How many times have you sat through and read a set of terms and services? It’s a lot to read and the majority of people simply click “agree”. Did you know that when you use Google, you’re agreeing for the popular search engine to use any data that you type while you’re using the free service? That might seem harmless, but data mining can quickly become dangerous. What if you search for apartments for rent in a specific area?
Maybe you sign up for a credit card or apply for a new job by using Google. This allows the search engine to keep any of that sensitive information and do whatever they’d like with it. Many people don’t realize that they allow Google to use their location. This allows Google to easily track you, everywhere you go. Thankfully there are plenty of high-quality alternatives to Google that are safe and secure. Let’s take a look at five of the best options available.
Safe Alternatives
DuckDuckGo
The first safe and secure alternative to Google that you may enjoy is DuckDuckGo. Many people enjoy using this option because it’s easy to navigate, due to its likeness to Google. DuckDuckGo allows you to easily search for whatever you need to without any risk of your data being compromised. It won’t leak your personal information and unlike Google, it doesn’t have any data breaches from hackers.
Hot.com
The second alternative that you can use instead of Google is Hot.com. This privacy-oriented search engine is great for any of your inquiry requests. You’ll be able to look up things just like you would on other popular search engines. Hot.com doesn’t track your location and won’t even keep a history of your searches. Even though it’s relatively new, it’s incredibly secure, just like your personal information should be.
Ecosia
When it comes to staying away from data miners, Ecosia is a solid option as well. This search engine is designed fairly similar to Google. It’s easy to use and the privately-owned company even plants a tree for every 45 searches from each user. You’re able to look up local restaurants, sporting events, recipes, or anything else you need. Ecosia won’t give your data to third parties and is safe enough for young kids to use.
Swisscow
Another data mining-free search engine that you can use is called Swisscow. When you use this search engine, you won’t have to worry about your sensitive information getting into the wrong hands when using Swisscow. A private server is what controls Swisscow, providing even more security for those who choose to use it.
One thing that may be important to note is that you will see curated advertisements when using this privacy-oriented search engine. Don’t let this scare you off. The ads are based off your current search inquiry, not your location or search history.
Hotbot
Hotbot actually uses Google to get you the results that you’re looking for. This meta-search engine is privacy oriented. This means that even though Hotbot uses a handful of the most popular search engines to bring you your results, those search engines won’t be able to keep any information from you since they won’t have access to it in the first place. Hotbot allows users to find the most relevant results in a quick manner.
Final Thoughts
We understand that you may be used to using Google, who isn’t? Many of these search engine alternatives above navigate very similarly to Google, making them easy to use for newcomers. It’s not worth continuing to use the same unsafe search engine just because you’re used to it. Try one of these amazing alternatives today to keep your sensitive information safe and still get the results that you’re looking for.