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Why isn't DuckDuckGo, Startpage, Searx, etc. Default search engine?

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Hello SUMO Team!

  I always had this question but never really asked it. Why isn't DuckDuckGo or a more privacy based Search engine set as default? You even have to manually add Startpage and others... 

 It just hurts me how a privacy browser has the Google search engine as default after all, most people come to Firefox for privacy and Google is the opposite. Maybe one of the developers can change that?

Thank you so much for trying to help me and Stay Safe!

Hello SUMO Team! I always had this question but never really asked it. Why isn't DuckDuckGo or a more privacy based Search engine set as default? You even have to manually add Startpage and others... It just hurts me how a privacy browser has the Google search engine as default after all, most people come to Firefox for privacy and Google is the opposite. Maybe one of the developers can change that? Thank you so much for trying to help me and Stay Safe!

Chosen solution

Hi Tommy,

I found this for you :

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/041315/how-mozilla-firefox-and-google-chrome-make-money.asp

And also :

https://medium.com/swlh/could-google-crush-firefox-in-2020-13a55b5d4526


Personal note :

I am not a least bit worried about my privacy when I use Google as my search engine;   I've got nothing to hide   (except for my bankaccount number and PIN).
I figure that the more my search engine knows about me, the better search results I get.
But I know that not many people feel the same way though .....

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (16)

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You can change the default engine any time,

Type about:preferences#search<enter> in the address bar. You can select any search engine to be your default from here.

You can also remove any engine from here.

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FredMcD said

You can change the default engine any time, Type about:preferences#search<enter> in the address bar. You can select any search engine to be your default from here. You can also remove any engine from here.

Hello FredMcD! Thank you so much for reply! I understand that you can change (add, remove) search engines but I really want one of the developers to make Firefox more privacy based and for the newer users who didn't know what DuckDuckGo was before to learn more. That means setting DuckDuckGo as Default search engine and showing other privacy based Search engines like Searx or Startpage instead of the privacy Intruding Google. Thanks for your help and Stay Safe!

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Whatever is make the default, someone might complain about it.

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Thanks for all your answers!! I truly appreciate someone helping me so fast but I have I last question? Does Firefox get paid by Google for using Google's search engine as default? Sorry if that seems a little rude as Im trying not to hurt anyone's feelings. Thank you and again Stay Safe!

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That I don't know.

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Ok, thanks for your help!!

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Hello,

I am glad to hear that your problem has been resolved. If you haven't already, please select the answer that solves the problem. This will help other users with similar problems find the solution.

Thank you for contacting Mozilla Support.

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Sorry, I still haven't completely resolved the problem, I will wait a little to find out whether Firefox is paid by Google.

Thanks for your endless help though ;)

PS. Remember, I am just being a ignorant curious person, even if Firefox is paid by Google, Firefox is still Best and I will never leave!

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Seçilmiş Həll

Hi Tommy,

I found this for you :

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/041315/how-mozilla-firefox-and-google-chrome-make-money.asp

And also :

https://medium.com/swlh/could-google-crush-firefox-in-2020-13a55b5d4526


Personal note :

I am not a least bit worried about my privacy when I use Google as my search engine;   I've got nothing to hide   (except for my bankaccount number and PIN).
I figure that the more my search engine knows about me, the better search results I get.
But I know that not many people feel the same way though .....

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Thanks for all your help FredMcD and McCoy!

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Tommy said

Thanks for all your help FredMcD and McCoy!

I'm sure that I speak for Fred as well when I say :   my pleasure !

Have a nice day and stay safe !

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I am not a least bit worried about my privacy when I use Google as my search engine;   I've got nothing to hide   (except for my bankaccount number and PIN).
I figure that the more my search engine knows about me, the better search results I get.
But I know that not many people feel the same way though .....

What exactly are you trying to get at here? Firefox has been marketed as a browser that delivers on privacy, yet its Google contract seems to be the only thing keeping it alive.

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I have the same feelings here.

Sadly, I can't change the way Mozilla earns their money.

Maybe it's possible we could set up some kind of petition?

I know a lot of folks on Mastodon(like you) that would gladily sign it ;-)

Thanks!

Modified by Tommy

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Also, Cloudflare DoH gets on my nerves.

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You know, it's not all about how they make their money. I, and many of my peers, prefer google. So, I'm thinking that they probably set it as the Firefox default because a significant number of their customers prefer it.

Remember, there are far more "illiterate" Microsoft users, so we're going to keep with whatever products make our platform work better for us. Yah, there are privacy issues, but I just take my techie friends' advice and download products (soooo many free ones out there) to scour my computer regularly, and I've never had any problems.

Also, because Firefox is just that awesome, they have a very simple way to change your default search engine. I don't see what the big deal is.

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McCoy said

Hi Tommy,
I found this for you :
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/041315/how-mozilla-firefox-and-google-chrome-make-money.asp
And also :
https://medium.com/swlh/could-google-crush-firefox-in-2020-13a55b5d4526

Personal note :

I am not a least bit worried about my privacy when I use Google as my search engine;   I've got nothing to hide   (except for my bankaccount number and PIN).
I figure that the more my search engine knows about me, the better search results I get.
But I know that not many people feel the same way though .....