🆕 Software Suggestion | Private.sh

[Tryptex00]

Basic Information

Private.sh
Search Engine
https://private.sh/

Description

Developed by the PIA VPN service, I haven't looked into it a whole lot, but it should be considered. Thoughts on it being listed in the "Worth mentioning" section?

[Mikaela]

I am not sure about this as the PIA ownership is unclear and they don't fill our VPN criteria and I recall that their new owner is a surveillance business.

[danarel]

I would say simply because their VPN doesn't fit our criteria shouldn't disqualify this search engine, however, they don't make it really clear PIA runs it, every search is served with a PIA ad, regardless of what you search for.

They also claim to be auditable and open source, but don't link to the source code, and instead it says coming soon.

I would recommend this product be added to the backburner and we can see if goes anywhere.

[blacklight447]

It troubles me a bit that they say they "cryptographicly" protect your privacy, its like they are stating that its not possible for them to track you without breaking the encryption, without mentioning that if they wanted to, they can just piece the search quarry gigablast recieved back to the ip the connect to pia's servers. It still comes down whether you trust this search engine, which is already the case normal search engines. So in the end its a bit of security theater if you ask me.

[danarel]

Some more information:

https://www.ghacks.net/2019/12/17/private-sh-privacy-search-engine-first-look/

[freddy-m]

Look at Nitrohorse's https://searchengine.party/ - I think it sums it up quite well.