Ecosia adds “contractually forced” Microsoft Clarity tracking (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/clarity/setup-and-installation/about-clarity | privacy faq : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/clarity/faq#privacy), which will record the behaviour of users on the website. Recording clics, size, and more.

They will also add an optional Google setting. Enabling the cookie will allow to get search results from Google, but also to get tracked by Google.

Optional Microsoft advertising tracking is still a thing, tho it may not be necessary if Bing can get a fingerprint and behaviour of the user in real time…

This may be the final flow for Ecosia for me. Unless somehow the Microsoft Clarity can be private… But I don’t think so.

  • Smokeydope@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I don’t want to spam but just wrote up a huge ass comment detailing several novel and open source search engines that don’t get talked about much. If anyone here would like to learn more about SearX, Marginalia Search, and YaCy feel free to check it out

    • whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      aren’t they using bing also? (I never checked, and still not going to check right now… because I’m …)

      I’m using duckduckgo but how would they avoid this if Microsoft make it mandatory by contract?

    • Tetsuo@jlai.lu
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      9 months ago

      My only concern with DDG is that they are US based and as far as I know they can be submitted to a gag order and forced to silently give private data to some agencies.

      After the Snowden leaks this doesn’t inspire much confidence in their ability to protect the privacy of their users.

      I think they simply can’t guarantee any privacy even if they have good intentions.

      • overcast5348@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Can you even create an account on ddg? What data do they have on you?

        Not being argumentative, I’m genuinely curious.

        • Tetsuo@jlai.lu
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          9 months ago

          You can create an account on DDG.

          Even if you don’t they can probably link your IP to search requests.

          And even if they refuse, some agency could probably install their own software to track users.

          I understand this looks like paranoia but again considering the invasion of privacy the NSA did in the past, it’s not really far fetched.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      They don’t give as good results anymore. I was with them from the beginning when they had that bubble page showing that they don’t trap you in a bubble.

      Now my results show very specific results to my location even when I have it disabled and set to all regions.

  • az04@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I use Ecosia for the environmental aspect, not the privacy, so I’m gonna stay with it.

    • zerofk@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Same, plus clearing all cookies when closing the browser. Still, combining search tterms and IP is giving me pause.

      • Tibert@jlai.luOP
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        9 months ago

        Ecosia doesn’t apply tracking cookies. And fingerprinting does not need cookies. It just needs to know what you are.

        Device size, information, browser… And other shared info.

    • ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca
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      9 months ago

      It’s fine, it’s bing with a portion of profit going to charity (tree planting)

      The option to use google search instead while still having part of the profit going to charity also isn’t a bad thing

      If you’re using either then this is the more ethical option

  • Scottmc@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Is there a reason people aren’t suggesting startpage as an alternative to ecosia or DuckDuckGo?

    • Tibert@jlai.luOP
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      9 months ago

      Not sure using Ecosia has any benefit if using ublock to block everything.

  • Pooptimist@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    I just made the switch from duck duck go, because I read there was some sketchy shit going on as well… Can someone recommend me an alternative for both of them?

  • cybersandwich@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    Ecosias results are almost as bad as DDGs.

    Just get kagi and remember what good web searching feels like.