[Google] Search engine suggestions?

[m00nbl00d]

I don't personally make use of Google as my search engine. Only very rarely.

I noticed that when I start to search for something, it gives suggestions and in some cases it even searches for them as I type?

Another thing I noticed is that, when performing the initial* search here -https://encrypted.google.com, I'm automatically redirected to the page where search results appear.

* A single letter!

Is this something new? This is a freakish behavior.

I don't think this is a bug with Chromium?

[JRViejo]

m00nbl00d, see About Google Instant (http://www.google.com/instant/) - first FAQ.

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "m00nbl00d, see About Google Instant (http://www.google.com/instant/) - first FAQ." }-

So, that was it. Oddly enough, I have it disabled in Chromium. Why forcing it to users? Just for the sake of forcing users to enable cookies? >:( Well... it's Google... It's got to be great, no? ::)

Anyway, thanks! :thumb:

[JRViejo]

m00nbl00d, it is Google's answer to ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). ;) You're welcome! Take care.

[Spooony]

https://ixquick.com

They don't record you and plant you full of cookies like google do.

[skudo12]

https://duckduckgo.com even better :D

[Rmus]

I not sure what Google Instant is (I don't have cookies enabled for Google) but there is a useful feature which I like: as I type, suggestions appear below the Search box.

Recently I've been reading various camera lens reviews, so as I type the lens name, eventually I see 'review' as one of the items,
then, I just use the down arrow to select that item and it's put into the Search box.


227722

227723

Is this the same thing as Google Instant?


Anyway, bit of a time-saver for the lazy (like me)!

regards,

-rich

[J_L]

No it isn't. Google Instant annoyingly enters your search automatically if you pause for a brief moment.
That leads to incorrect results, more resource usage, and more bandwidth consumed.

[Rmus]

-{ Quote: "No it isn't. Google Instant annoyingly enters your search automatically if you pause for a brief moment.
That leads to incorrect results, more resource usage, and more bandwidth consumed." }-Aha!

So, two solutions:

1) Disable Cookies

2) Disable 'Google Instant'

From the FAQ:

-{ Quote: "Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Can I turn off Google Instant?

A:
If you don't want to see results as you type, you can turn off Google Instant by visiting your Preferences page." }-

[Spooony]

Good luck signing into gmail with cookies disabled

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "Aha!

So, two solutions:

1) Disable Cookies

2) Disable 'Google Instant'

From the FAQ:" }-

1) Wrong... You need to enable cookies, so that Google remembers you opted-out of Google Instant. If you disable cookies, Google no longer remembers it.

2) You'd need to enable cookies. ;D

The only way "disable" Google Instant, without allowing cookies, would be to disable JavaScript.

Apparently, some list used with AdBlock Plus is blocking cookies from Google, which also makes Google not remember it. I haven't bothered to narrow it down to figure which one is, though.

This Google Instant crap should an Opt-IN, and not Opt-OUT!!!! Damn Gogole... always finding ways to force us cookies... :-X

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "Good luck signing into gmail with cookies disabled" }-

There's no problem with that, if you enable cookies on per-site basis, and only when you want to enable them.

Another way is to have a different browser profile to access Gmail, for example. Or even an e-mail client, if that's the case. Would it be necessary to allow cookies with an e-mail client? I know Thunderbird has a cookies manager, but I don't know if it's related to such situations?

[Rmus]

-{ Quote: "1) Wrong... You need to enable cookies, so that Google remembers you opted-out of Google Instant. If you disable cookies, Google no longer remembers it.

2) You'd need to enable cookies. ;D

The only way "disable" Google Instant, without allowing cookies, would be to disable JavaScript." }-Do you need to sign up for an account to have Google Instant work? I don't have a Google Account, so maybe that's why Google Instant doesn't work here.

Regards,

-rich

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "Do you need to sign up for an account to have Google Instant work? I don't have a Google Account, so maybe that's why Google Instant doesn't work here.

Regards,

-rich" }-

No, you don't. Or, I don't think you need. I do have a Gmail account, but I do not access it in the same user account I use for general web browsing, and only allow cookies (e-mail account) for the current session only.

Go here -https://www.google.com/preferences

It should show you whether or not it's active.

[Rmus]

-{ Quote: "I don't have a Google Account, so maybe that's why Google Instant doesn't work here." }-
-{ Quote: "No, you don't. Or, I don't think you need. I do have a Gmail account, but I do not access it in the same user account I use for general web browsing, and only allow cookies (e-mail account) for the current session only.

Go here -https://www.google.com/preferences

It should show you whether or not it's active." }-I don't see anything about Google Instant, so I assume you have to have an account.

But I see this about Autocomplete which only works if I have Javascript enabled for the site (which I do)

227734

I don't use web mail so I don't have a Google account.

BTW, why do you deactivate links with a hyphen? That takes away the convenience of a hyperlink.

regards,

-rich

[dw426]

Google Instant requires Chrome 13 Beta. They're pulling the same proprietary move MS got socked for.

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "I don't see anything about Google Instant, so I assume you have to have an account.

But I see this about Autocomplete which only works if I have Javascript enabled for the site (which I do)

227734

I don't use web mail so I don't have a Google account.

" }-

Could it be that I'm using Chromium, and therefore they make me automatically opt-in ??? (I never saw any references to Google Instant in my e-mail account settings.) If that's the case... :ouch: :thumbd:

-{ Quote: "
BTW, why do you deactivate links with a hyphen? That takes away the convenience of a hyperlink.

regards,

-rich" }-

It's the force of the habit... ;D

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "Google Instant requires Chrome 13 Beta. They're pulling the same proprietary move MS got socked for." }-

Thanks for confirming! They (Google) should leave their crappy stuff out of Chromium... Damn it!! :isay: :thumbd:

Chromium was supposed to be unrelated to Google. It was supposed only to be an open-sourced project, from which Google Chrome derivates, and where Google puts their crap. So I thought. :wacko:

[Spooony]

-{ Quote: "There's no problem with that, if you enable cookies on per-site basis, and only when you want to enable them.

Another way is to have a different browser profile to access Gmail, for example. Or even an e-mail client, if that's the case. Would it be necessary to allow cookies with an e-mail client? I know Thunderbird has a cookies manager, but I don't know if it's related to such situations?" }-
So I must drop my secure browser for a less secure one checking my mail? Per site basis means Google and gmail.com you get cookied

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "So I must drop my secure browser for a less secure one checking my mail?
" }-

??? Why on this Earth would you drop your web browser for a less secure one? I don't know which one you use, but doesn't it allow you to have multiple profiles?

I know IE doesn't. But, Chromium/Chrome, Opera and Firefox do, for example.

-{ Quote: "
Per site basis means Google and gmail.com you get cookied" }-

It also means I also allow it for the current browser session only, and not permanently.

[Carver]

I just got rid of GOOGLE.COM as my default search engine, I am not sure just how I managed that...I tried before. I was looking-up different departments in a local Hospital 2 days ago and today I put duckduckgo.com on the user style sheet in C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\User StyleSheets . I looked under options/Manage search engines..there were two search engines listed..GOOGLE the Hospital and GOOGLE and a X next to GOOGLE so I deleted it. But now I am stuck with the Hospital as my search engine :gack:

[m00nbl00d]

duckduckgo.com is not bad, but nowhere near Google, unfortunately. I mainly use Ixquick or DuckDuckGo. But, sometimes these do not fulfill my needs. I'd use Bing, but unless I'm aware of, it doesn't have a secure (https) search version?

[Carver]

-{ Quote: "duckduckgo.com is not bad, but nowhere near Google, unfortunately. I mainly use Ixquick or DuckDuckGo. But, sometimes these do not fulfill my needs. I'd use Bing, but unless I'm aware of, it doesn't have a secure (https) search version?" }-
DuckDuckGo has a https version

[m00nbl00d]

-{ Quote: "DuckDuckGo has a https version" }-

Yes, I know that. I was talking about Bing (Microsoft's search engine). I don't think it has an https version, does it?

[JRViejo]

-{ Quote: "I don't think it has an https version, does it?" }-
m00nbl00d, not yet. Re: Microsoft Considering Encryption For Bing (http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/microsoft-considering-encryption-bing).

[funkydude]

-{ Quote: "Yes, I know that. I was talking about Bing (Microsoft's search engine). I don't think it has an https version, does it?" }-

No. I'm still using Scroogle until the day it dies, when I'll probably use Bing. Hopefully it doesn't suck for my country by then and will have created an https version.

edit:
-{ Quote: "m00nbl00d, not yet. Re: Microsoft Considering Encryption For Bing (http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/microsoft-considering-encryption-bing)." }-

Good to know.

[J_L]

-{ Quote: "Google Instant requires Chrome 13 Beta. They're pulling the same proprietary move MS got socked for." }-
I wonder why they did that, it worked (opt-out) on all modern browsers before.

After updating to Firefox 5, I see Google Instant again.

[m00nbl00d]

Another thing with the Google Instant service is that, whenever you hover a link, you'll get a preview of the URL. The problem is that you also get a chance to accidently click it and enter the URL.

I say it's a problem because many people have no other protection than an AV and some rating tool. Just by accidently clicking one of those previews users will enter an URL, which otherwise they wouldn't, if the rating tool they use gives xyz URL a red rating.

Maybe it's just me, but I think this is a dangerous thing...

[x942]

-{ Quote: "So I must drop my secure browser for a less secure one checking my mail? Per site basis means Google and gmail.com you get cookied" }-

You have 3 options when it comes to google:
1)block cookies and only allow the gmail cookie when loging in to gmail - do this and use ghostery and block 3rd party cookies. If you take the time and analyze gmails cookie you will see its only for keeping you logged in. The other one (blocked by ghostery) is the tracking cookie.

2) block cookies and use a client (IE thunderbird) no more gmail cookies at all

3). Find a different service and stop complaining about it. (all though you will find all (good) search engines leave some cookies and all (good) email services do the same. Unless you block cookies 99% of the web leaves cookies. About 60% of those cookies are good (keeping you logged in etc. ) the rest are tracking/ad cookies and can be blocked easily enough.

Letting cookies through has nothing to do with security. Cookies are privacy concern NOT a security concern (cookie hijacking is different all together). Using a less secure browser means I could hack into you computer throw an exploit allowing cookies means at best I can track your browsing.