Reasons To Abandon Google For Private Search Engines
Our reliance on tech giants has empowered them tremendously at the expense of our privacy. We have collectively traded in freedom for comfort, but where does that take us to 10 years down the line?
It’s time we hit the brakes on the relentless erosion on our privacy and turn to encrypted search engines instead. While the rest of the world is only just waking up to the idea, France has already sworn off Google, and we should all take a leaf out of their book.
The French already have bidden farewell to Google
To protect themselves from Google’s extensive data collection and retention policies, The French National Assembly stated that they would abandon Google and adopt Qwant on all devices within the French government.
Alphabet’s Google was fined $57 million or €50 million by France’s watchdog of data protection on 14th January 2019 due to a breach of the European Union’s privacy rules. This penalty is the biggest ever levied against a United States tech giant.
Privacy breaches by Google that you need to know
A massive data leak of 500,000 Google+ users’ personal information was uncovered in 2018. Google found fault in a network glitch, which was assumed to have existed from four years prior. Who knows how much damage had been done before this was a known issue.
Yes, data breaches are everywhere, so what? Pause for a moment and think about how much Google knows about you, and how much you entrust the company to keep safe for you: your search history, browser history, confidential emails, to name but a few. What happens if that sort of sensitive data is leaked too? Shouldn’t we all be on the run from this data-hungry machine?
If it’s impossible to cut Google out of your life, at least stay away from its search engine when there are multiple outstanding alternatives out there.
Why is using an encrypted search engine the best idea?
Surely, Google provides users with incognito mode for private browsing. It does not keep a record of your cookies history, bookmarks, or saved searches. However, the incognito mode cannot stop your information from being collected by third parties since you can still be tracked with your DNS records.
On the other hand, private search engines protect you from being tracked as they don’t log your activity.
Features of encrypted search engines
You can enjoy the below benefits of encrypted search engines which you will not find in Google.
Anonymity
An encrypted search engine does not store your search history or track your activity. When you search, your query will be dissociated from your IP address as it goes through a proxy server, ensuring your anonymity.
No targeted advertisements
The advertisements on encrypted search engines are solely based on your current search term, not your previous browsing history. Encrypted search engines do not run an advertising network like Google.
What does the future hold?
Voice search is already taking the market by storm. AI is getting better at understanding natural language, and soon machines will always be listening to feed us with information even before we search for them.
While that might be hugely convenient, it is leading us to a highly invasive and sinister future. Should your device be eavesdropping on your life 24/7 just so you can save minutes a day typing in commands? Surely that’s not what we want.
Major tech companies behind popular search engine companies will always be harvesting data from your online activity. When they do, it will not be solely for the betterment of your digital experience, but also for governments to tighten their grip on citizens. It’s time you find alternatives to secure your personal information from spying eyes.