[tor-bugs] #4902 [Tor Browser]: Change the default search engine in TBB

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#4902: Change the default search engine in TBB
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 Reporter:  phobos       |          Owner:  mikeperry
     Type:  enhancement  |         Status:  new      
 Priority:  normal       |      Milestone:           
Component:  Tor Browser  |        Version:           
 Keywords:               |         Parent:           
   Points:               |   Actualpoints:           
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Changes (by mk):

 * cc: mk@… (added)


Comment:

 First, the main problem with Google, as I see it, is that it tracks clicks
 on result pages, and has demonstrated its disregard for users privacy.
 Combined with users inevitably logging in to other Google-owned services,
 such as GMail, having Google search as a default provides for complete
 deanonymization when accessing URLs via search results.

 If you want DuckDuckGo to work like Scroogle, you can use the non-
 Javascript interface (see below). I will attempt to outline the technical
 pros and cons of some search engines.

 1. DuckDuckGo
   * Click tracking and advertisements can be disabled in URL parameters:
 http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/?q=test&kd=-1&k1=-1
   * Non-Javascript page has no click tracking, but cannot be configured
 (not via URL parameters either):
 http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/html/?q=test, and has an annoying “Spread
 DDG” sidebar, which takes time to load.
   * The regular page does not automatically use non-Javascript interface
 if Javascript is turned off, it just breaks.

 2. Ixquick via Google
   * Has high results quality and no click tracking (which Google does)
   * Supports Google's date filter
   * Uses POST requests (a problem with search extensions?), and GET
 support is apparently undocumented, but works:
 https://startpage.com/do/search?query=test

 3. Ixquick
   * Don't see why use it instead of its Google-results page

 3. Scroogle
   * Has high results quality and no click tracking (which Google does)
   * No date filter or any other configuration: https://ssl.scroogle.org
 /cgi-bin/nbbwssl.cgi?Gw=test
   * Dated and fragile

 I think that overall, DuckDuckGo is the best choice as a default search
 engine, given its support for Tor (including a hidden service to access
 the site), and that Ixquick via Google (startpage.com) is a good
 alternative for users who are dissatisfied with DuckDuckGo's results
 quality. This is probably the configuration that I will stay with use in
 Liberté Linux.

-- 
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/4902#comment:3>
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