Ask.com Delivers On Vow, Launches User-Controlled Privacy Function

You may recall back in mid-summer when Ask.com delivered a message about a new search feature it planned to launch by the end of the year. Well, here we are. December 11th. And Ask has apparently made good on its promise.

The promise was to bring about a search function that enables Ask Search users to browse the engine’s digital stacks in complete anonymity. No keyword cookies saved. No records of foot- and fingerprints filed away. Nope. Just you and your searches.

If that’s what you want, anyhow. Of course it’s not compulsory for you or Ask.com to keep things incognito. You can enter your queries openly if you wish. But the option to switch off those suspicious surveillance mechanisms is there, ready when you are to cloak your journey. It’s all how you see fit. Whatever floats your boat, ace.

Chances are you won’t care much about the launch of Ask Eraser. Chances are you’ve grown up with Google or Yahoo!, and figure your contributions to the year-end zeitgeist of those respective Web-based institutions are little to worry over. But if you’re one of those frenzied folk out there in the virtual frontier swept with paranoia about supposed boogiemen looking to do you in because of your insufferable B. Spears fetish, and yearn for just a wee little [bleepin’] privacy, the new and improved! Ask Search service might just be the thing to helps you finally feel safe and secure enough to do away with those nervous ticks and conquer that bedeviling insomnia you’ve so far been unable to shake off for fear of “the watchers”.

And, you know, despite the fact that Google’s clearly won the Web search popularity contest, and that Yahoo! is the only member of the opposition that’s got a half-ounce chance at giving Mountain View’s finest a considerable run for its money, Ask doesn’t look very bad at all as far as build quality is concerned. It’s purty, for sure. So, you know, give it a shot. You might like it. Maybe not enough to have it be your browser’s default search tool. But enough to give it the occasional go. Like you would a shiny roadster on a warm and dry summer weekend. And with Ask Eraser, it’s like you’re going out on the road with your number plates removed. Kinda cool, eh? A little badass?

No? Bad analogy? Sorry. I’ll try better next time.