AFAIK it uses several engines (DDG among others) with which it ssearch the relevant information, using a own index of reliable sources. As said, I use it almost since the beginning because of it’s really good privacy, good results and reliable answers. It’s not a good ChatBot, it’s what it is for, as a search assistant, capable of summarizing and explaining content to specific questions and it does it very well, with links to all sources for further information.

Try Andi, it’s the most private (active privacy protection, anonymous, no account, no ads, no cookies, no logs, random proxie, own reader mode, watch YouTube videos sandboxed in the search results, apart the best in accuracy in an independent AI benchmark. I use it since 2 years as main search by default. https://andisearch.com/

It is not that difficult to prevent private and important data from being leaked. It’s not about becoming invisible, just slow browsing with TOR behind a VPN with difficulties on many web pages. We must differentiate between private data related to the person and the activity, this naturally must be hidden or spoofed as much as possible, and on the other hand technical data, necessary for the pages to be able to display the content properly (screen resolution, public IP to display the correct language, operating system, desktop or mobile, etc.). This is data that does not compromise privacy when it coincides with millions of other users. All other can be blocked with a good ad/trackerblocker and some common sense to avoid the existing traps and dirty tricks used by the compañies.

Spain here. Yes, most listened argument “I’ve nothing to hide” or “Companies already knows all about you” and similar BS. You can’t do more than warn them, explaining that online privacy is synonymous with security, if they don’t pay attention, well, Darwin approves.

Data that companies sell to others puts it outside our control, we do not know how they treat and protect it or even continue to spread over the Internet.

Vivaldi use it’s own sync server since ever, Google don’t permit Google sync for other browser than Chrome itself, it’s a degoogled Chromium and no really need of extensions, due to inbuild blocker and other tools, even Dark Mode for websites and Page Filters. It has less relations with Google than Mozilla, where your account data is shared with Alphabet (a no-go for me). But yes, it’s the only Chromium usable related to privacy. Vivaldi’s business modell isn’t based on ads or third party investors, It is the only EU Browser, apart the KDE Konqueror, on eye level to the US (Chinese) hegemony of big Companies (my Main reason to use it)