Guide | 🎲 Vivaldi Search Engines Collection 🎲

[Catweazle]

@wintercoast, Google was once the best search engine. It has a broad base accumulated over many years. But this is no longer the case, not because of the number of results, this is large, but it has stopped being a valid search engine for several reasons:

The habit of logging searches, placing the results according to the user's preferences, this, apart from being a privacy problem, places the user in information isolation (Filter Bubble), that is, a flat earther will always find first Instead of his searches, articles and pages that confirm his delirium, instead of showing relevant results, show what the user wants to see.
Adding that it places the results not by relevance, but by pages that pay it the most for positioning.

To take advantage of the good part of Google, it is therefore better to use search engines that use the Google engine and its base, but without this tracking and distortion, such as StartPage or Whoogle.
To do reverse image searches, the best and most complete, by far, is Yandex.
The same thing applies to Bing as it does to Google, because it uses similar practices.

This is why it is always better to use a search engine focused on privacy and that does not log the user's searches and activities.

[wintercoast]

@Catweazle said in Guide | Vivaldi search engines collection :

To take advantage of the good part of Google, it is therefore better to use search engines that use the Google engine and its base, but without this tracking and distortion, such as StartPage or Whoogle.

Whenever I've compared Startpage and Google I've not noticed any difference in results. That's why when I want to do an ad hoc Google comparison I preferentially run up Startpage, to avoid Google. Not that I never use Google. It all depends on context. The main thing is to be aware of their business model!

Having said that when I'm logged in on YouTube, say, I do get served up content that aligns with my apparent views and content which doesn't. It's then up to me whether I click on it or not.

[Catweazle]

@wintercoast, anyway, it's never good when a search engine log your activity and searches,, because its always a security risk. Because you never know to which company Google sell your data and how this company use and protect this data. Several data leaks in the past proof this, where hundreds of thousands of sensitive user data was exposed, including banking and medical data.

In YT, well, not very important datas can be collected there, I don't mind at all that YT tries to profile my musical tastes, especially if they range from Renaissance music, Folk, Classical music to Black Metal and everything in between. Videos on other topics are so diverse, from science, astronomy, politics, medicine, archeology, architecture, DIY, history to humor, in three different languages, that they make it impossible to create a clear profile. Therefore the corresponding suggestions are a disaster.

It is not the same when on the Internet I search for or access administrations, bank and official affairs, medical appointments, insurance, etc., sensitive data that I am not going to entrust to Google or Bing.

I use Andisearch as my main search and Mojeek and Whoogle as secondary.

[Catweazle]

@stardepp, another one for the collection, PokeTube, an anonymous YT frontend, protected by proxie, see PP

https://poketube.fun/search?query=%s

[stardepp]

@Catweazle I was happy to add this search and I like this search quite a bit.

[stardepp]

With the update to Vivaldi version 6.4.3160.34, the search engine icon for Ecosia is displayed in the search bar again.

I am very happy about that.

[danielson]

Just spotted this one which seems to be default for Midori browser:

https://astiango.co

[stardepp]

@danielson Thanks for this tip, here is more information about this search. I have added this search to the collection.

https://astian.org

[Catweazle]

@stardepp, another GOOD one for your collection, GOOD is an European search engine, private, and similar to Ecosia support ONG with every search

GOOD is a non-profit search engine from Germany. It uses the search index of the Bing search engine. All advertising revenue is donated to charity and the non-profit is B Corp certified. Before a rebranding in 2022 GOOD was called gexsi.

https://good-search.org/en/search/?q=%s

[stardepp]

@Catweazle Very exciting...I will try it out and add it to the collection.

[stardepp]

@Catweazle

[Catweazle]

@stardepp, another nice one

What is smry?

Smry.ai provides users with a subtle method to obtain summarized content, effectively circumventing conventional paywalls. By simply appending "smry.ai/<url>" to the desired URL, users can effortlessly access instant summaries, offering an innovative way to navigate online content free from traditional subscription restrictions. Easy to use and highly reliable, Smry.ai also enables users to compare various internet archives such as Google Cache and Archive.org, ensuring transparency about the source of their content.

https://www.smry.ai/?url=%s

[Pathduck]

@Catweazle Good tip, works great for bypassing paywalls

[stardepp]

@Catweazle Which websites can be used with it? Could you give me an example?

[Catweazle]

@stardepp, supposedly in the vast majority, the list is on the official page in the form of scrolling logos.
In any case, I also use other systems, well working with proxie and a special one for scientific content, which does not eliminate the paywall, but searches a database in research centers for the original source and redirects there.
https://1ft.io
https://www.sci-hub.st

Andisearch also can summarize contents, but it isn't so complete, but also it's reader mode works sometimes.

[barbudo2005]

@Pathduck Said:

Good tip, works great for bypassing paywalls.

To bypass paywalls the extension to use is "Bypass Paywalls Chrome Clean":

https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-chrome-clean

The list of supported websites is endless.

[stardepp]

@Catweazle said in Guide | Vivaldi search engines collection :

@stardepp, another nice one

What is smry?

Smry.ai provides users with a subtle method to obtain summarized content, effectively circumventing conventional paywalls. By simply appending "smry.ai/<url>" to the desired URL, users can effortlessly access instant summaries, offering an innovative way to navigate online content free from traditional subscription restrictions. Easy to use and highly reliable, Smry.ai also enables users to compare various internet archives such as Google Cache and Archive.org, ensuring transparency about the source of their content.

https://www.smry.ai/?url=%s

I will not include this search engine in the collection because it is illegal.

[stardepp]

I have added the Tidal (music streaming) search to the collection.

[Catweazle]

@stardepp, not sure of this, summarize a content isn't the same as breaking or blocking paywalls, even BingAI, GoogleBart or Andi can do this. Other methode is what Sci-hub do, in case of a paywall in a scientific publication it search the text in the original source, if exist.
Nobody can create an paid account in every newspaper or publication to be able to read an article, this can only be expected for people who read this magazine or newscast every day.

[Catweazle]

@stardepp, nice, fast, own search index, OpenSource, private: Stract

https://trystract.com/search?ss=false&sr=N4IgNglg1gpgJiAXAbQLoBoRwgZ0rBFDEAIzAHsBjApNAXyA&q=%s&optic=