For the security and privacy minded, added encrypted search may be something you want. Google Encrypted Search is available, you have have to add it to your Search options.
How can I do this you may be asking? If your on a Windows PC on the the process is pretty easy.
For the Chrome Browser: Right Click on the Address Bar and select Edit search engines. To add the new Search scroll to the bottom and enter this information.
- Name: Google Encrypted
- Keyword: encrypted.google.com
- URL: https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=%s
then make that engine default.
For the Firefox Browser: Open up your Select Options from the Menu (3 LINES) located on the right of the browser. Now Select Search from the option that open on the left. Scroll to the bottom of this page Select on Add more search engines..
This will open the addon’s page in a new tab. One of the options is Google (encrypted), hover your mouse over this and Select the + Add to Firefox button that appears to the Right.
Check Mark the box indicating Make this the current search engine by selecting the box with your mouse. Once this is done Select the Add button. Once this has been accomplished you may close the Search: Add-ons for Firefox tab. Your selection should be now listed in the Default Search Engine as well as in the One-click search engines.
Happy Surfing.