DuckDuckGo Tools and Resources

Many are flocking to the DuckDuckGo search engine as details of PRISM and NSA online surveillance activities have come to the public's attention. DuckDuckGo (or DDG) is one of the few search engines that respects user privacy.

Unlike Google, Bing, Yahoo and others, DDG does not record or collect user information. Search engines like Google and social networks like Facebook typically collect and use personal information to profit from ads and marketing. But as you've probably heard in the news, it was recently discovered that these tech giants and others share this private data, including IP addresses, emails, chat conversations, even Facebook posts, with the NSA and other federal agencies.

After the exposure of the PRISM program earlier this year, DDG's usage has increased astronomically and is currently receiving over 100 million queries each month.

Think you have nothing to hide? The NSA has already demonstrated abuses of their access to private data. Take the example of NSA Officers using collected information to stalk love interests. Who's to say they'll safeguard the data they collect and keep your information out of the wrong hands?

Since DDG doesn't collect user data, they have nothing to hand over to the NSA or anyone else. Of course, if the NSA wants to target a group or individual, they'll certainly get the data they want. DDG or any other privacy service can only go so far. Still, there are plenty of good reasons to use it over Google. Here are a few:

• No "personal search." Google likes to think they know what you want. Since they have your search history, the search engine will show results based on their assumptions about you. It's an annoying feature. People send you links you're not interested it but you click anyway, or your spouse borrows your computer to do a quick search from time to time. Suddenly the search results are showing items you have no interest in. Of course, these features can be turned off but they are on by default with most people not realizing it.


• Google and other search engines use search history to show advertising. Don't forget, Google is not a software company; it's first and foremost a media company that generates revenue from advertisements. If you don't mind being shown advertisements based on what you search for, that's your business (and anyone else who uses your computer). Once at an all day workshop, a manger had his computer connected to the projector. As he looked up information in Google and on some websites for the team, we couldn't help to notice the same flashy dating ads showing up in different places. He was a married man, was he really vising dating sites? Was it even him, did someone borrow his computer to browse dating sites? No one said anything but it didn't go unnoticed and led people to wonder.


• As good as Google is, I often don't find what I'm looking for on the first few tries. Movie times, word definitions, baseball scores, Google excels at the popular searches. It's the longer search phrases or obscure terms I usually have trouble with. Either I get unrelated sites or a bunch of spam sites. I can't say DDG is better at tough searches, but it does surprise me on occasion. DDG's results come from 50 different sources including Wolfram Alpha. DDG also makes an effort to block results from content farm sites designed to game Google's search algorithm and filters.

Since DDG does not collect personal data they don't have any targeted ads or personalized search "features." I like that they filter out content farm sites I get tired of seeing again and again in Google.

If you're thinking of making the switch, here's a collection of DDG tools and resources similar to what the big search engines offer. Be sure to bookmark this page for quick reference.

How to make DDG your browser's homepage, add or change default search provider and official extensions:

• 
  
  Chrome
  
  
  
  
  • DDG Home Page extension (adds an DDG quick launch icon to the Chrome start page)
  
  
  • Official Chrome extension
  
  
  • Make DDG default search provider for Chrome
  
  
  
  


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  Firefox (version 23)
  
  
  
  
  • To set DDG as your homepage, click and drag the following link to the small home icon in Firefox: DuckDuckGo Homepage. If done correctly you'll receive a popup asking if you want to change your homepage. Click 'Yes' and you're done.
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
  
  • Official Firefox extension
  
  
  • Make DDG default search provider for Firefox
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Safari (version 5)
  
  
  
  
  • To set DDG as the homepage: visit DuckDuckGo.com. Click the Gear icon, select Preferences. On the Homepage setting, click Set to Current Page.
  
  
  • Official Safari extension
  
  
  • Add DDG as a search provider for Safari (scroll down)
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Internet Explorer 9
  
  
  
  
  • To set DDG as the homepage: visit DuckDuckGo.com, click Set as Homepage on the bottom right. Also click Add to Browser -> Install IE search provider and check the box to make it the default search provider.
  
  
  • No official extension.
  
  
  
  


• 
  
  Opera
  
  
  
  
  • Add as Speed Dial entry and other integration options
  
  
  • Official extension
  
  
  
  

DDG mobile apps:

• Android: Google Play


• iOS: iTunes

Tools

DuckDuckGoodies are instant answers to common searches, like unit conversions and calculations, that appear on the top of the search results. Google has a similar feature they added to search a couple years ago.

Here's a categorized list of available Goodies with examples: DuckDuckGoodies 


Add a DDG search box to your site:

• WordPress plugin:
  DuckDuckGo Search Widget


• HTML: https://duckduckgo.com/search_box

Advanced searching: operators, switches and filters: DDG Syntax

Support and Community

Main help and support pages: https://dukgo.com/help/en_US

DDG user forums: http://duck.co/

There are lots more resources but this is enough to get most people going. From now on when someone comes to you with a question you don't know the answer to, instead of suggesting they Google it, you can now tell them to Duck it!

Drone Invasion Of Privacy May Be Solved By DroneShield

With the rise in personal drones being flown just about everywhere, it is going to start to raise privacy concerns for a growing population. With drone prices continuing to come down, just about anyone can buy a small drone and add a camera. Then can then spy on you for any number of reasons. Or they can see what you might have of value to steal. With the rise in drones, the idea of protecting yourself against drones spying on you is going to become very important. There is a coming new product called DroneShield which holds promise to help protect us against invasive drones.

The company preparing to release the Drone Shield has a web site at DroneShield.org. And they are also in the process of raising funding at Indiegogo right now. With 28 days left, they have raised over $8,000 for a goal of $3,500. With more than double of the funding campaign, this is has packed in a lot of interest from people who are more than likely very concerned about their privacy and drones. So, the big question right now is exactly what is the DroneShield going to do for me.

Using the Raspbery PI computer as the starting point, they are going to be adding other pieces that can listen for sounds of a drone and compare them to a known list of sounds. They can then let you know of a drone in close proximity. This will do nothing for high flying drones that are not being heard from the ground. But, for those personal drones which you can hear buzzing around, the DroneShield will alert you to one nearby. But, it requires that the sound being heard is a match to a known list. If it does not match that known list, you will not get an alert.

Obviously, there is going to be a lot of trial and error to get this right, but in the end, we can hope it delivers on what is being proposed. The DroneShield should provide those who purchase one with some added peace of mind. Right now, you can be part of the initial group of people by pledging $69. You can be part of the group who will receiving a DroneShield version 1 with an estimated delivery in August this year. If you are concerned about your privacy and the invasion of that privacy from drones, you need to take a look at this.

Drone Can Swoop And Grab Items In Flight

Drones have been a very hot topic in the news and many see it as a privacy concern. But, given the ability for just about anyone to have their own drone, we have more concerns with private citizens having their own drones. What we have been hearing about is people exploring what they can do and somethings they get into problems by flying them where they should not. But, they have the potential for being used for criminal activities. And recent news is showing ways they could be used for such activities.

We should all have concerns about drones for private use. And now there is more information coming out as the things which drones are capable of increases. While a drone can be used for surveillance, the potential for much more is showing up all the time. The most recent is a report from the University of Pennsylvania and their Grasp program. They have added a claw to the bottom of a drone and shown how it can swoop and grab an item in flight. This has been patterned after what an eagle does when they swoop in to grab a fish. Check out the video below.

While this seems like a break through, there is so much more to it. Some are claiming that drones could swoop in a grab someone off the street which is a pretty scary thing to think about. But, what if you look at this for those who commit crimes. Since a drone is relatively quiet and they are making them quieter all the time, you may not hear one until it is too late. And the ability now for a drone to pick something up is going to create problems for the average citizen.

If you were to put your smart phone or tablet on a table outside in your own backyard and step away, a drone could come in and take your mobile device before you knew what happened. That is what we are going to have to be concerned about. Technology in the wrong hands creates problems for us and will continue to do so. The only alternative for us is to create devices which can jam the signals of a drone and block them from being navigated near us. That may be one of the few options to protect ourselves from a small drone.

Drones For Private Use Raising Concerns

The idea of drones has been a hot topic here in the past few months and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. And it is not just because of the military purposes of drones which people are concerned about, but rather that of privacy concerns. Drones are quiet while hovering up in the air providing information to who ever is operating it. The concerns of law enforcement using them is a problem for everyone. But the bigger concerns are those individuals not associated with the government causing growing conversation to taking place. There are no regulations or enforcement for the private use of drones.

And we are not talking about those who are using drones as part of illegal drug activities or during the commission of a crime. Those are already happening and will continue. The issue is the use of drones by news agencies and how that will impact privacy. New's Corp admitted flying a drone over flood areas back in 2011 to show the damage which was caused. The big issue is when people take pictures and then sell them to news outlets. The "Paparazzi" take pictures now of the rich and famous by trickery and cunning. Long range lenses on cameras collect pictures which news agencies are willing to pay lots of money for.

What is there to stop the same people from using a drone to do the same and get a whole lot closer to the subject than ever before. That is what we should all be fearful of. The cost of a very good small drone can be purchased from Amazon for $299.99. And then all you have to do is add a great miniature camera to it and you are set to go. Prices go up from there with more features being added. But, at that price, anyone can get one and use it. And it is very easy to use. As you can see from the picture below, you can control it from your smart phone with ease. A drone and a smart phone is all that is needed.

This is definitely an invasion of privacy and may not be limited to just those being followed by the paparazzi. With drones, a burglar can look at various homes without even getting close to them. And then would be able to look into windows from a distance. This is the kind of privacy invasion that we should all be concerned about. The use of technology is not always for the correct purposes and drones is another example of this.

Your Smart Phone Could Be Spying On You Right Now

We all rely on our smart phones and do not think about the information they collect about us as we go about our day to day lives. But we really should be concerned about exactly what our smart phones are able to collect and what law enforcement can do with that information. Remember the big deal last year when it was revealed that wireless carriers could get information about us as we moved from cell site to cell site. That information reveals where you have been traveling and is very valuable. Much of the focus back then was about what individual phones were collecting and after wireless carriers in the US pledged to make changes, things quieted down.

But in reality, the vulnerability of our phones is now beginning to come out. And it is even worse then what was talked about last year. This is the result of a story regarding a significant rise in surveillance request from law enforcement. The requests in 2011 are 62% higher for AT&T as compared to 2009 and that should alarm people. There were over 1.3 billion requests last year for all the wireless carriers. The information they are requesting can show where you have been and how long you were there. If you are concerned about privacy, then this should really scare you. No longer is it about listening in phone calls which does require a warrant. Now there is much more information based on location tracking and a warrant is not required.

There are calls for Congressional investigation because of the rapid rise in "warrantless cell phone" requests of the wireless carriers. The wireless carriers seem to be more than willing to turn over information because they can charge a fee to cover their costs in turning over the information. AT&T made $8 million last year in fees. Don't think that it costs wireless carriers to turn over this information. The fees they charge more than cover any costs they incur. And all of this is without a warrant. While some requests are turned down, most are fulfilled by wireless carriers.

To give you an idea of just how many they are filling, you only have to look at staffing. AT&T has a group of 100 full time employees who review each request and respond to the law enforcement agency making the request. Verizon has a team of 70 full time employees. Some of the requests come from court orders, but many do not. It is those which are not court orders which should have everyone very concerned.

The unfortunate reality is the laws are trailing far behind the fast moving technology. And with just about every new phone coming with GPS and cell phone towers tracking your movement as you move between cell sites, you are visible even though you do not realize it. And more smart phones are being purchased everyday which have better technology in them. Signals are getting stronger and the move to 4G LTE is only going to make things faster. And that is exactly what law enforcement wants.

For the law enforcement community, there is big treasure to be gleaned from the information which they want to collect and right now, there are no requirements to restrict them in the requests. As long as the wireless carriers can make some money out of selling this information, they will continue to comply with requests until such time as warrants are required.

Given how fast laws get created to keep up with technology, it will be a while before things change in an effort to protect our privacy. For now, if you have a smart phone, you are not as private as you think.

Girls Around Me - Why Is Everyone So Surprised?

With the revelation of the "Girls Around Me" app and the open API for Foursquare, it seems that many are up in arms about what has been shown by iFree as a "stalking" of women. While there may be safety concerns which are legitimate ones being raised, the bigger issue here is one of privacy on the web. Or to put it another what, the lack of concern about providing details about an individual or their activities. The privacy concerns of a few are raising major concerns about personal information, such as when Facebook lets personal details leak out. While I agree that we need to be very concerned about what can be found about us as individuals on the web, I am part of a minority. Most are not concerned about the information that they put up and provides information about them. It seems that a large group of people is very surprised by what they are seeing by the "Girls Around Me" app.

If you are putting your personal movements on the web, why are you surprised someone is reporting on it?

While iFree has defended their app, it has been shutdown by Foursquare for a violation of their policies. While this very specific situation may be correct to be stopped, there is a much bigger issue at hand which most just seem to ignore in their daily lives. That is the willingness to provide details on the web that they would not make public to the world around them. Facebook has been a tremendous example of how willing people are to reveal information about themselves to friends as to what they are doing. If they "Friend" a lot of people, then everyone knows what they are doing and where they are going. Much of this is public as most do not take the time to truly lock down their Facebook accounts the way that they should.



Then you add in the Foursquare app that so many are willing to "check in" to show where they are at and you have the opportunity for others to gather information. This is exactly what iFree has done. They have aggregated information from Foursquare and Facebook to show who you are and where you are at. While their app focused on the female population, this kind of aggregation could be done on just about anyone. It just takes some coding and effort to make this happen.

Do you think that the government is not doing the same thing?

You bet they are. There is nothing to stop them from using readily available information such as Foursquare and Facebook to gather information about you and where you are. It is becoming all to easy for that to happen and the population at large is more than willing to add information about their daily activities to feed the web. Facebook information has been talked about for years and the most recent issue is employers asking for Facebook passwords in interviews or on the job. But the bigger problem is that everyone is more than willing to reveal almost anything about themselves on the web.

The big attraction on Foursquare is to get badges and so many participate in it. There is also twitter will you get play by play information from so many. You combine the two and you have too much information. Many have tied the two together which creates a dangerous combination. They have set things up so that when they check in, it Tweets about where they currently are. Tweets are generally available and so if someone wanted to track you, it would become very easy. You would not need an app to do that, only "follow" the person who checks in and tweets about it. Jealous partners would know exactly where you are at.

Even worse are those who might be stalking as talked about earlier. It is getting much easier for those activities. Then there is the aspect of someone burglarizing your home while you are out because you tell everyone where you are at. Even if you do not use Foursquare, but put information on Facebook while you are on vacation, you are setting yourself up to get hit. There is just too much information available online.

The concept of "Big Brother" watching you was a concern 30 or 40 years ago, but of late has become a non-issue until something happens such as this. The problem is that few people really change their day to day activities and continue on as normal.

We should not be surprised if we see more of these kinds of things being reported.