Ixquick Explained – Protecting Your Online Privacy

A Look at Ixquick:

Imagine there was a search engine that protects your privacy 100%. Sounds too good to be true? Then let Ixquick surprise you! This unique search engine allows you to browse completely anonymously without storing any of your data. Curious? Then find out everything you need to know about Ixquick right here!

Info Box

What sets Ixquick apart from other search engines is its commitment to protecting user data. While many search engines collect data to display personalized advertising, Ixquick has always refrained from storing or tracking personal data.

Background

Are you looking for a search engine where you can be sure your data is protected? Then you should definitely give Ixquick a try! But what exactly is behind this unusual name?

Ixquick was a meta search engine developed in the USA and operated from the year 2000 by Surfboard Holding B.V. What made Ixquick special was that it refrained from storing user-related data. This means that Ixquick did not track your searches and did not store any personal information.

But what made Ixquick so special? The distinctive feature of Ixquick was that it refrained from storing user-related data. This means that Ixquick did not track your searches and did not store any personal information.

In March 2016, Ixquick was merged with the search engine „Startpage“, which also belonged to Surfboard Holding B.V. [Source: Focus]

Startpage is a search engine that places value on privacy and data protection. Through the merger of Ixquick and Startpage, even greater emphasis could be placed on protecting your privacy.

Unfortunately, support for Ixquick was discontinued two years after the merger. This means that Ixquick is no longer active and can no longer be used. However, if you continue to value data protection and privacy, you can still use Startpage as an alternative.

Business Model

Ixquick is a search engine operator with a business model based on honesty and transparency.

The Surfboard Holding B.V., the parent company of Ixquick, generates its revenue exclusively through context-based advertising. This means that the displayed advertising matches the search term exactly.

In contrast to behavior-based advertising, which is based on collected user data such as location, past searches, and visited websites, Ixquick places great value on privacy and protects users' personal information.

Surfboard Holding relies on a marketing strategy based on personal recommendations and word of mouth. They largely avoid the use of traditional marketing techniques and instead invest in dialogue with users. Ixquick's first major marketing campaign was launched in Berlin in spring 2021, with the goal of making more people aware of the search engine and highlighting its advantages.

How It Works & Privacy

• Focus on Privacy

  One of the main features of Ixquick is the unparalleled protection of user privacy. Unlike many other search engines, Ixquick does not store IP addresses, search queries, or personal data. This ensures that search queries remain anonymous and untraceable.

• Surfboard Holding's Commitment

  The Surfboard Holding, which stands behind Ixquick, has made it its mission to respect users' privacy. Its goal is to provide a secure search engine option where user data is not disclosed.

• Enhanced Anonymity Features

  Ixquick goes one step further by allowing users to retrieve search results via a proxy server. This additional layer of protection enhances anonymity and safeguards users' online privacy.

• Versatile Search Functions

  With Ixquick, users could not only search websites, but also find videos, images, and international phone numbers. Interestingly, Ixquick used the YouTube platform for video searches.

• Personalization Options

  Users had the freedom to personalize their search experience. They could adjust the number of search results per page, a safe search filter, the colors of the user interface, and the language. They could also select the server location for search queries: USA, EU, or Asia. To retain these settings, a 90-day cookie was used, or the settings could be saved as a URL.

• Ixquick on Various Platforms

  In addition to the web version, Ixquick was also available as a free app. Users could set it as their homepage in various browsers and even download a plug-in to set Ixquick as their default search engine. This offered a seamless search experience directly from the browser search bar.

The Evolution of Ixquick:

Merger of Ixquick and Startpage.com

Over time, Ixquick merged with Startpage.com, another player in the field of privacy-focused searching. Through this merger, both platforms were able to combine their strengths and intensify their commitment to data protection.

The Legacy of Ixquick

Although the Ixquick brand is no longer independent today, its privacy philosophy lives on in Startpage.com. For all those who value a secure and anonymous online experience, Startpage.com stands ready as an outstanding option. It integrates Ixquick's privacy technologies with an optimized search function and a user-friendly design.

Privacy and Anonymity with Startpage.com

Startpage.com places great importance on protecting its users' privacy. It does not collect or store personal data and uses encryption technologies to protect search queries and user activities. A special feature is the „Anonymous View“ option, which allows users to visit websites without disclosing personal data such as their IP address.

Protection from Trackers and Advertising

Another commitment of Startpage.com is protecting its users from online tracking and invasive advertising. The platform proactively blocks trackers and ads that could compromise privacy.

Setting Startpage as Your Default Search Engine and Browsing the Internet Anonymously

Startpage has established itself in recent years as a trustworthy and privacy-friendly search engine. Many users prefer to set Startpage as their default search engine in order to benefit from the advantages of privacy and anonymity. Setting Startpage as your default search engine is a simple process and can be carried out in most browsers in just a few steps.

Setting Your Homepage and Startpage as Your Start Page

The Importance of the Browser Homepage

The homepage of a browser is the first thing users see when they go online. This page should therefore meet individual requirements and preferences, as it can significantly influence the daily online routine.

Choosing the Right Homepage

Depending on personal preferences, the homepage can vary: news pages keep you constantly informed, email pages provide direct access to new messages, and search engines are excellent for regular online research. Choosing the right homepage can significantly optimize your daily online routine.

Setting the Homepage

To change the homepage, simply navigate to the browser settings and look for the „Homepage“ option. Here you can either enter a URL manually or select an existing page. Some modern browsers even allow you to have multiple homepages that open in separate tabs.

Tips for Choosing a Homepage

It is advisable to choose a homepage that loads quickly in order to avoid delays when starting the browser. Pages overloaded with lots of media content or advertising can impair performance. A clear and structured homepage improves the user experience.

Regular Review

Online needs can change over time. It therefore makes sense to reconsider the homepage occasionally and adjust it if necessary in order to keep it current and useful at all times.

Anonymous on the Internet

In today's digital age, the need to browse the internet anonymously is stronger than ever. With growing concerns about online privacy, more and more people are looking for ways to protect their online activities from prying eyes. One way to browse the internet anonymously is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts the user's data and routes it through servers at different locations, so that the user's true IP address remains hidden. This ensures that online activities cannot be traced back. Another way to browse the internet anonymously is to use Tor.

Tor is a network that encrypts data traffic and routes it through various servers to conceal your own IP address. This makes it difficult to trace the origin of the data traffic. There are also special browsers designed to protect users' privacy, such as the Tor browser or the Brave browser. These browsers offer additional security and privacy features to make browsing the internet anonymous.

Furthermore, it is advisable to avoid sharing personal data and sensitive information while browsing the internet. Personal data should only be entered on trusted websites, and it is important to protect yourself from phishing attacks by not clicking on suspicious links or opening attachments in emails. It is important to note that absolute anonymity on the