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Search engine data retention

The policies of search engines regarding the retention of user search history and other data.

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4 results
Jan 29, 2026
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How do I delete DuckDuckGo saved searches on desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)?

Deleting “saved” searches on a desktop browser is a browser-level action because DuckDuckGo does not retain personal search histories on its servers; what appears as saved searches is stored locally i...

Feb 5, 2026

What exact steps remove DuckDuckGo bookmarklets, saved settings, and Personal Information Removal data from a device?

Removing ’s (PIR) data, any DuckDuckGo bookmarklets, and saved app/browser settings requires a combination of in-app/subscription actions and conventional browser or OS cleanup: canceling the PIR subs...

Jan 20, 2026

What technical methods do researchers use to reidentify de‑identified web search logs?

Researchers reidentify “de‑identified” web search logs by combining structural signals in logs (IP addresses, timestamps, sessionization), unique or rare query text, linkage with auxiliary datasets, a...

Jan 9, 2026

Which privacy‑focused search engines in 2025 document zero retention policies, and how do researchers verify those claims?

A set of widely mentioned privacy‑focused search engines—DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, Startpage, Qwant, MetaGer, Searx (and forks), Mojeek and niche players like Gibiru—publicly claim no‑logging or zero ...