Want to switch search engine

[vito]

Like most people, I use Google to look for everything. But part of me knows that Google is no friend of the 2nd Amendment, President Trump, or anyone that supports either like the NRA. Maybe it doesn't matter much, but knowing that the items shown on a search are being manipulated by Google from a Leftist perspective, as well as knowing that with their data mining Google probably knows more about me than I know about myself, I am interested in at least trying an alternative search engine. Any suggestions?

At the same time I am seriously thinking about doing something that many on this forum have said they have done, that is, eliminating all social media websites from my daily life. I don't use Twitter, or Instagram, but I do admit that I use Facebook frequently. I started using it as a means of seeing photos of my grandchildren posted by my children, and have enjoyed the apparent irritation I cause to my Left wing family members with my pro-NRA, pro-Trump comments and "shares" but I think maybe the time is due for me to just exit from Facebook altogether.

 

[wwb]

I use Mozilla Firefox for web browser, and dogpile for a search engine. With Firefox, you can use "add ons" of all sorts. I use ghostery (prevents people from tracking you, as it gives false ip addresses to any tracker), and add block plus to kill pop-up ads.

A caveat.... I run Linux, and I'm not sure how, or even if, this all works with windows or mac, but dogpile will work just fine.

www.dogpile.com You can select the web in its entirety (default), or choose to limit your search to images, news items, or videos.

 

[caryc]

I also use Firefox for my browser but I use "Startpage" for my search engine. They don't take any of your personal info.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Firefox with Duckduckgo.com for search engine. They claim not to track you, but Goggle's tentacles are long and busy, so you probably give them plenty of info by doing little more than logging in right here! Ever see the little "Google Analytics" URL pop up in the lower left of your screen as you open/log in to a webpage? They're everywhere... even here, at least in the past.

Rick C

 

[Kevin]

but knowing that the items shown on a search are being manipulated by Google from a Leftist perspective

I’m not sure you can say items ARE being manipulated....

Besides, other, smaller search engines, aside from Google, more than likely piggyback their searches off of Google. For example, Apple uses Yelp for the Apple map features.

So switching search engines will probably only be a “feel good” move on your part.

Think ANY internet company doesn’t track you? I work with a computer guy, he always tells me, if you cannot figure out what the product is that a company sells...then YOU are the product.

Someone mentioned “startpage” they aren’t doing anything for free. The internet has turned into a giant data mine for companies to track users. There is just no way around it other than turn off the computer.

I’m not being critical, but many of these web companies use the same code and often run on the same servers. Amazon does a whole lot more than sell stuff on their consumer website. They host lots and lots of websites on their AWS system.

Take a look at Google stock $1200 or AMazon, it’s $1900 a share. We are all the product....

 

[Montelores]

I'll ask a brazen question.

Is it really a concern if Google / Amazon / Twitter / FB / etc. track your internet business?

Will they then present you with advertising goodies so tempting that you can't say, "No!"

I read a story about a co-worker who (intentionally) uttered the phrase "leveling cement" in the presence of his smart phone.

Guess what type of advertisements began popping up in his internet meanderings?

Are you so weak of resolve that you can't keep yourself from purchasing un-needed leveling cement?

(Pardon the apparent harshness - a rhetorical question. :wink: )

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/020515/business-google.asp

My point is that you're fair game anyway, but, if you're basing your life decisions on internet output, you might have bigger problems.

(Did I just unwittingly undercut my own argument? :wink: )

Best -

Monty

 

[Pat-inCO]

Any suggestions?

Decide if you are a liberal or a conservative.

Your decision. Just take your time and make one.

You seem to spend inordinate amounts of time trying to decide if you are
this or that and doing a tippi-toe around them. Take your time and make
. . . your . . . decision. Then commit to it.

 

[steveodtw]

I also use Firefox for my browser but I use "Startpage" for my search engine. They don't take any of your personal info.

+1 for. both. I love Startpage. No pop-ups, ads, crap. Just what I want to see, custom built. It's on the cloud so any changes on desktop pc automatically appear on my laptop pc.

 

[contender]

"I also use Firefox for my browser but I use "Startpage" for my search engine. They don't take any of your personal info."

Same here.

 

[dougader]

"I also use Firefox for my browser but I use "Startpage" for my search engine. They don't take any of your personal info."

Same here.

+1 more...

 

[exavid]

Firefox, browser; Duck duck go, search engine; Thunderbird email and Ad Blocker.
In place of Microsoft Word I've used Open Office for years.
It's free, compatible with .doc files and every bit as good as Word.

 

[Cracker-American]

I use and like Duck Duck Go. And I get a little feeling of satisfaction knowing I have just stuck my finger in google's eye.

 

[toysoldier]

Being just about totally computer ignorant, I don't know what this sounds like, but I use Bing, as it gives better results than Google.

 

[vito]

One of my sons is a computer forensic investigator for a state agency. I asked him about this issue and he said that while some of the Google algorithms may in fact discriminate against some conservative sites, the stated goal of Google is to limit access to known hate sites. When I asked him about alternative search engines he said that all of them that he is aware of search a far smaller domain of the internet than does Google, and/or actually uses Google searches and presents them as their own. He said that for good or bad, right now Google is almost unavoidable for use if you want a truly broad reaching search engine. In the past I often used Bing, which apparently is second only to Google in its widespread use, but I found its searches less comprehensive seeming that what I would find on Google.

FWIW, I tried searching on Google for subjects that likely would involve the NRA and its programs, as an example, such as their Home Shield program. When asking about "school security" or "school security assessments" the NRA program did not appear at all within the first five pages of search results for either search. Maybe this indicates that the NRA program is not as widespread as some others, but it appears to me that there is some deliberate attempt to diminish awareness of this NRA program. When I did a search for "oldest civil rights organizations" numerous search results on the first page mentioned the NRA claim of being the oldest such organization in the U.S., but also stated that this claim was not accurate. Maybe some members here that are more skilled in web searches could do a better analysis to see just how biased, if at all, Google really is in their search criteria.

 

[Taterman]

Firefox, browser; Duck duck go, search engine; Thunderbird email and Ad Blocker.
In place of Microsoft Word I've used Open Office for years.
It's free, compatible with .doc files and every bit as good as Word.

I use all of the exact same here. I don't trust google searches.

 

[mistermills357]

I have tried MS Edge, and it is OK. I try to use Yahoo for search, but it is tough to do at times. Everything is set up to use Google now, and I don't know why that is.
It is better than most, but it ain't all that great.