←back to thread

Make DuckDuckGo your Chrome default search engine

(help.duckduckgo.com)
305 points evolve2k | 3 comments | 14 Jun 13 01:53 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
Show context
pilooch ◴[14 Jun 13 05:50 UTC] No.5878468[source]▶
DDG is nice initiative. The problem is that it does not solve any problem related to privacy because it is based on a matter of trust.

Distributed search, similar to bittorrent, DHT-based designs and the like are notoriously difficult.

I've participated in such efforts, like the Seeks Project [1], Yacy [2], and related initiatives like Unhosted [3], and it takes a certain amount of dedication (and suffering ;) ).

However, I believe it is not entirely impossible that we see a true alternative sometimes. From what experience, what is needed is a slightly better set of distributed algorithms, a business model with the ability to sustain such a technical effort, and a range of features that no search engine can yet offer (because centralized).

[1] http://www.seeks-project.info/ [2] http://www.yacy.net/ [3] https://www.unhosted.org/

replies(2): >>5878678 #>>5878846 #
ippisl ◴[14 Jun 13 08:15 UTC] No.5878846[source]▶
Which of those is the best for the average joe?
replies(1): >>5879368 #
1. pilooch ◴[14 Jun 13 11:55 UTC] No.5879368[source]▶
Probably none yet, unfortunately. Seeks is usable because it relies on Google or any other engine in the background, when no results are available among peers.

Yacy is more advanced, uses a DHT, but does not really work for daily use, the accuracy being too low.

Unhosted is distributed architecture on top of the Web really. I've mentioned it because it may be useful and/or an inspiration to whoever interested in these matters.

replies(1): >>5879454 #
2. ippisl ◴[14 Jun 13 12:16 UTC] No.5879454[source]▶
I've tried to download seeks, but it's linux only. This makes it much harder to build a large user community and to develop a decent business model.
replies(1): >>5884298 #
3. pilooch ◴[15 Jun 13 06:25 UTC] No.5884298[source]▶
Right, one way is to share one instance with someone you trust (and who runs a linux server), and to use it remotely.