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Brave browser gives Google the finger, replaces it with Brave search engine
- The Brave browser now has its own search engine.
- The search engine replaces Google as the new default for the browser, at least for new users.
- It also replaces previous defaults for other countries, including Qwant and DuckDuckGo.
Brave has made a name for itself relatively quickly as being a great browser choice for those who are concerned about the privacy and security issues present while using Chrome, Edge, and others. Now, the company has a new feather in its cap: a search engine.
Starting now, new users who switch to the Brave browser will see the company’s own custom search engine on by default (via The Verge). For the vast majority of users, it will replace Google, which was the previous default in most countries. In France and Germany, the Brave search engine replaces Qwant and DuckDuckGo respectively.
Since this is a feature of the Brave browser, users can rest assured the software won’t track users, searches, or clicks.
If you’re concerned about the effectiveness of such a young search service, that’s a reasonable concern to have. Brave says when its own engine can’t produce good enough results it will pull in results from other providers. This is similar to how Microsoft’s Bing works.
The Brave browser is free and features zero ads — for now. Brave has already announced it will soon put ads into its free service and simultaneously roll out a paid ad-free version.