and I found many Brave users on various forums that agree. I'm an old school PC guy that needs that feature. I need it on every program, and yes, I said program, not 'App'! - screw you computer newspeak. A classic menu bar is for me non-negotiable. Just have it as an option you can toggle on and off, same as Firefox! I did find an add-on from the Chrome store (Brave is basically built on the Chrome framework - lovely), and it's crap. So back to square one.

The reason Classic Menu Bars are classic is because they're the best ergonomic design. This is known. This is tried and tested. The best cars are the ones with wheels. Don't try and reinvent the wheel you moronic developers!

/rantoff

Edit: found this meme on my travels, re the OP