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Can I use Kagi without linking any real-world identifiers (including credit card details) to my search queries in any way? I'm very much interested in a high-q

by p-e-w 4y ago

Can I use Kagi without linking any real-world identifiers (including credit card details) to my search queries in any way? I'm very much interested in a high-quality search engine, and certainly willing to pay for it, but unless the above condition is satisfied, it's a non-starter for me.

runnerup 4y ago
Privacy.com might help
- p-e-w 4y ago
  Privacy.com is US only. And of course, Privacy.com "virtual cards" are still linked to your real-world identity.
  - aliasxneo 4y ago
    How would it get tied to you from the search engine perspective? You can fill in fake information with a Privacy card. They'd have to do some pretty intense investigation to somehow tie the card number back to you...just to sell your information. Seems unproductive.
    - doubtfulcan 4y ago
      A single leak could ruin your social relationships. Extortion bots are untiring and neverending. Just a moment ago our countries largest mental health institution had an IT-catastrophe, and thousands of influental people immediately got automatically extorted by bots.
freeAgent 4y ago
Their privacy policy is here: https://kagi.com/privacy https://kagi.com/privacy The short answer to your question is: yes, you can use it without linking any real-world identifiers to your search queries. That is explicitly stated in the linked privacy policy. With that said, I guess it's possible that they are violating their own privacy policy. That seems like a bad idea from a legal perspective, and I don't have any reason to suspect they're lying, so I'm not too worried about it.
- p-e-w 4y ago
  Yeah I was actually hoping for an answer that doesn't require blind trust. So the correct answer seems to be "we absolutely could link your searches to your identity, but we promise that we won't; however, you cannot verify that we are keeping that promise". Which I'm afraid is not good enough. To be clear, I'm not saying that they are lying, and indeed I have no reason to suspect they are. But I'm looking for technological privacy, not contractual privacy.
  - jdironman 4y ago
    Why not just have a payment method that isn't linked to you?
    - CameronNemo 4y ago
      Do they support any such payment methods? Only Monero and cash come to mind.
      - dns_snek 4y ago
        No, just debit/credit cards, handled via Stripe IIRC.
    - makeitdouble 4y ago
      How do you realistically do that online, short of getting into crypto ? I wonder if they'd even accept crypto, but their FAQ has nothing on their accepted payment and so it seems it needs an account even to just see that.
      - vl 4y ago
        There are pre-paid credit cards you can buy in Safeway and such for a small premium. I'm not sure how to use them for paying online though (i.e. how to provide name/address/phone that match).
      - jdironman 4y ago
sMarsIntruder 4y ago
I know HN is against Bitcoin by design (it’s destroying the planet!11), but I really miss the opportunity to pay with Lightning TBH. It’s fine for me having an account, but not using a credit card linked to my name. I found a 2022 thread where someone asked to pay with BTC or Monero, but still. No news.
- sMarsIntruder 4y ago
  [flagged]
  - doubtfulcan 4y ago
    It's probably more about the very generalizing statement at the beginning that isn't adding anything to the conversation. The core of the issue seems to be that Kagi doesen't support anonymous payment, which kills it in my eyes unfortunately.

by p-e-w 4y ago

runnerup 4y ago

Privacy.com might help

p-e-w 4y ago
Privacy.com is US only. And of course, Privacy.com "virtual cards" are still linked to your real-world identity.
- aliasxneo 4y ago
  How would it get tied to you from the search engine perspective? You can fill in fake information with a Privacy card. They'd have to do some pretty intense investigation to somehow tie the card number back to you...just to sell your information. Seems unproductive.
  - doubtfulcan 4y ago
    A single leak could ruin your social relationships. Extortion bots are untiring and neverending. Just a moment ago our countries largest mental health institution had an IT-catastrophe, and thousands of influental people immediately got automatically extorted by bots.

freeAgent 4y ago

Their privacy policy is here: https://kagi.com/privacy https://kagi.com/privacy The short answer to your question is: yes, you can use it without linking any real-world identifiers to your search queries. That is explicitly stated in the linked privacy policy. With that said, I guess it's possible that they are violating their own privacy policy. That seems like a bad idea from a legal perspective, and I don't have any reason to suspect they're lying, so I'm not too worried about it.

p-e-w 4y ago
Yeah I was actually hoping for an answer that doesn't require blind trust. So the correct answer seems to be "we absolutely could link your searches to your identity, but we promise that we won't; however, you cannot verify that we are keeping that promise". Which I'm afraid is not good enough. To be clear, I'm not saying that they are lying, and indeed I have no reason to suspect they are. But I'm looking for technological privacy, not contractual privacy.
- jdironman 4y ago
  Why not just have a payment method that isn't linked to you?
  - CameronNemo 4y ago
    Do they support any such payment methods? Only Monero and cash come to mind.
    - dns_snek 4y ago
      No, just debit/credit cards, handled via Stripe IIRC.
  - makeitdouble 4y ago
    How do you realistically do that online, short of getting into crypto ? I wonder if they'd even accept crypto, but their FAQ has nothing on their accepted payment and so it seems it needs an account even to just see that.
    - vl 4y ago
      There are pre-paid credit cards you can buy in Safeway and such for a small premium. I'm not sure how to use them for paying online though (i.e. how to provide name/address/phone that match).
    - jdironman 4y ago

sMarsIntruder 4y ago

I know HN is against Bitcoin by design (it’s destroying the planet!11), but I really miss the opportunity to pay with Lightning TBH. It’s fine for me having an account, but not using a credit card linked to my name. I found a 2022 thread where someone asked to pay with BTC or Monero, but still. No news.

sMarsIntruder 4y ago
[flagged]
- doubtfulcan 4y ago
  It's probably more about the very generalizing statement at the beginning that isn't adding anything to the conversation. The core of the issue seems to be that Kagi doesen't support anonymous payment, which kills it in my eyes unfortunately.