cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/4448974

I’ve recently started using a self hosted SearXNG instance but I’m still using the search engines enabled by default (google, duckduckgo and qwant). What search engines do you have enabled or which ones do you feel you’ve gotten the best results with?

  • rizoid@midwest.socialEnglish
    10·
    1 年前

    I can’t be bothered to self host a search engine. I just stick to duck duck go and I’ve tried some whoogle instances but I just prefer ddg at this point.

  • banazir@lemmy.ml
    8·
    1 年前

    I’ve stuck with DuckDuckGo for years. It’s mostly gotten pretty good if you search in English. Other languages can be iffy.

  • Saki@monero.townEnglish
    3·
    1 年前

    I just did some tests on DDG (sorry OP, not related to SearXNG). If you use it normally, they put a lot of images from URL like improving.duckduckgo.com/t/we?monitor=you&spying=secretly&id=etc (supposedly for improving DDG by gathering statistical blah blah). Their no-JavaScript version is much less invasive.

    Solution(s): 1) uBlock is highly recommended, 2) if possible disable JS, 3) try Tor Browser, which is just an anonymity version of Firefox

      • Saki@monero.townEnglish
        1·
        1 年前

        Thanks, didn’t know LibreJS. Its concept is interesting. But there is a libre tracking JavaScript too. Besides, these tracking URLs on DDG are images (“web bugs”), not scripts. uBlock blocks these things on DDG already on its own.

        Noscript can easily disable JavaScript for specific domain(s). One can install this add-on (or if you use TB it’s already there by default). So if disabling JS partially or totally is acceptable, that’s one of the options for DDG.

    • Mkengine@feddit.de
      2·
      1 年前

      I am testing both for personal use right now, can you share your experience and how you came to the decision which to use for personal use and which for work?

      • sculd@beehaw.org
        2·
        1 年前

        Qwant has very similar search results to Google which I need for work. DDG is IMO more private so I use it for personal stuff.

        Also Qwant has better results than DDG is languages other than English.

  • Killercat103@infosec.pub
    2·
    1 年前

    Presearch. I don’t care for the crypto features. (I already got Monero anyway) but the concept of a decentralized search engine is interesting.

  • Saki@monero.townEnglish
    1·
    1 年前

    Sorry, this question was SearXNG specific, so MetaGer was irrelevant. I’ve never self-hosted it, but I’d say Brave. It’s supposed to have its own index (correct me if I’m wrong), so one can expect some diversity.

    As for DDG, there shouldn’t be any problems if used via SearXNG. In general, there are a few comments about DDG here: https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-1164105.html and I quote:

    Negative:

    ~1-2 years back they collected data on which search results their users clicked on by default with their own link-forwarder. After some outcry they removed that. Their “privacy browser” allowed third party cookies by Microsoft to track their users because DDG made a deal with them without telling anyone. When it came out Gabriel Weinberg released some BS statements.

    Positive:

    DDG doesn’t even have a Linux browser, but I love their Android browser. The DDG search engine provides results that are quite fine

  • LainOfTheWired@lemy.lolEnglish
    1·
    1 年前

    I’m planing on self hosting a Searx instance. But right now I’m very happy with DuckDuckGo. I find I get less biased results and a lot of the time I prefer it’s results to google. And for the odd time I want an image and DDG isn’t giving me what I want I use bing, which is probably the best search engine for images from my experience.

    • 3yiyo3@lemmy.ml
      5·
      1 年前

      Unfortunately DDG blocks piracy related searches and torrents, that’s why I don’t support them anymore, also they plan on banning “misinformation” whatever that means. I don’t like it anymore.