mirror of
https://github.com/searxng/searxng.git
synced 2025-11-04 03:27:06 -05:00
86 lines
3.6 KiB
ReStructuredText
86 lines
3.6 KiB
ReStructuredText
===========================
|
|
Why use a private instance?
|
|
===========================
|
|
|
|
.. sidebar:: Is running my own instance worth it?
|
|
|
|
\.\.\.is a common question among SearXNG users. Before answering this
|
|
question, see what options a SearXNG user has.
|
|
|
|
.. contents::
|
|
:depth: 2
|
|
:local:
|
|
:backlinks: entry
|
|
|
|
Public instances are open to everyone who has access to their URL. Usually, they
|
|
are operated by unknown parties (from the users' point of view). Private
|
|
instances can be used by a select group of people, such as a SearXNG instance for a
|
|
group of friends, or a company which can be accessed through a VPN. Instances can also be
|
|
single-user instances, which run locally on the user's machine.
|
|
|
|
To gain more insight on how these instances work, let's dive into how SearXNG
|
|
protects its users.
|
|
|
|
.. _SearXNG protect privacy:
|
|
|
|
How does SearXNG protect privacy?
|
|
=================================
|
|
|
|
SearXNG protects the privacy of its users in multiple ways, regardless of the type
|
|
of the instance (private or public). Removal of private data from search requests
|
|
comes in three forms:
|
|
|
|
1. Removing private data from requests going to search services
|
|
2. Not forwarding anything from third party services through search services
|
|
(e.g. advertisement)
|
|
3. Removing private data from requests going to the results pages
|
|
|
|
Removing private data means not sending cookies to external search engines and
|
|
generating a random browser profile for every request. Thus, it does not matter
|
|
if a public or private instance handles the request, because it is anonymized in
|
|
both cases. The IP address used will be the IP of the instance, but SearXNG can also be
|
|
configured to use proxy or Tor.
|
|
|
|
SearXNG does not serve ads or tracking content, unlike most search services. Therefore,
|
|
private data is not forwarded to third parties who might monetize it. Besides
|
|
protecting users from search services, both the referring page and search query are
|
|
hidden from the results pages being visited.
|
|
|
|
|
|
What are the consequences of using public instances?
|
|
----------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
If someone uses a public instance, they have to trust the administrator of that
|
|
instance. This means that the user of the public instance does not know whether
|
|
their requests are logged, aggregated, and sent or sold to a third party.
|
|
|
|
Also, public instances without proper protection are more vulnerable to abuse of
|
|
the search service, which may cause the external service to enforce
|
|
CAPTCHAs or to ban the IP address of the instance. Thus, search requests would return less
|
|
results.
|
|
|
|
I see. What about private instances?
|
|
------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
If users run their :ref:`own instances <installation>`, everything is in their
|
|
control: the source code, logging settings and private data. Unknown instance
|
|
administrators do not have to be trusted.
|
|
|
|
Furthermore, as the default settings of their instance are editable, there is no
|
|
need to use cookies to tailor SearXNG to their needs and preferences will not
|
|
reset to defaults when clearing browser cookies. As settings are stored on
|
|
the user's computer, they will not be accessible to others as long as their computer is
|
|
not compromised.
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
|
|
==========
|
|
|
|
Always use an instance which is operated by people you trust. The privacy
|
|
features of SearXNG are available to users no matter what kind of instance they
|
|
use.
|
|
|
|
For those on the go, or just wanting to try SearXNG for the first time, public
|
|
instances are the best choice. Public instances are also making the
|
|
world a better place by giving those who cannot, or do not want to, run an
|
|
instance access to a privacy-respecting search service.
|