Abine Launches Private Search Capability for Google
Users can now search Google anonymously for the first time
BOSTON, Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Abine, the online privacy company, today announced a brand new Private Search service for the ubiquitous Google search engine (and soon others like Yahoo!/Bing), in conjunction with Data Privacy Day 2015. Private Search is integrated into Abine's award-winning Blur product which already protects people's passwords, payments and privacy. With a simple "on-off" toggle, Private Search will finally let users search Google without worrying about their search queries being saved, shared, sold, and connected to their real names – a level of search engine privacy not possible with any other service on the market.
As of December 2014, Google remains the leading search engine by a landslide – controlling over 75% of US online searches. A simple search unlocks an entire realm of data about ourselves, which is collected, filed and sold by Google to organizations looking to target us personally for advertising, personal profiling or surveillance. The reality is Google represents the digital equivalent of Big Brother: every one of us is being watched.
Despite our concern, we as consumers continue to use Google because it provides the best possible service for our needs. Google has had no reason to offer an option to keep user searches private – because switching to a lesser search engine just isn't a viable option.
Almost 90% of users mistakenly believe that Google's "incognito mode" or other
"private browsing" modes protects the privacy of their searches – 100% incorrect – private browsing does not prevent Google from tracking your searches. Google also now wants you to use a single identity across all of its services: YouTube, Gmail, Drive, etc. and it uses this one identity combined with individuals' search histories to build a digital profile of each of us.
Private Search prioritizes consumer confidentiality. Being able to search on Google anonymously, without the worry of stored cookies, search history or IP addresses means users won't be targeted based on their most private information (like home address, medical questions, legal or financial advice) by Google or any third party vendor.
"By the end of 2015, anybody who wants to use the Internet safely should be using Private Search, alongside a password manager and a secure payments service," said Rob Shavell, CEO of Abine. "Blur users can use the best search engine the way it used to be – simple and not nosy."
Google claims users appreciate the personalized search results they offer. But the truth is that the users have had no choice in the matter. As Google's services get smarter about identifying each user, the demand for search privacy is at an all-time high.
Blur with Private Search
Once installed, users simply go to Google to search as they normally would and they will see a toggle allowing them to turn on or off Private Search right from the main Google screen.
Blur goes beyond search to give users other simple ways to be more private and secure o online. With one click or finger tap, Blur can encrypt and generate a new email address, strong unique password, or one-time use secure credit card that is sent to the site or merchant instead of the consumer's real private information. Blur also automatically blocks hundreds of tracking companies from secretly collecting detailed data about what people do daily online.
Blur is free and available to all users for 30 days (and costs less than $4 per month ongoing). Premium service includes a second dedicated private phone number, unlimited new masked credit cards, as well as the ability to add unlimited mobile devices to an account for one subscription price. To download and use Blur immediately, visit www.abine.com.
About Abine
Abine is the online privacy company. Abine has for years been committed to providing consumers with innovative and comprehensive privacy solutions meant for everyday web users. Abine's solutions have been trusted by over 25 million people worldwide to protect and control their passwords, privacy, and identity. Get Blur.
CONTACT: David Hefferman, 617-779-1838, [email protected]
SOURCE Abine
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