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The ability to create and store a searchable record of your queries and results has long been a feature of commercial databases. This kind of search history tool is also available on the open web. In this annotated list of links we look at the free search history features available to you on the Internet.
Search history is a feature that is bundled into the extended tool sets of some popular search engines. You must first establish an account with the search engine of your choice. Once you turn on search history, you begin to build a dynamic record of your searches. All of the services listed here record your queries and let you quickly repeat your original search. Some save a private cached copy, so you can capture a snapshot of the resource that won't be subject to change.
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Essential Features
The search history services listed here all have the following:
- automatic saving of viewed pages
- pause and restart of automatic saving
- selective editing of results
A9:
This Amazon sponsored search engine provides a search history feature that records your search queries making it easy to repeat earlier searches. A diary feature makes it easy to create annotations. Clicking on previous queries initiates a new live search. You can edit your search history to remove entries. Turning search history on and off is more difficult. Before you can pause automatic saving, you must first install the A9 tool bar in your browser. Predictably, A9 returns rich results from the Amazon web commerce site as well as open web resources.
Filangy:
Filangy requires patience. You must first build a personalized universe of search interests by either importing URLs or using the Filangy Toolbar to bookmark sites of interest. It's like planting seeds, you have to wait awhile for things to grow. Filangy suggests that you install a toolbar in your Internet Explorer or FireFox browser. Once the toolbar is installed Filangy begins automatically to save all websites you visit. You can turn automatic saving off by using the toolbar. These copies are stored in a secure personal search history called the Webcache. The Webcache can be searched from the toolbar on your browser or by logging directly into the site. This means you have a static storehouse of cached webpages. If a resource you visited changes, your cache version remains the same. If you have time to experiment, consider Filangy.
Findory:
This personalized news service is designed to help you aggregate a variety of web 2.0 information feeds. News, blogs, podcasts, video, and the open web can be targeted by this specialized search engine. As you search, the system 'learns' your preferences and helps you build an ever more personalized homepage featuring primarily news and blog feeds. One of Findory's features is a search history that tracks your queries. Revisiting your search history allows you to re-initiate the search. The system then marks any pages you clicked through on a previous visit. Findory does not create a static cache of webpages.
Google Personalized Search:
Google provides their search history along with a bookmarking and tagging system. The system lists your original query with a snippet of information from the websites you 'clicked' during the original search. Clicking through a result takes you to the current page in the Google index, not a cached copy of the page you first searched. You can easily switch from searching your own history to an open web search. Automatic saving, editing of search history, and a straight forward pause and resume system round things out. (For an online tutorial explaining many of the Google SH features in detail see Google Search History)
Yahoo My Web:
This beta service from Yahoo combines elements of social bookmarking and searching. After joining My Web, not only can you search with the main Yahoo! search engine, you can also choose to focus your search on the bookmarked recommendations of the My Web community. Additionally, all Yahoo search results will be returned with the new option to click SAVE. This creates a bookmark that can be customized and added to My Web. Search History can be initially hard to find (click my bookmarks and look under Tools). Once configured, search history will automatically record queries and URLs whenever you click through a result. The system can be paused via an on /off toggle on the bookmarks page. Editing allows you to delete selected items in your search history. The bookmarks associated with the search history item can be edited, or restricted to small group or private use.
Privacy
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Many are uncomfortable with the thought of providing the databanks of private companies with a full history of their research activities. Some prefer to set up accounts using semi-anonymous web-based email like those offered by Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, Hotmail and others. While this provides some degree of privacy, almost all search engine providers will log and associate your Internet ip information along with your queries. This applies to standard searches as well as the use of search history. It is always best to assume that any work you do on the Internet will be visible to someone! The following resources provide more in depth information about privacy and the Internet. |
Eckersley, P., Schoen, S., & Bankston, K. (2006, September 12) Six Tips to Protect Your Online Search Privacy. EFF. Retrieved September 25, 2006, from Website: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/search/searchtips.php
This recent article deals with browser based specifics designed to"...create a strong shield against the most common and likely means of invading your privacy via your search history." A pdf version of this White Paper is also provided.
McCandlish, S. (2002, April 10) EFF's Top 12 Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy. EFF. Retrieved September 25, 2006, Website: http://www.eff.org/Privacy/eff_privacy_top_12.html
This is an overview article outlining general security measures you can take to protect your data and personal privacy on the net. Both technical and social issues are addressed. This article includes information all of us can use.
Nockleby, J.T. (2002, Spring) PRIVACY IN CYBERSPACE. Berkman Online Lectures and Discussions. Retrieved September 25, 2006, from Archived Online Course: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/privacy/index.html
This is an archived online course dealing in great depth with many aspects of Internet privacy. Topics include Online Profiling, Employee Privacy, Government Data Collection and Cryptography.
