Google has been the boss of all search engines for some time now, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to give up its dominance and take a breather anytime soon. Although, people are starting to wake up to just how much power this tech giant holds.
I’m sure by now you know that every single click you make and every website you visit when using Google Chrome is recorded by Google. They’re like those sly detectives who keep tabs on everything you do. And guess what they do with all that juicy data? They sell it to advertisers, who then bombard you with eerily accurate ads when you’re browsing the web.
But hey, there’s hope. You can put a stop to this snooping giant. There are some pretty great alternatives out there, browsers and search engines that give Google a run for its money.
Oh, and by the way, if you’re more into using the search engines right in your browser instead of a separate app, don’t worry. We’ve also got you covered. We have detailed instructions below on how to change the default search engine on your Safari and Chrome browsers. So, are you ready to take back control and explore new options beyond Google’s grasp? Let’s dive in.
If you’re seeking a change from Google on your phone, there are several alternatives available, each offering unique features, benefits, and varying levels of privacy.
Some of these alternatives rely on similar technology to Google, while others implement their own algorithms and methods. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best Google search alternatives for your iPhone or Android device.
iPhone: 4.8 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
iPhone: 4.7 stars (At time of publishing)
Android: 4.4. stars (At time of publishing)
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iPhone: 4.7 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.3 stars (at time of publishing)
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Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
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Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
Note: Be sure to go into your settings and make sure your Home Screen settings “Lock Home Screen layout is not locked or is toggled Off on your Android.
To change the default search engine on your iPhone, you can follow the steps below.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone
Tap Safari
Under SEARCH, tap Search Engine
Then, select the search engine that you would like to use as your default when inside Safari. To select a search engine, tap it. Your Google alternatives are Yahoo, Bing, Ecosia, or DuckDuckGo. (Note: those are the only options available. Apple won’t let you choose other search engines as your default. However, you can still navigate to those search engines in Safari and search them from their website.)
To change the default search engine on your Android device in Google Chrome, you can follow these steps.
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
If you insist on using Google Chrome, there are several precautions you can take to enhance your privacy:
iPhone: 4.0 stars (at time of publishing)
Android: 4.1 stars (at time of publishing)
1. Unlink browser from your Google account on phone
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2. Turn on safe browsing
3. Turn off Google saving your web and app activity and location
4. Turn off sending usage data and URLs to Google
5. Set new default search engine from your phone’s web browser
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If you use Google Chrome, you can follow these steps to change your default search engine.
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
Consider using a VPN to protect against who can track you and identify your potential location on websites that you visit. Many sites are able to read your IP address and, depending on their privacy settings, may display the city from which you are corresponding. A VPN will disguise your IP address to show an alternate location.
For best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices by visiting CyberGuy.com/VPN.
In the age of Google’s dominance, the extent of information harvested without consent is alarming, but there are browser alternatives like Brave, Startpage, Ecosia, Disconnect Search, and Opera that you can use on your phone. It might be time to embrace these alternatives to take control of your online privacy.
Will you consider switching to a safer, alternative search engine on your phone? If you have already, what are you using, and how has your experience been? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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