A browser helps you view a specific site, while a search engine crawls a massive database to provide you with multiple search results.Īnd although they work together, the measures you need to take to protect your data with them differ. You’re always using a browser to get to a search engine, but you don’t need a search engine to view a site in your browser. Your browser and search engine are two different things. Or perhaps you’re more focused on generating organic search results as opposed to seeing boosted (sponsored) content come up first in your search results. When choosing a search engine, preventing targeted advertising might be your primary concern. As for search engines, remember that many of them profit from selling your data. The most used browsers may not always be the best browsers for privacy.

Remember to take initiative if you want safe browsing. The internet is full of cyberthreats like malware and phishing, so it’s smart to get familiar with the pros and cons of various browsers and search engines Some web browsers and search engines are more secure and private than others. Think of it as the helpful librarian that deciphers your request for “a romance book about vampires or something?”Īre web browsers and search engines safe? That’s essentially what your search engine does. Queries like “VPN with shark” or “VPN that starts with S” will also bring up. Of course, you might not always know or remember the exact web page you want to find. Once you type in “surfshark” in the search bar, your search engine will find the most fitting and meaningful results for the query. Let’s stick to the previous example and say you forgot the exact URL of a website, but you know the name. How does that work? If your address bar doesn’t detect an address or a domain, it automatically searches the web for you. When you type in your question into the address bar, it’s not the browser that looks for the answer for you.

What is a search engine?Ī search engine is a tool that helps you find the information you need using keywords and phrases.

Each of these confers a different amount of security and some browsers are better than others when it comes to privacy. You’re probably aware of some of the most popular web browsers, including Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge (formerly Internet Explorer), and Tor.

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