Brave Search - Search Engine

[ghost]

Brave has launched their own search engine 'Brave Search', which is still in Beta and uses their own index to deliver search results. I think it's a great idea, instead of being dependent on Google or Bing. As it's still in Beta, Brave is collecting non-personal information to improve their search engine, which I think is necessary when the product is unstable. They're making it available to browsers, other than Brave too. I heard they're going to make it out of Beta soon. From my personal comparison. they're better than DuckDuckGo and even comparable to Bing, but behind Google. I would leave their privacy notice. I would like to see what the Privacy Guides Community sees from this?

[elitejake]

I say we should wait until it is out of Beta.

When I tried to access it over Tor (safest mode), it asked me change my exit node after which it worked. Not a fun experience (over Tor). Image search doesn't work without JS. Also cannot change search region and time period.

Other than that, it's pretty good. I love that Brave has their own index.

[ghost]

It didn't asked me to change my exit node, but yes, images require JavaScript to function. But you can change search region and time period.

[elitejake]

you can change search region and time period.

You can? Did you use the safest security level? This is what I can see:

And yes, the logo didn't show up.

[ghost]

I changed my security level (from Safest to Standard), so I didn't realized that! Thanks for the info though 😀

[Mikaela]

I would be a bit hesistant to list anything by Brave for now considering their browser is explicitly in anti-recommendations at the browser section.

[Peacock365]

@Nihal247 Of course, I mean, ask yourself why Firefox is listed still? Apparently Mozilla silently changing the DNS provider to a different one of their choice - typically Cloudflare - was not enough for FF to get delisted. Take a look under about:support, there is an extension called "DoH Roll-Out" which is still doing exactly this. It is OK to offer a DoH option, silently switching the chosen provider of the user is not. Completely ridiculous that this is accepted, yet even the flimsiest of excuses is made up as to not list Brave.

Or the ads on the new tab page and the address bar of Firefox, clicks on them are reported back, it's nothing but click tracking. There is also the possibility of Mozilla surveilling your address bar keystrokes (currently disabled): https://www.howtogeek.com/760425/firefox-now-sends-your-address-bar-keystrokes-to-mozilla/

If any other browser did this, the community would be up in arms about it - rightfully so, I am just posting this to illustrate that Mozilla is cut an enormous amount of slack here. I am sure, if Brave Software did anything of that magnitude (they haven't so far), it would readily be accepted as a reason not to trust Brave. When Mozilla does it though? Yep, all fine. The reason? Bias.

Laughable, yeah. I think this website's admins have to decide, is this meant to be a website paying homage to certain products, comparable to an advertisement, or is it supposed to be a matter of fact-based website recommending / comparing products objectively. You can't have both. The fact that Brave isn't listed while Firefox is, despite Mozilla having done much worse than Brave Software in the past, is insulting to the intelligence of anyone following the news, specifically the topic of online privacy. As long as this bias is so strikingly obvious here, I would caution anyone against using this website as a primary source of information, mainly due to its lack of objectivity.

It is OK to be in love with a brand and if configured, Firefox has a certain right to be on this website, but if Brave isn't listed for petty reasons, you have to wonder how Firefox can even remain here.

[rusty-snake]

silently switching the chosen provider

It does not silently switch your DNS, it shows you and dialog to optout:

So you can say "ok" or "No, I don't a secure and private DNS, I don't want to be protected". What will you choose (without further technical background).

I would caution anyone against using this website as a primary source of information

👍

[Mikaela]

The question here was whether to list Brave Search or not and as @freddy-m agrees with me that we will not be listing anything by Brave while Brave is explicit anti-recommendation, I am locking this conversation, let's return to the subject of Brave Search if Brave at least gets removed from anti-recommendations.

I do request and invite some of you to open a new discussion for relisting Brave where it will be more-ontopic and allow having multiple threads/viewpoints, instead of continuing offtopicing this single answer thread.

[Mikaela]

Correction: https://github.com/privacyguides/privacyguides.org/discussions/88 exists already on listing Brave.

[eylenburg]

So, Brave Browser has been removed from the anti-recommendations. I still think that Brave Search is interesting, especially as it (mostly) uses its own index and in my experience comes up with better results on average than DuckDuckGo.

[eylenburg]

Brave Browser is now a recommendation, shall we have another stab at Brave Search?

[davidcollini]

I definitely believe Brave Search should be added, since it beats Startpage and DuckDuckGo in multiple areas

Startpage

1. Startpage doesn’t have an onion address, while Brave does
2. Startpage blocks most VPNs and Tor
3. Startpage only filters results from google, and google has been proven to censor search results, while Brave has their own index with the option to include google results if the user opts-in (This is only allowed on Brave Browser)
4. Startpage doesn’t include DDG’s bangs which I find very useful in Brave Search

Duckduckgo

1. DuckDuckGo only loads the first page if JavaScript isn’t enabled, while Brave allows for every feature except image search and settings if JavaScript isn’t enabled
2. Brave Search includes its own discussions feature, which I find very useful
3. A lot of users have trouble with DDG’s results coming from bing since they’re prone to censorship and less accurate than Brave and Google’s results
4. Brave is planning on creating goggles which will increase transparency in the ranking of search results and they’re very transparent on how everything works since it’s outlined in their white paper

Techlore also made a great video explaining his love for brave search here

Brave continues to be transparent with their
Privacy Policy and data is not collected unless the user wants to opt-in and improve search results

Brave Search is a great private search engine, and I hope to see its addition to privacy guides in the future

[ghost]

I agree. If we're trusting enough of Brave to recommend their browser, then I personally don't see the issue with listing their search engine too given it has distinct differences and improvements over all of the currently recommended search engines.

[ghost]

Added in #1290

[cryptocat8]

Brave Search uses Amazon SSL cert, does this offer any privacy risk? I am just not that good in this cert stuff