Is There Life Beyond Google? Alternative Search Tools to Try

Privacy could be a thing of the past.

Governments, companies, advertisers, and other entities are constantly collecting information from you. Social media, websites, emails, and more take your information and share it with others daily. By inserting cookies and storing your searches, your information is surely not kept private.

Most people are aware of incognito mode in their Google browser. The public was under the impression that this browser was 100% private, and did not collect information like regular browsers. To the public’s dismay, this was not entirely the truth.

The major tech giant was introduced with a $5 billion lawsuit this past month. Google allegedly broke privacy laws by allowing Google Analytics, Google Ad Manager, and website plug-ins to collect data during incognito mode. They continued to track all searches on this mode, whether they be personal, intimate, or potentially embarrassing.

Google is currently sitting on $117 billion in liquid reserves, so unfortunately this lawsuit payout could just be a mere slap on the wrist. Fortunately, you have a choice as to who earns your business (and searches) online.

With this news of this privacy breach, Net Atlantic has put together a list of alternative search engine recommendations that you can safely browse on.

1. Startpage. This search alternative emphasizes privacy. They do not collect, share, or save any personal information, set cookies, or store IP addresses and searches. Try it out here: https://www.startpage.com/
2. DuckDuckGo. There are no data searches collected or stored. You also do not receive ads based on your searches. Use this link: https://duckduckgo.com/
3. OneSearch. Verizon’s search platform does not track your personal or search data or share it with advertisers. There are also no cookies. Click this: https://www.onesearch.com/
4. Swisscows. Their privacy policy reads “We do not collect any of our visitors’ personal information. None whatsoever.” Check it out: https://swisscows.com/
5. Bing. This engine does not share any personally identifying information publicly or with third-parties. Check it out: www.bing.com

Do you know of any other safe search engines? Let us know in the comments below!