[clug] Startpage.com

[Scott Ferguson]

On 30/12/13 05:08, bc wrote:
> On Mon, 30 Dec 2013 01:28:47 +1100
> Scott Ferguson <scott.ferguson.clug at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> On 29/12/13 23:01, bc wrote:
>>> Hi, Given the security discussion the other week, I would like some
>>> thoughts on Startpage.com I have recently discovered this site and
>>> have been using it for about a month with no apparent problems.
>>
>>
>>> I get an SSL connection every time.
>>
>> I wouldn't put too much stock in SSL if I were you :)
>>
>>>
>>> Given that it is redirecting me to google
>>
>>
>> It's not redirecting you. It's a search query proxy. They're not the
>> first to resell Google search results, the others didn't fare well
>> (Google cut them off).
>>
>>> and normally redirecting is a no-no
>>
>> Only when it's deceptive.
>>
>>> I thought I would ask here.
>>>
>>> Thanks, Brian
>>>
>>
>> I'm afraid I can't see the point of that site. They poorly scrape
>> another search engine*1, make a lot of money but have no disernable
>> business model other than delivering target ads, the search results
>> make Bing look useful, and their privacy expert/researcher/activist
>> majored in Marketing (I've listened to her hard sell on US daytime
>> television). I note that they are "certified" by EuroPriSe, I'm not
>> sure who certified them but they aren't much on SSL (not even close):-
>> https://www.european-privacy-seal.eu/
>>
>> At best their claims are deceptive. "We DON'T record your IP address"
>> is an NSA-like statement - clearly they *do* log IP addresses. Drill
>> down and you'll find they "don't keep your IP address for more than
>> 48 hours" and "don't use ID cookies". Like the NSA don't keep calls,
>> only meta-data (the call collection is outsourced).
>> And, yes, they do use cookies... but not always, and we don't use them
>> for tracking (a 3rd party could though) and they're harmless (unless
>> you value your privacy).  Sigh.
>>
>>
>> Not that I'd use DuckDuckGetAway either, even if I trusted their
>> marketing speil I *know* not to trust the guy that runs it (his
>> previous venture made Ffffacebook look like privacy freaks).

Gabriel Weinberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_Database

It's probably appropriate to suggest some alternative, open source,
search engines:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_search_engines#Open_source_search_engines

also https://www.gigablast.com/ and others.

>>
>> *1 .htaccess and mod_rewrite can do that for me without needing
>> privacy policy not worth the paper they're written on.
>>
>>
>> Kind regards
> 
> Scott,
> Thanks heaps for that response, certainly put things into perspective.
> Not being a total geek(not even close really), what did you mean by 
> *1 .htaccess and mod_rewrite 


Create your own reverse proxy to process search engine queries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_proxy


> PM me if appropriate.
> Thanks,
> Brian
> 


Interesting subject matter. Thanks.