Privacy has become one of the most discussed issues online. Users are now demanding high levels of privacy to keep safe while browsing the internet. This has resulted in stakeholders in the industry coming up with ways to reassure users of their online security. One such player in the industry is Brave, which aims to take on Google with its new search engine that prioritizes user privacy. The browser announced on 3/3/2021 that it had acquired Tailcat search engine, developed by Cliqz, a Hubert Burda Media subsidiary and based in Germany. Cliqz had focused heavily on building a private search engine but had been negatively affected by the pandemic. It aimed to create a search engine that would show results without building a profile or logging the user’s search
Why Brave will be a game-changer when it comes to privacy
Brave aims to use Tailcat technology to show ads through Brave Search. While it has opened it up for beta testing, it is expected to be available in late spring or the summer. Like it uses the Brave Rewards scheme to pay users to view ads, it also hopes to continue doing so with this start-up. While it would be doubtful the Brave Search Engine will dethrone Google search in the immediate future, the Tailcat technology will show that it is possible to be financially successful by focusing on user privacy first. For example, users will be able to play their favourite games at legit casinos, such as Comeon and enjoy the unbeatable Comeon casino bonus, without being bombarded by ads of casino sites and offers that may not be legit.
Brave vs Google
The Brave browser has continued to grow since its launch in 2016, and it is even estimated to reach over 50 million users by the end of this year, a jump from its current 25 million users. However, taking on Google in the search engine arena is a colossal undertaking. The search engine accounts for almost 90% of search queries, followed by Bing with 3%, while others such as DuckDuckGo, Yahoo and Startpage repackage search results from Google and Bing. One of the reasons Google is the preferred search engine for many users is its complex algorithm that delivers fast and relevant search queries. Furthermore, its AdWords system generates a lot of revenue by showing relevant ads along with search results. For Brave Search, it will be at a disadvantage due to its smaller web index as compared to Google. One way that Brave can overcome this disadvantage is by gathering information that can be shared unanimously, such as the links users click and what they search for. In its initial tests, the developer of Tailcat hired external security researchers, who confirmed that such data could not be traced back to an individual. Brave Search will also offer users the option to opt-in to collect their data with their consent. In the meantime, Google has announced that it will stop tracking users as they visit different websites. It comes as no surprise as the one making the announcement, David Temkin, was himself a chief product officer at Brave.