[batter]

If you want to mess with Google, consider CustomizeGoogle.

It is a Firefox extension (IE version available too, but I haven't tried it).

CustomizeGoogle allows you to stop them from tracking you and blocks their annoying ads (Ads = revenue for them). It also allows you to use secure/encrypted (https) Google pages. It does much more than that, just click on the above link and read up or watch the introduction movie.

As I said, CG for IE is available: CG4ie.com. I haven't used it (I avoid IE like the plague due to it's security issues, among other things) but it appears to be endorsed by CG (CustomizeGoogle for Internet Explorer)

Disclaimer: If you use gmail and do a search, while logged in, I think Google will track you based on your gmail (or other account) login cookie.

For maximum effect, let your friends and family know about it. First, it allows for more secure and private use of Google's services without the stupid ads ( and the more who use it the harder Google is hit. Otherwise, Clusty seems to be the next best alternative, IMO.

[jetxnet]

Thanks Batter, but it will still give them traffic. The traffic is what gets them sponsors. Google has almost 50% of all Internet searches, if more people were to ban Google .. they'd lose allot of their market.

[Cicero]

If you use the Google toolbar with Internet Explorer, you can go into it and opt out of the tracking function, as you say. Also, you can remove any buttons from the toolbar that you don’t find useful.

I haven’t kept up with the most recent versions, but it used to give you a choice by asking it when you installed it. I’m not sure if it does now or not. But you can always go into it, tab through, and check out which boxes are checked.

One reason why Google survived when earlier search engines died was that it was the first that actually DID give users the choice to opt out of adware and spyware.

I use Ad Muncher, so I don’t know if you would still see any ads doing a google search using the IE search window. I don’t see any ads anywhere.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Thanks for the link. I couldn’t imagine browsing without NoScript and I notice Chrome has nothing for javascript control. Not surprising since they need scripts for displaying ads or running plugins like Flash. I suspect they’ll be dropping Firefox support altogether eventually if by chance Chrome becomes more widely used.