Waterfox changing their default search engine again...

Doesn't even get into WaterFox Private Search.

148 points · 31 comments · view on lemmy.world

31 Comments

pewpew@feddit.it · 29 pts · 33d (3 replies)

Startpage kinda sucks in my Opinion.

On the other hand, DuckDuckGo is pretty good. I know they get some results from Bing, but it doesn't seem too privacy breaking for me

DrakeAlbrecht@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 33d

I installed No AI DuckDuckGo as my default search engine.

albbi@piefed.ca · 9 pts · 33d (1 reply)

I don't really see much of a difference between all of these different choices. I tried to like StartPage but it didn't seem to be that great and I'd have to go back to Google every once in a while. Still want to check out Kagi one of these days.

Barrymore@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 33d

I haven't switched from kagi since I started, fully recommend. The only 2 services I pay for are proton and kagi

Iamaquantummechanic@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 33d (4 replies)

I like Qwant, but I'm a European working for a French enterprise, so.

Lauchmelder@feddit.org · 15 pts · 33d (3 replies)

so would you say you are a qwantum mechanic?

Lauchmelder@feddit.org · 10 pts · 33d (2 replies)

get it?

Iamaquantummechanic@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 33d (1 reply)

I get it! Or I don't.

DrakeAlbrecht@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 33d

You simultaneously get it and don't get it, until you are asked to explain it.

Racoonwithbenefits@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 33d
[ removed ]
the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 33d

They change their search engines more than their underwear.

dsilverz@catodon.rocks · 5 pts · 33d (3 replies)

As a Brazilian, it's such a very useful search engine for me! /s

Now, seriously, it's a good thing I don't update software as regularly as I should. I'm using an old version (6.6.10) of Waterfox and, if it's going to change search engines, I'm likely going to stick with this version. Tech can't help but enshittify.

!memes@lemmy.world

albbi@piefed.ca · 12 pts · 33d (2 replies)

It won't change your search engine if you've set something else as your default. So just set it to what you want and then you're free to update Waterfox.

dsilverz@catodon.rocks · 5 pts · 33d (1 reply)

After countless experiences of having settings reverted back to defaults upon updating, and having updates always coming with surprises like a Kinder Joy Surprise in the 00s, I doubt something wouldn't end up smuggled like soldiers ("Agentic agents!") inside a seemingly innocuous wooden monument. For example, the Waterfox version I'm using as of now (6.6.10) doesn't seem to ship with the "Firefox's VeRy HeLpFuL AgEnTiC bRoWsEr™ features" which can't exactly be prevented from eventually bleeding through its forks, and this includes Waterfox. If it didn't yet, it'll do eventually as soon as Googl... I mean, Mozilla, makes it part of non-removable binary blobs within the upstream.

At this point, my only browser update will be when Servo browser finally debuts as an usable browser for daily web browsing affairs.

!memes@lemmy.world

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 5 pts · 33d

FR, I too salivate for browser market competition, tire of everything being Chromium or GECKO.

Maybe the Year of the Linux wil hasten it.

nothingcorporate@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 32d

Been using Waterfox for a while, switching off of startpage was the first thing I did. I welcome this change.

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 4 pts · 33d (13 replies)

Yeah I tried it a bit because I'm sick of DuckFuck's AI bullshit, but Qwant appears to lack even the ability to report results for danger or slop so it's frustrating.

RamRabbit@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 33d (12 replies)

AI bullshit

They make that super easy to turn off:

https://duckduckgo.com/settings#aifeatures

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 4 pts · 33d (11 replies)

Yes, but it always returns.

adarza@lemmy.ca · 14 pts · 33d (5 replies)

go to https://noai.duckduckgo.com/

right click inside the search box on that page.

add search engine.

optional: add a 'keyword' when adding the above, or change the browser's default to this newly-added search engine choice.

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 2 pts · 33d (4 replies)

Any idea how to do that on mobile?

serpineslair@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 33d (3 replies)

Firefox (or its derivatives) -> settings -> search -> manage alternative search engines -> add search engine.

adarza@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 33d (2 replies)

and this is the magic search url to add:

https://noai.duckduckgo.com/?q=%25s

lemmy is converting characters in that url.. the last characters should be: questionmark q equals percent s (no '25' mixed in there)

realitaetsverlust@piefed.zip · 7 pts · 33d

Let me help:

https://noai.duckduckgo.com/?q=%25s

RamRabbit@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 33d (4 replies)

Are you resetting your cookies or doing this in a private window? That setting lasts as long as your cookies for the site do (as that is where your choice is saved).

You can also use the NoAI URL instead of the default one: https://noai.duckduckgo.com/

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 1 pts · 33d (3 replies)

Why would I ever give them cookies permission in the first place? Thats stupid.

If they add a noAi option to search from the address bar I'll use it, but I fundamentally don't support any AI bullshit companies.

kn33@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 33d

You can edit the search engine in the browser settings to add the noai subdomain.

Untamed_Star@piefed.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 33d (1 reply)

I think the link is like noai.duckduckgo.com or something

FiniteBanjo@feddit.online · 4 pts · 33d

It can be added manually to the browser as

   https://noai.duckduckgo.com/?q=%25s
victorz@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 32d

Wish I could financially justify paying for Kagi, because that is really nice.

TheFrirish@tarte.nuage-libre.fr · 1 pts · 32d

Qwant not available in the Philippines... gotta use VPN