Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#1

Post by rms_returns » Sat, May 18, 2019, 12:54 PM UTC

I'd made a similarly titled post[1] a couple years back and I seriously don't know what kind of usage DuckDuckGo has right now. But I'd like to think that it is extensively used, at least in the developer community. And I strongly believe that people should start degoogling their lives at least slowly and gradually if its not possible to do it at once. If more people start using DDG, the search engine will improve and that least that one aspect of degoogling could be achieved to a certain extent.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13284917

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#2

Post by cvnyw » Sat, May 18, 2019, 1:57 PM UTC

I've been using it for a few months and I find myself using !g for like 4 out of 5 requests. Also image search is VERY slow, images load like in a slideshow. I'll end up going back to Google.

I like the idea of DDG and I have a strong dislike for Google but DDG is simply not there yet. Having said that it's better than it was five years ago, when it was simply insufferable. So, maybe in five years? ;)

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#3

Post by octosphere » Sat, May 18, 2019, 1:57 PM UTC

I like DuckDuckGo if it wasn't for their data centers being in the U.S. My problem lies in the fact that they could have an intelligence agency like the NSA in their data centers and they could attribute specific queries to specific users by looking at the originating IP. I'm not even sure they have a canary[0] [1] implemented. This is why combining DDG with an anonymous mixer network like Tor is useful (or even a VPN). You're probably wondering why my threat model includes the likes of the NSA. Well I just don't want spying, simple as that.

Sure, Tor might seem like overkill, but over time all those single, isolated queries start to build an elaborate dossier on you and the contents of your mind.

[0] https://duck.co/forum/thread/15228/would-you-adopt-a-canary

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_canary

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#4

Post by [deleted] » Sat, May 18, 2019, 1:59 PM UTC

octosphere wrote: post #3

I like DuckDuckGo if it wasn't for their data centers being in the U.S. My problem lies in the fact that they could have an intelligence agency like the NSA in their data centers and they could attribute specific queries to specific users by looking at the originating IP. I'm not even sure they have a canary[0] [1] implemented. This is why combining DDG with an anonymous mixer network like Tor is useful (or even a VP…

[deleted]

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#5

Post by maverickmax90 » Sat, May 18, 2019, 2:01 PM UTC

startpage.com

Way better in search and privacy

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#6

Post by ravenstine » Sat, May 18, 2019, 2:01 PM UTC

cvnyw wrote: post #2

I've been using it for a few months and I find myself using !g for like 4 out of 5 requests. Also image search is VERY slow, images load like in a slideshow. I'll end up going back to Google. I like the idea of DDG and I have a strong dislike for Google but DDG is simply not there yet. Having said that it's better than it was five years ago, when it was simply insufferable. So, maybe in five years? ;)

Weird, I haven't found their image search slow. I just wish I could search by usage rights.

Also, I suggest using !s instead of !g so that you still get Google results without actually being redirected to Google.

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#7

Post by antidaily » Sat, May 18, 2019, 2:02 PM UTC

ravenstine wrote: post #6

cvnyw wrote: post #2

I've been using it for a few months and I find myself using !g for like 4 out of 5 requests. Also image search is VERY slow, images load like in a slideshow. I'll end up going back to Google. I like the idea of DDG and I have a strong dislike for Google but DDG is simply not there yet. Having said that it's better than it was five years ago, when it was simply insufferable. So, maybe in five years? ;)

Weird, I haven't found their image search slow. I just wish I could search by usage rights. Also, I suggest using !s instead of !g so that you still get Google results without actually being redirected to Google.

Same. Its fine.

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#8

Post by elandrum » Sat, May 18, 2019, 2:02 PM UTC

cvnyw wrote: post #2

I've been using it for a few months and I find myself using !g for like 4 out of 5 requests. Also image search is VERY slow, images load like in a slideshow. I'll end up going back to Google. I like the idea of DDG and I have a strong dislike for Google but DDG is simply not there yet. Having said that it's better than it was five years ago, when it was simply insufferable. So, maybe in five years? ;)

That’s odd, that’s not been my experience at all. I’ve been using DDG exclusively for probably 4 years now. I rarely use !g.

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#9

Post by detaro » Sat, May 18, 2019, 2:03 PM UTC

maverickmax90 wrote: post #5

startpage.com Way better in search and privacy

In what way is it better in privacy?

Re: Let's start using DuckDuckGo more often

#10

Post by pseudoramble » Sat, May 18, 2019, 2:04 PM UTC

cvnyw wrote: post #2

I've been using it for a few months and I find myself using !g for like 4 out of 5 requests. Also image search is VERY slow, images load like in a slideshow. I'll end up going back to Google. I like the idea of DDG and I have a strong dislike for Google but DDG is simply not there yet. Having said that it's better than it was five years ago, when it was simply insufferable. So, maybe in five years? ;)

In my experience, I've been using it for a few years now and I've maybe used !g 4 or 5 times total in the past couple of years. I find the performance of image searches just fine myself. So it's always fascinating to see that people report such different experiences with DDG.

It's hard to know for sure what's happening though. Maybe my searches are just very simple and don't need anything complex? Maybe I'm luckier and always have fast internet connections? Maybe it's some other factor I'm not thinking of? Who knows without trying to come up with a more systematic way to compare things.