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Has anyone else noticed that non Google search engines just stopped working with the tracker part of url removed? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 4 months ago by ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
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I normally default to SearxNG search engine but sometimes use swisscows.com.

For some reason, if I let FOSS browser remove the tracker portion of the search, it will no longer work. If I allow the tracker to be used, it works every time. I have tried multiple Searx engine instances, and they all seem to have the same issue.

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[-] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Swisscows.com seems to be working for me but I don't think I'm removing "trackers".

Can you give an example? What browser is removing the "tracker portion"? How is it doing that?

The querystring can contain trackers. But for searching it usually contains your search terms. So, if your browser is removing the querystring, then searches probably won't work.

[-] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 8 points 4 months ago

Yeah there is definitely no size fits all there, you can't just remove the entire query string

[-] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 2 points 4 months ago

That's what I'm wondering. I've used both Searx and SwissCows and I've never seen any tracking going on in the URL.

[-] MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

It sounds like maybe it's removing the actual search query part of the URL?

Because swisscows.com has no trackers in the URLs for searching or clicking on results.

[-] hersh@literature.cafe 2 points 4 months ago

You should probably report that to the browser developer. Sounds like their tracker filter has a bug causing false positives.

[-] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago

That's probably reasonable.

[-] samsapti@feddit.dk 2 points 4 months ago

I use Brave browser, my SearXNG instance works fine. Feel free to try it out: https://search.sapti.me/

If it doesn't work, it might be something with your browser.

[-] SpacePanda@mander.xyz 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Thank you for introducing me to swisscows! Edit: does it only allow safe searching? Is there a way to turn off safe search?

[-] ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago

I don't think so. It's just build to auto filter NSFW and it is privacy focused. Note that the rumor mill tells of changes coming to Switzerland law that will make it worse that the privacy nightmare in the US. That would also impact Proton Mail and other trusted Swiss services.

[-] SpacePanda@mander.xyz 1 points 4 months ago

I did not know that about swiss law. Nsfw isnt deal breaker, I was just curious. Thank you very the education

this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2025
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