Alternative search engines

I think they're called search engines
Anyway, I got Duck go and Startpage because I thought they'd be 'safer' than Google, but every time I scanned my computer I was told there were 8 or 9 threats every time. One time there were 11 threats - they're PUMs or something - whatever those are, but I didn't like the sound of it.
So I uninstalled the new search engines and went back to Google, and I've had no threats since.
I'll stay with Google - I don't mind if they can track me. I don't have secrets or do anything illegal ... and who's going to care if I look at Gardeners corner or not.

Probably someone will say something contradictory, but I don't care, I feel safer without threats

 

I don't use Google Michael but Edge/Bing. Many don't like it but I've had no problems with it and it provides what I need.

 

Interesting, would like to know what security / scanner programs you are running that says it has found these PUPs. (potentially unwanted program)

Have used Duck Duck a bit and our scanners never showed anything wrong.

Also what Browser are you using Chrome , Edge etc ?

 

The security program I use is Malwearbites.
The browser is Google - not Chrome, just the ordinary one.

 

We use Malwarebytes too , a good free program.
Chrome - Google , one and the same, though we use Firefox or Brave to avoid Googles tracking etc. Brave good for cutting out lots of the Ytube ads.

Assume you have Windows Defender ( W10 and W11 versions) running automatically, which also scans your whole system from time to time and is very good, though it would seem it has not detected/reported any problems ?

Looking around found no reports of DDG or Startpage causing more PUPs than any other, possibly more that you were directed to different sites earlier than those that Google only shows very low down in its search lists.

If you do get any more PUP reports, make a note of what they are to see if its the same ones are showing up each time.

Though not desirable, it does not always mean they are malicious.

 

Thank you. I haven't had any more reports of PUPs or anything else so I'll staying with Google now, Why would they be interested in tracking me anyway, I only look at garden forums and information about cacti etc. It's of no use to them.

 

They want to track you and monitor what you communicate about so they can tailor advertising that may be of interest to you.
So in your case you'd get ads for greenhouses, cacti fertilizers etc etc. Anything to do with gardening.

As to what else they do with the information, who knows........??

 

I've got adblockers so I never see any. Even the ones on the tv (when I have it on) I ignore, I press the mute button.
I also don't understand why, out of the millions of people who use it, they'd want information about me, there's nothing to find out ... and I bet even with using other search engines, if someone wants to find things out about you, they will.

 

Firefox is probably the best browser and use extensions like ublock origin. Brave is good too but it's chromium based

 

Another vote for Firefox, been using it for many years. Now got it on ipad as well as desktop.

 

Its not YOU , they are after everyone.

Same with Gmail where Google reads all the content of all mails , but in a way it can be safer than some other email options because you are just one tiny fragment of the c. 300 billions of daily emails.

 

What would they 'do' with my email content ? I get very few, and there's nothing to find anyway, it's only an occasional chat with my cousin or brother, about nothing, it will bore them stiff.
And I feel safer without the threats I got when the other search engines were installed.

 

I finally got fed up with Google putting an AI-generated summary at the top of every search so I've switched my default search engine (in Firefox browser) to DuckDuckGo. Silly name, but whatever. It has options to turn off the AI. I loathe Edge and Bing. I only use Edge if I come across a website that doesn't work in Firefox (my 1st choice) or Chrome (2nd choice).

 

As @Pete8 said eariler, its mainly about finding keywords thats used to create adverts for you.
Google and others collect the data and then sell it to suppliers of said goods, but its not just you, its thousands of potential customers at a time.
Like @JennyJB has just said , when you search Google you often find some of the initial sites listed are "sponsored" and its by clicking on them that you may pick up PUPs or scams etc.

We all just have to be careful these days..... but you seem to have things under control .

 

I never get anything labelled 'Sponsored' on Google searches, but I always did on the Startpage and DDGo ones ... so the PUPs must have come from there. That's decided me then, I'm staying with Google.
And as I said I've got adblockers so I never see any ads (not that I'd take notice of them anyway)

I never see anything like that on my Google searches.