Allow different search engines for default and private mode

[Netzhoerer]

I'd like to set different Search engines for default and private mode. In Firefox Desktop and mobile.

thanks for your great software 🙂

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to the Mozilla Connect community! Your idea is now open to votes (aka kudos) and comments.

[stoxford]

I wish Firefox would allow users to default to Google or Bing search in ordinary windows, but DuckDuckGo search in private browsing mode.

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to the Mozilla Connect community! Your idea is now open to votes (aka kudos) and comments.

[Anonymous]

I understand that Firefox cannot be developed without funding, but no one should be able to fight Google while getting money from them.

[rtestard]

Hi @stoxford I'm curious about the use case here for different search engines. Private windows will force a signed out state on your Google account, implying that your search history won't be stored on your Google account. Do you have specific concerns with default search engines in PBM if cookies are cleared and your account is signed out?

[stoxford]

Hi @rtestard,

First of all, let me say that I realize that Mozilla is financially supported by Alphabet, so I am not proposing a change that would likely risk that funding.

I am proposing that, in the settings, users should be able to select default search engines independently for each of (1) normal mode and (2) private browsing mode. I support having Google as the default search engine for both modes at the time of application installation.

It is true that private browsing mode will block cookies and force a signed out state on your Google or Bing account, but it does not hide the client's IP address or host name. For home users, it is then trivial for a search engine to match up a search query performed in private browsing mode to a Google or Bing account that logged in from the same IP address in normal mode.

As the Mozilla Support website says in Common Myths about Private Browsing:

Private Browsing does not mask your identity or activity online. Websites and internet service providers can still gather information about your visit, even if you are not signed in.

In PHP, you can likely test this by creating a web page with $_SERVER[REMOTE_ADDR] and $_SERVER[REMOTE_HOST], then load it in both normal mode and private browsing mode. Alternatively, just go here in both normal mode and private browsing mode and see that both windows show identical IP addresses and machine names.

Using a privacy-focused search engine in private browsing mode while still using Google or Bing in normal mode is a relatively effective way to isolate sensitive searches without needing to deploy a full VPN. While it could mean that some users move away from using Google in private browsing mode, it could also persuade some DuckDuckGo users to move back to Google in normal mode. In my case, I tried moving over to DuckDuckGo entirely before deciding that I really prefer Google most of the time.

[Jon]

Hey all,

Here with an exciting update…

Your idea has received a great deal of votes (kudos) and support here in the Mozilla Connect community, so we are upgrading the status to “Trending idea.” This means it’s now one step closer to reaching our internal teams for review—learn more about The Idea Journey.

Please keep the conversation going and stay tuned for updates 😃

-The Community Team

[markhor]

This'll be a really helpful feature since Google always asks me to solve their annoying captcha when I use their website in private mode.

[rtestard]

@markhorDo you mean "cookie banner"? If it's a captcha which domain do you siee it on and can I ask which country you're in?

[rtestard]

@stoxfordThanks for clarifying, this makes total sense.

https://techdows.com/2019/10/mozilla-firefox-to-introduce-a-separate-search-engine-for-private-brows... could help you though I just noticed a bug with https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1792988 so you may have to wait until 107 hits release to rely on this.

Is that what you're after in terms of capability?

[piterk]

This feature is old as world. It was introduced back in 2019:

https://www.askvg.com/firefox-tip-use-separate-default-search-engine-in-private-browsing-mode/

unfortunately, for some crazy reason it is hidden, like many basic features in firefox now (for example password import from file, despite export still being visible...).

Just enable browser.search.separatePrivateDefault.ui.enabled and set-up whatever you want.

I prefer to use brave in normal mode because I can select my country and get decent results, but it is useless in private mode because I would have to set-up my country every time so I just use google in private mode, where I only have to reject cookies.

[Nbvdv]

I would like to make Presearch the default search engine or at least a default option to select.
Better search results, decentralized search query results maintains privacy, earn as you search, AI, WEB3, and not Google!

[Nbvdv]

People don't trust Google. The primary reason people want separate default search engines for regular and private mode is because Google and Bing track you and DuckDuckGo is now owned by Microsoft.

What if you got better results without the tracking from a decentralized web3 search engine. Make Presearch the default search engine and most of these problems are solved. However, with presearch you also will get AI with the same privacy, you can earn crypto for doing your normal search queries, and the results are not curated. You are getting aggregated results from decentralized nodes and eventually presearch's own crawling and community results. Presearch is a game changer to limit Big Tech influence while still leveraging the good side of their results. This should be a simple change and provide dramatic benefits to the Firefox community. 

[stoxford]

piterk, thanks a lot! 😁 That's an amazingly simple option.

I don't understand why Mozilla developers intentionally hide this kind of stuff from users.

[stoxford]

Nbvdv,

DuckDuckGo is NOT owned by Microsoft. Please don't make up facts.

Google should remain the default search engine because they provide essential funding to the Mozilla Foundation.