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Here’s what consumers have asked with answers from StartPage staff and previous consumers.
When you use StartPage, we do not record your IP address, we do not record which browser you are using (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, etc.), we do not record your computer platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.), and we do not record the words or phrases you searched for. However, once you leave StartPage, by clicking on a search result you can be seen, recorded, and tracked by all of the websites you visit, plus you can be seen and targeted by all of their advertising and marketing partners and affiliates. StartPage does offer a very useful tool to protect your privacy even when you leave our website. If you are performing a particularly private or sensitive search and you do not wish for your visit to a third-party website be tracked, you can use the StartPage Proxy (shown next to each search result). The Proxy allows you to visit third-party websites through StartPage without anyone, including the website and its advertising partners, seeing you. Our proxy service is unique, and the privacy protection it provides is not available through any other search engine.
There is a recent article out that compares StartPage with DuckDuckGo that you might find helpful: http://securityspread.com/2016/10/24/duckduckgo-startpage-2016-update/ In addition, we just published an article thanking privactytools.io for naming StartPage a recommended search engine. This article lists some of the important features we offer: https://www.startpage.com/blog/our-latest-developments/privacytools-io-recommends-startpage-for-private-search/
Hi Gordon. You can save previous search sessions by changing from POST to GET in the Startpage Settings. Startpage defaults to "POST" for extra privacy. Here's more on POST vs. GET: https://support.startpage.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/747/0/post-versus-get Hope this helps! For more information on this or for help with the Settings, feel free to email our Support Team: Support@Startpage.com. Thank you for caring about privacy.
Hi Peter. The answer depends upon the browser you are using. Browsers like Firefox by Mozilla have "Add-ons" that can remove regular cookies, as well as persistent cookies. Most browsers have forums where you can get help with these kinds of tools. You might also visit the privacy-focused privacytools.io to see its list of recommended options. Ixquick never sets tracking cookies and does not log any user personal information, by the way. Thank you for your question. Hope this helps!
Hi Gordon, whether your browser is saving or watching what you're doing online, depends on the browser you're using. Your browser may retain a history of your visits and terms entered into form fields. Unfortunately, StartPage is not in a position to give any guarantees on what browsers store. It may be helpful to visit their private browsing/ anonymous information pages, and see what exactly it is they store. It would also help to define what exactly it is you wish to protect, i. E., search history, what you type into a field, where you browse, etc. - this will help you research the best way to protect yourself using a given browser. Hope this helps!
