An anonymous search engine is a search engine that allows users to search the world wide web anonymously. Unlike most search engines, these do not store a user's personal information or data. Other people who use his computer are also not able to see any of his previous search terms. Anonymous search engines also usually allow individuals to visit most websites anonymously.
Almost all major search engines store some information when a person searches the web. This information is often stored as cookies. These cookies typically contain a unique code that can be linked back to a certain computer.
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are just one piece of information that many search engines store. An anonymous search engine does not usually store a user's IP address. This numeric code is typically unique to a certain electronic device, such as a computer. Certain search terms can sometimes be traced back to a particular computer, via its IP address
The location information of a person using a regular search engine may also be stored at times. This information may be general or more specific. For instance, a person's state may be identified and stored. Other search engines may only identify and store a person's country. A reputable anonymous search engine, on the other hand, will not store this information.
Many major search engines also keep a record of what terms have been searched on a particular computer. These terms can often be found when a user starts typing in a new search term. Simple hitting the up or down arrow keys will cause a drop box to appear with previously searched terms.
Anyone who uses a computer can find several search terms that other users have searched for. An anonymous search engine will not usually store this information either. This enables users to search for anything without others finding out. Computer users who search for adult-oriented material, for instance, may find these types of search engines useful if children use those machines.
An anonymous search engine may also allow users to visit their websites without those visits showing up in the website statistics. This is typically made possible because of a proxy server. When users click on a search result, they are usually able to see a website, but their personal details and IP addresses are hidden from that website's webmaster.