Startpage tries to position itself as a privacy-respecting search engine that gives you Google results. They do shield users from Google but after being bought by an ad company their credibility has become shakey. Not only should users expect exploitation by ad companies, but Startpage also pays Google for API access. So Google still profits from startpage.com queries, which means you still contribute by proxy to privacy abuse as well as climate denial (Google has been caught financing climate denial).

Anyway, the screenshot attached shows how Startpage now treats Tor users after entering a search query. This isn’t just a DoS but it also shows disrespect for Tor users time to let them enter the query before denying access. They likely do this because the query itself has value for their data collection.

    • @ufrafecy
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      3 years ago

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  • @realcaseyrollins
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    34 years ago

    I’ve noticed this recently. Sometimes switching to a new Tor identity helps.

  • @ufrafecy
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    3 years ago

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    • @dirtfindrOP
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      24 years ago

      Sorry to say I have not. This is just a blurb on what I’ve encountered with Startpage so far, and I almost never use Startpage.

      I was highly motivated to analyze DDG b/c masses of people were being fooled by their privacy propaganda. But Startpage has not been a significant enough offender to get my focus.

      • @ufrafecy
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        • @dirtfindrOP
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          24 years ago

          BTW, i can’t take credit for finding that text selection leak… I got an anonymous tip about that and tested it.