Ask.com

Ask.com, operated by the Ask Media Group, is a long-standing internet search engine and online content platform. Originally known as Ask Jeeves, it now functions as a question-and-answer style search engine that also provides a wide range of informational content through articles and search results. While not a data broker in the traditional sense of selling individual profiles, Ask.com collects user data, including search queries, IP addresses, and browser information, primarily for the purpose of serving targeted advertising and personalizing the user experience. This collection of search history and user data can have significant privacy implications, as it creates a detailed record of an individual's interests, concerns, and online activities. The data collected by Ask.com could potentially be used to build a comprehensive profile of a user's life, which, if accessed by unauthorized parties, could lead to risks such as doxxing, targeted harassment, or fraud. To protect their privacy, individuals should be mindful of the information they search for and can take steps to limit online tracking. Users should also review the privacy settings and policies of the search engine to understand how their data is being used and what options are available for controlling their information.