[ubuntu-studio-devel] Default search engine

[Ralf Mardorf]

On Sat, 2013-09-14 at 16:39 -0400, Mike Holstein wrote:
> lets try and keep this separated out and clear. moving away from
> google is just that, moving away from google. it has nothing to do
> with the NSA alleged "spying".

+1

> i personally wouldn't mind a nag at first search with factual links
> and a prompt to choose a preferred search provider.

That's a good idea, but assumed it's not easy to provide, pro
https://startpage.com/ by Ixquick is speaking, that it does use Google,
but claims to adds privacy and it's default family filter is a minor
annoyance that comes with the advantage, that it's family friendly. I
got very good results when using Start Page with family filter enabled,
the only drawback are ads, but who cares, since those are the same ads
that Google does list.

Results are more or less the same as for a Google search, but while
Google collects private data, Start Page prevents against the data
collecting and while Google's default does search for sex and violence,
it's filtered for Start Page's default settings.

Google and all other famous search engines offend privacy, the only
engines I know, that pretend to respect privacy, are Duck Duck Go and
Ixquick, but a Linux newbie is screwed when using those engines to solve
a Linux issue. Google, resp. Start Page provide much better hits.

I wonder that Google always is the default, IMO it doesn't fit that good
to GNU, that's why I ask to replace Google by Start Page.

For those who fear the NSA, regarding to protection against intelligence
agencies or criminals, I've got doubts that Start Page is much more
secure and even while Start Page does claim
"The IP address that is associated with your search will NOT be
recorded", "We don't collect any personal information on our visitors"
etc. it does benefit from Google, a company that does collect all that
data, so ethically it still might be shady to use Start page instead of
Google, but IMO Start Page is the successor of Scroogle, whereas
Scroogle never worked that good as Start Page does.

2 Cents,
Ralf