actually awesome and fast search engine (depending on which instance you use) with no trashy AI and ADs results also great for privacy, if you don’t know which instance to use go to https://searx.space/ and choose an instance closest to you

  • Shareni
    1·
    21 days ago

    Doesn’t that defeat the only benefit - anonymity?

    • ikidd@lemmy.worldEnglish
      61·
      21 days ago

      Not if it runs the queries it sends out via a VPN where it mingles with thousands of other requests. An API call doesn’t have the disadvantages of browser fingerprinting, cookies, etc that are used to build a background of a user browsing to your search engine and track their searches. Also, there is no feedback to the search engine about which result you choose to use. If you allow outside users, it would further muddy the waters.

      Ideally, you’d have it run random searches when not being used to further obfuscate the source.