TBT: I ditched Google for DuckDuckGo. Here's why you should too

PLUS: The best WIRED stories from this month a year ago. View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 12.17.20 Most of us use Google, well, because it's the best. But let's get real—the majority of the things we search for are easy to find. We don't really need the all-seeing, all-knowing algorithms of Google in our life, and in fact, wouldn't it be nice to use a search engine that isn't constantly storing our data? The good news is, there is, and the process of de-Googling yourself isn't as hard as it seems. Read all about how one writer switched to a privacy-focused search engine, plus the best WIRED stories from this month a year ago below.   I Ditched Google for DuckDuckGo. Here's Why You Should Too Once you realize most things you search for online are boring and obvious, you realize you don't really need Google in your life.  The Best Stories From This Month, Last Year When a Mantis Shrimp Fights a Disco Clam, It Meets Its Match The mantis shrimp beats the hell out of almost anything it can get its hammers on. Except, that is, for the disco clam, which unleashes a dazzling defense. Stop Obsessing Over Sleep—Your Brain Will Thank You Worrying about sleep is perhaps the most counterproductive thing you can do, no matter how many gadgets try to tell you otherwise. The 20 Best Books of a Decade That Unmade Genre Fiction Two related events shaped the last 10 years in science fiction and fantasy—the most transformative we've seen in the history of the genres. We Might Not Be Planting the Right Kinds of Forests As the world scrambles to combat deforestation, experts warn our efforts could have far fewer benefits than we think. Meet the Mad Scientist Who Wrote the Book on How to Hunt Hackers Thirty years ago, Cliff Stoll published The Cuckoo's Egg, a book about his cat-and-mouse game with a KGB-sponsored hacker. Today, the internet is a far darker place—and Stoll has become a cybersecurity icon. This Cave Contains the Oldest Story Ever Recorded Archaeologists say the 43,900-year-old cave painting might also include the oldest known religious images. GET WIRED Happy Holidays from WIRED. Plus get free stickers! Last chance to get one year of WIRED access for $10 $5. Tech news and analysis you won't find anywhere else. Subscribe now.     This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or manage your newsletter subscriptions