Brave Search
Type of site | Web search engine |
|---|---|
| URL | search |
| Registration | Optional[1] |
| Launched | 2021[2] |
| Current status | Online |
Brave Search is a search engine developed by Brave Software, Inc. and is set as the default search engine for Brave browser users in certain countries.[2]
History
Brave Search is a search engine developed by Brave Software, Inc. and released in Beta on March 2021, following the acquisition of Tailcat, a privacy-focused search engine from Cliqz.[3] Brave Search aims to use its independent index to generate search results. However, the user can allow the Brave browser to anonymously check Google for the same query.[4]
Brave Search claims it will eventually offer ad-supported free search as well as ad-free paid search options. It hopes to explore bringing BAT revenue sharing to these ads in a similar fashion to the Brave ads platform.[5][6]
On October 2021, Brave Search was made the default search engine for Brave browser users in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom (replacing Google Search), France (replacing Qwant) and Germany (replacing DuckDuckGo and Ecosia).[7]
On June 2022, Brave Search ended it's beta stage and was fully released. In addition to the launch, the new Goggles feature was added allowing users to apply their own rules and filters to search queries.[8]
Features
Brave search has various features designed to enhance users searching experience:
- Brave indexing: Brave Search has a unique web indexing, that does not rely on any third-parties such as Google or Bings web indexing.[citation needed]
- Brave Search Premium: users can optionally create an account with Brave Search Premium to support Brave Search directly with providing independent and unbias search results. Brave Search is currently an ad-free website, but it will eventually switch to a new model that will include ads and premium users will get an ad-free experience.[1]
- Opt-in data collection: user data including IP addresses are not collected from its users by default.[9] A premium account is required for opt-in data-collection.[1]
- Discussions: a feature that shows conversations related to the search query, such as comments on the website Reddit.[10] When a user searches and scrolls down, if available a discussions section will be there and it will contain various forums where and the user can click one to see an answer from a user from an online community.
- Goggles: a feature that allows users to apply their own rules and filters to a search.[8]
Data collection
Brave search does implement some level of data-collection, but only when users opt-in. This is done through the Web Discovery Project. The project is a methodology and system developed by Brave Software, Inc. to collect data generated by their users while protecting their privacy and anonymity.[11] Users can opt-in at any time while using the search engine by modifying the settings, no account is required for this function.[12]
References
- ^ a b c Brave. "What is Brave Search Premium?". Brave Browser. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ a b Porter, Jon (2021-10-20). "Brave browser replaces Google with its own search engine". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ "Brave's privacy-focused search engine is available in beta". Engadget. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ "Google fallback mixing". search.brave.com.
- ^ Brave (2021-06-22). "Brave Search beta now available in Brave browser, offering users the first independent privacy search/browser alternative to big tech". Brave Browser. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- ^ Karim Ahmad (18 August 2021). "Everything You Need to Know About Brave's New Privacy-Focused Search Engine". MUO.
- ^ Porter, Jon (2021-10-20). "Brave browser replaces Google with its own search engine". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ a b "Brave's privacy-focused Google alternative lets you customize your search rankings". Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ Burgess, Matt. "Privacy-First Browser Brave Is Launching a Search Engine". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ "Web Discovery Project Overview". Brave. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ "What is the Web Discovery Project?". GitHub. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
- ^ "What is the Web Discovery Project?". Brave. Retrieved 2022-06-24.