Safe search engines: 3 good providers compared

Your search behavior reveals a lot about you personally, which is why secure search engines with special privacy protection are increasingly in demand. Alternatives to the "data octopus" Google are becoming more and more interesting for users. Here we present three search engine providers who keep your data to themselves and protect your identity.

DuckDuckGo.com: Anonymous search engine from the USA

The most widely used secure alternative with over ten million searches a day is DuckDuckGo. The servers of the search engine provider are located in the USA, but DuckDuckGo.com has some interesting features.

• Your IP address will not be saved when you search on DuckDuckGo.com.
• Tracking cookies are also not used.
• DuckDuckGo uses encryption using HTTPS.
• In addition, different themes can be set and the page display can thus be adjusted.
• The search engine can also be accessed via the Tor network. The provider also operates its own hidden service.
• The search results aren't perfect, but they're still pretty useful.

Startpage.com: The most discreet search engine in the world

Startpage.com calls itself "the most discreet search engine in the world". Startpage has been merged with Ixquick since 2016.

• Startpage.com promises not to save any IP addresses.
• Tracking cookies are also omitted.
• The search engine's servers are located in the Netherlands.
• Startpage.com can also be reached from the Tor network.
• A particularly nice function: In addition to the search hits, you will find the "Open anonymously" option. This encrypts the connection to the corresponding website with a proxy server.
• The search results themselves are obtained from Google.
• As proof of safe searching, Startpage.com is the only search engine that is certified under EU data protection law.

MetaGer.de: Safe searching made in Germany

All MetaGer.de servers are located in Germany and are therefore fully subject to German data protection law. The search engine is funded and developed by SUMA-EV and Leibnitz University Hannover.

• Also at MetaGer.de neither the IP addresses are logged nor tracking cookies are used.
• The connection to the search engine is encrypted via HTTPS.
• As with Startpage.com, you can open the result web pages by clicking on "Open anonymously" and hide them behind a proxy server.
• Like the other search engines presented, MetaGer.de can also be reached via the Tor network.

Conclusion - Search anonymously with safe Google alternatives

All three search engines neither log your IP nor use tracking cookies. All providers also use HTTPS encryption. DuckDuckGo delivers the best search results in the test - but the servers are located in the USA and are therefore subject to the laws there. You can get confirmed security with Startpage.com. The EU data protection certification certifies that the search engine has complied with the promise of anonymity. If you do not want to leave the German national borders when searching and trust the narrow German data protection guidelines, a search with MetaGer.de is worthwhile. However, Google remains undefeated in terms of search convenience.

The protection of your privacy does not have to stop with a mobile internet excursion. In the next article we will show you which are the best apps for anonymous surfing.