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@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
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Why use a private instance?
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===========================
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-.. sidebar:: Is it worth to run my own instance?
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+.. sidebar:: Is running my own instance worth it?
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- \.\. is a common question among SearXNG users. Before answering this
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+ \.\.\.is a common question among SearXNG users. Before answering this
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question, see what options a SearXNG user has.
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.. contents::
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@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ Why use a private instance?
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:local:
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:backlinks: entry
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-Public instances are open to everyone who has access to its URL. Usually, these
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+Public instances are open to everyone who has access to their URL. Usually, they
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are operated by unknown parties (from the users' point of view). Private
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-instances can be used by a select group of people. It is for example a SearXNG of
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-group of friends or a company which can be accessed through VPN. Also it can be
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-single user one which runs on the user's laptop.
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+instances can be used by a select group of people, such as a SearXNG instance for a
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+group of friends, or a company which can be accessed through a VPN. Instances can also be
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+single-user instances, which run locally on the user's machine.
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-To gain more insight on how these instances work let's dive into how SearXNG
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+To gain more insight on how these instances work, let's dive into how SearXNG
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protects its users.
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.. _SearXNG protect privacy:
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@@ -26,26 +26,26 @@ protects its users.
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How does SearXNG protect privacy?
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=================================
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-SearXNG protects the privacy of its users in multiple ways regardless of the type
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-of the instance (private, public). Removal of private data from search requests
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+SearXNG protects the privacy of its users in multiple ways, regardless of the type
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+of the instance (private or public). Removal of private data from search requests
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comes in three forms:
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- 1. removal of private data from requests going to search services
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- 2. not forwarding anything from a third party services through search services
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+ 1. Removing private data from requests going to search services
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+ 2. Not forwarding anything from third party services through search services
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(e.g. advertisement)
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- 3. removal of private data from requests going to the result pages
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+ 3. Removing private data from requests going to the results pages
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Removing private data means not sending cookies to external search engines and
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generating a random browser profile for every request. Thus, it does not matter
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if a public or private instance handles the request, because it is anonymized in
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-both cases. IP addresses will be the IP of the instance. But SearXNG can be
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+both cases. The IP address used will be the IP of the instance, but SearXNG can also be
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configured to use proxy or Tor. `Result proxy
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<https://github.com/asciimoo/morty>`__ is supported, too.
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-SearXNG does not serve ads or tracking content unlike most search services. So
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+SearXNG does not serve ads or tracking content, unlike most search services. Therefore,
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private data is not forwarded to third parties who might monetize it. Besides
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-protecting users from search services, both referring page and search query are
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-hidden from visited result pages.
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+protecting users from search services, both the referring page and search query are
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+hidden from the results pages being visited.
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What are the consequences of using public instances?
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@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ What are the consequences of using public instances?
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If someone uses a public instance, they have to trust the administrator of that
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instance. This means that the user of the public instance does not know whether
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-their requests are logged, aggregated and sent or sold to a third party.
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+their requests are logged, aggregated, and sent or sold to a third party.
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-Also, public instances without proper protection are more vulnerable to abusing
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-the search service, In this case the external service in exchange returns
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-CAPTCHAs or bans the IP of the instance. Thus, search requests return less
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+Also, public instances without proper protection are more vulnerable to abuse of
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+the search service which may cause the external service to enforce
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+CAPTCHAs, or to ban the IP address of the instance. Thus, search requests would return less
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results.
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I see. What about private instances?
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@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ If users run their :ref:`own instances <installation>`, everything is in their
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control: the source code, logging settings and private data. Unknown instance
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administrators do not have to be trusted.
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-Furthermore, as the default settings of their instance is editable, there is no
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-need to use cookies to tailor SearXNG to their needs. So preferences will not be
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+Furthermore, as the default settings of their instance are editable, there is no
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+need to use cookies to tailor SearXNG to their needs and preferences will not
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reset to defaults when clearing browser cookies. As settings are stored on
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-their computer, it will not be accessible to others as long as their computer is
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+the user's computer, they will not be accessible to others as long as their computer is
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not compromised.
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Conclusion
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@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Always use an instance which is operated by people you trust. The privacy
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features of SearXNG are available to users no matter what kind of instance they
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use.
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-If someone is on the go or just wants to try SearXNG for the first time public
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-instances are the best choices. Additionally, public instance are making a
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-world a better place, because those who cannot or do not want to run an
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-instance, have access to a privacy respecting search service.
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+For those on the go, or just wanting to try SearXNG for the first time, public
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+instances are the best choice. Additionally, public instance are making the
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+world a better place by giving those who cannot, or do not, want to run an
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+instance access to a privacy-respecting search service.
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