using startpage proxy to view blocked sites

[Searchernow]

Hi,

I have my browser privacy set to "moderate paranaoia" and so unencrypted sites (www) are blocked. But using Startpage search engine I can use the "proxy" option to view a site and this will usually allow the site to be viewed, in full living colour. I find this very useful for local shops and groups etc. who I know to be ok.

I am assuming Startpage proxy view will not allow anything nasty in which would usually be blocked by my browsers. Am I safe to assume this?  ???

[Scott(0)]

Hi Searchernow

I wasn't aware of this feature. To investigate I went to the Startpage Privacy Q&A page here (https://www.startpage.com/eng/protect-pr...a.html#hmb) and used the web browser search on the word proxy.

[Searchernow]

Hi Scott,

I stumbled on it while trying to view blocked www sites, though I was using it for privacy previously. If for example a friend or relation has some illness and I want to learn more about it, I want to avoid my search ending up on some algorithm which might increase my insurance costs or affect job prospects! That's the world we live in.

Thanks for the link, that answers my question I think.

As the old saying goes, a little paranaoia goes a long way.

[Scott(0)]

I had some extra time today and I found myself back on the Startpage website. I stumbled across this video (it's less than 3 minutes) and thought I'd share it. It appears if the proxy is used than the web surfing is safe. Assuming things work as claimed. 


https://www.startpage.com/vd/Startpage-p...FM.mp4#hmb

[Searchernow]

Update:

for general browsing of "not secure" http sites (i.e. without the s) I now use a second browser, Brave, which also gives me youtube videos without the ads by default. Brave will show "not secure" sites anyway, but with a "not secure" notice instead the padlock. For any sites which involve logging in I stick with Firefox. The latter now has a sandboxing plug-in created by Mozilla which facilitates isolating your shopping, email etc. tabs.

Brave is chromium based, and with HTTPS Everywhere installed by default, with the option to select it On in settings. All ads are blocked by default.  There is an ads opt-in feature called Brave Rewards, but I'm not interested in that so cannot say more about it.

I use Startpage on Brave as well.