The latest Mullvad Browser release changes the default search engine to Mullvad Leta. I was concerned that this would cause casual, non-Mullvad VPN users to be unable to search when they first install the browser due to the Mullvad account requirement, but to my surprise, I was able to use Leta with Mullvad VPN disabled. A few thoughts:
This hasn’t been announced anywhere that I can find yet. Can @ruihildt confirm that this is intentional?
If so, does this change anything about our recommendation against Leta? It seems to be a very clean Google proxy, while Startpage mixes in Bing results.
It would be a hell of a coincidence for it to be a bug happening at the same time as it became the default search engine in Mullvad Browser though. It seems unlikely that Mullvad would place the default search engine behind a paywall.
I updated Mullvad Browser and noticed that Mullvad Leta was the new default, as mentioned in the release notes. I tried looking up any information on making it free for everyone, but found no mention of it, even in their issue tracker.
Seems like maybe an announcement is near? If it becomes free, maybe it could be a tool recommendation as this makes the potential issue of tracking using the Mullvad account number no longer a thing.
Prior to this, Mullvad users were limited to 100 searches / day iirc, else they would hit a rate limit. Is this still in effect today by some other means? Then is there any benefit to using the cached searches explicitly?
Too bad that it sucks though. When searching basic portuguese words, with language set to portuguese and location to Portugal, the results are mostly random garbage, unlike what one would get using google directly or startpage
Is it okay to change the default search engine on Mullvad Browser from Leta to DDG? I understand Mullvad Browser settings are not to be modified, but I remember reading on this forum that some things are okay and will not make you stand out, such as adding bookmarks.
Ironfox now includes Mullvad Leta out of the box. Mullvad Leta ToS are very clearly written.
Terms of service
Introduction
Mullvad Leta is a free and open search service provided by Mullvad. It acts as a proxy to Google and Brave Search APIs, ensuring user privacy.
Service Usage
Caching
Searches are cached for up to 30 days to enhance privacy. This means search results may be up to 30 days old. You can change this in settings.
Privacy
When a search isn’t in the cache, our server (leta.mullvad.net) queries the search engines on your behalf. Only the search query is sent; no personal data is shared.
Direct Links
Returned search results contain only direct links to the final destination. All tracking elements and third-party content are removed to protect your privacy.
Fair Use Policy
While Mullvad Leta is free to use, accessing Google and Brave Search APIs incurs costs. To manage these expenses and ensure service availability for all users, we may implement usage limits. These limits are designed to prevent abuse and maintain optimal performance.
Data Handling
We do not display ads or sell user data. Each search query is hashed and query result is stored in memory (linked to the hash); after 30 days, it is automatically deleted.
Changes to the Terms
We may update these Terms of Service as necessary. Any changes will be posted on this page, and continued use of Mullvad Leta constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
Contact Information
For questions or concerns regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us through our official support channels.
