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===========================
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Why use a private instance?
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===========================
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"Is it worth to run my own instance?" is a common question among searx users.
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Before answering this question, see what options a searx user has.
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Public instances are open to everyone who has access to its URL. Usually, these
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are operated by unknown parties (from the users' point of view). Private
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instances can be used by a select group of people. It is for example a searx of
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group of friends or a company which can be accessed through VPN. Also it can be
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single user one which runs on the user's laptop.
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To gain more insight on how these instances work let's dive into how searx
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protects its users.
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How does searx protect privacy?
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===============================
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Searx protects the privacy of its users in multiple ways regardless of the type
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of the instance (private, public). Removal of private data from search requests
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comes in three forms:
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1. removal of private data from requests going to search services
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2. not forwarding anything from a third party services through search services
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(e.g. advertisement)
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3. removal of private data from requests going to the result pages
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Removing private data means not sending cookies to external search engines and
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generating a random browser profile for every request. Thus, it does not matter
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if a public or private instance handles the request, because it is anonymized in
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both cases. IP addresses will be the IP of the instance. But searx can be
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configured to use proxy or Tor. `Result proxy
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<https://github.com/asciimoo/morty>`__ is supported, too.
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Searx does not serve ads or tracking content unlike most search services. So
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private data is not forwarded to third parties who might monetize it. Besides
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protecting users from search services, both referring page and search query are
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hidden from visited result pages.
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What are the consequences of using public instances?
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----------------------------------------------------
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If someone uses a public instance, he/she has to trust the administrator of that
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instance. This means that the user of the public instance does not know whether
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his/her requests are logged, aggregated and sent or sold to a third party.
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Also, public instances without proper protection are more vulnerable to abusing
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the search service, In this case the external service in exchange returns
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CAPTCHAs or bans the IP of the instance. Thus, search requests return less
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results.
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I see. What about private instances?
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------------------------------------
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If users run their own instances, everything is in their control: the source
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code, logging settings and private data. Unknown instance administrators do not
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have to be trusted.
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Furthermore, as the default settings of their instance is editable, there is no
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need to use cookies to tailor searx to their needs. So preferences will not be
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reset to defaults when clearing browser cookies. As settings are stored on
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their computer, it will not be accessible to others as long as their computer is
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not compromised.
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Conclusion
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==========
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Always use an instance which is operated by people you trust. The privacy
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features of searx are available to users no matter what kind of instance they
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use.
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If someone is on the go or just wants to try searx for the first time public
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instances are the best choices. Additionally, public instance are making a
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world a better place, because those who cannot or do not want to run an
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instance, have access to a privacy respecting search service.
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