HTTPS encrypted search engines

[Phillip Warren]

 

Dear fellow privacy lovers, concerned/aware citizens and members of the media: I'm now using these two search engines. It would be an interesting experiment, if you're brave and/or foolish, to do a search on hot topics that the government considers "security threats" (in Vancouver, BC that might be objections to the up comming Olimpics) and see what probing the governments might do.

 

Totalitarian governments are on the rise in the "free" world. With the increasing totalitarian flavour of North American governments and corporate snooping, this has become an important concern for everyone.

 

The Ixquick search engine issued a press release on HTTPS encryption, a method to prevent outside parties from intercepting data traveling over the Internet. As repressive countries like Iran, China, Guatemala, Myanmar, and North Korea step up prosecution of citizens for Internet communications that are critical of their governments, the need for secure search has never been greater. 

 

Another similar service is available at Scroogle: http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/scraper.htm

I, Katherine Albrecht, encourage all CASPIAN members and others conducting sensitive searches to use the HTTPS encrypted search feature available at https://www.ixquick.com/ (Note the letter "S" after HTTP, which denotes secure transmission.) While you are on that page, all searches you conduct will be encrypted and protected from eavesdropping. The service is free and available to all, and no registration is required.

 

In addition, because Ixquick does not keep logs on its users or link them with their searches, sensitive search queries made through the
Ixquick search engine cannot be used later by governments seeking evidence to use against activists.

Of course, it is always best to use caution in sensitive situations.Please note that while the HTTPS feature dramatically reduces the chance
that a person's searches can be spied on while they are in transit, it does not protect users from spyware, malware, and other threats that may
be installed on a user's own local computer system.

I have included a copy of the Ixquick press release below and will be available for interviews on the topics of secure search and HTTPS
encryption. Radio hosts: please note that I have ISDN capability for high-quality, digital sound.

Please join me in supporting the use of secure, encrypted search and help us spread the word worldwide.

In freedom,

Katherine Albrecht, Ed.D.
Founder and Director, CASPIAN Consumer Privacy

=============================================================

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2009

The Electronic Frontier Foundation praises Ixquick on Security, Privacy Ixquick is the only leading search engine with HTTPS encryption plus
privacy

Ixquick, the world's most private search engine, received praise for its outstanding security and data handling practices last week from the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a well-respected privacy group representing over 50,000 consumers.

EFF praised Ixquick for its "truly excellent privacy policy," which experts regularly cite as the best in the industry. Ixquick is the only
major search engine that does not record users' IP addresses or make a record of their searches, as verified by a third-party auditing firm.
EFF also praised Ixquick for supporting HTPPS, a security feature that prevents data from being eavesdropped upon as it moves across the
internet.

The HTTPS protocol encrypts users' search queries to protect against eavesdropping by a users' local Internet service provider, as well as
eavesdropping by any third parties. For example, a user in China could search for "Tiananmen Square" without Chinese authorities being able to intercept the query. Of the major search engines, only Ixquick offers the feature.

"We hope that some day, the major search engines can catch up with Ixquick," said EFF technical analyst Peter Eckersley, noting that
Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft do not offer the HTTPS service.

Computer users concerned about privacy should also be aware that Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft record every search query made through their websites and link them to the user's IP address and cookies--a practice that has come under fire from both privacy and government groups. In contrast, Ixquick allows for fully anonymous, private searches, since it does not record any personal data on its users.

People wishing to use the Ixquick search engine can go to http://www.ixquick.com.
They may also utilize the HTTPS encryption feature by going to https://www.ixquick.com.
(Note the addition of the letter "s" after "http" in the HTTPS encrypted site.)

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org) is a leading privacy watchdog group that employs an expert staff of lawyers, policy
analysts, activists, and technologists. Through legal action, education, media, and legislative efforts, EFF has championed the public interest
in critical battles affecting digital rights since 1990.

EFF's analysis and comments about HTTPS, including statements about Ixquick, can be found online at:
http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/06/several-facts-about-

About Ixquick

Ixquick is an award-winning search engine with an industry leading privacy policy. Founded in New York in 1998, Ixquick has developed a
passionate following among computer users concerned about privacy and security. Further information on Ixquick, including details about the
company's exemplary data-handling practices, can be found at www.ixquick.com.

For press inquiries, please contact:

Dr. Katherine Albrecht
U.S. Marketing and Media Relations
877-434-3100 [US toll free]
+1 973-273-2125 [for International access]
kma@...

###


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ABOUT CASPIAN

CASPIAN (Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering) is a grass-roots consumer group fighting retail surveillance schemes since 1999 and irresponsible RFID use since 2002. With thousands of members in all 50 U.S. states and over 30 countries worldwide, CASPIAN seeks to educate consumers about marketing strategies that invade their privacy and encourage privacy-conscious shopping habits across the retail spectrum.

http://www.spychips.com/
http://www.antichips.com/
http://www.nocards.org/

You're welcome to duplicate and distribute this message to others who may find it of interest.

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Phillip W. Warren, Zetetic Scholar, Ph.C., Professor Emeritus (Psychology & Music),Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Geezer (Cert. by H.O.G.) Developer of the "Radiant Energies Balance"

 

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