
Still others use a totally independent index of the web, and skip Big Tech altogether. Other options “proxy” your searches, meaning Google / Bing only see queries coming from a single server that’s not associated with you. Some still use Google or Microsoft Bing as their core index, but build in extra privacy protections. These “no-tracking” search engines deliver high-quality results without the threat of Big Tech’s surveillance, and they can work in a few different ways. To really block Google from tracking your online activity, you’ll need to switch to a no-tracking search engine. Private or “incognito” browsing windows are no fix either-these just hide browsing (and search) history on your device. What is a “no-tracking” search engine?įirst, let’s clear up a common misconception: While there are some easy things you can do to limit what Google collects, like changing preferences so that Google doesn’t track your search history, these are only a superficial fix.

In this article, we’ll dig deeper on how search engines like Google track you online, and offer some private alternatives. Thankfully, there are search engines that don’t track you. If you’re uncomfortable with this level of surveillance, you’re not alone. And of course, if you search for something on, Google records what you searched and what you clicked. If you use Google Maps to chart your route home, Google records it.

If you’re logged into Google, and you watch a video on YouTube, Google records it.

Its browser (Chrome) and search engine are just tools to collect data- your data-and then use it to sell highly targeted ad space. But while Google’s search engine can deliver very good results, it’s not at all good on user privacy. As the most widely used option on the market, “Google” has become a verb-the brand is synonymous with the function. When you hear “search engine,” you probably think Google.
