I've been using startpage and occasionally duck duck go. I still use google once in awhile but it is usually only to search for images that are labeled for reuse.
I think I actually heard of someone making a program that would automatically search random crap like video games, cat images and memes throughout the day to feed Google false information and also increase there server load. How cool would that be?
There is an add-on called AdNauseam. When you enter a page it will randomly click on a few ads for you, but in the background. You won't get to see the ads. Since it always chooses randomly, the advertiser soon get's confused on what products you like....there is just no pattern in all the noise.
Awesome project, and it is banned and blacklisted in Chrome :D
I really like Startpage, was going to include it in this post but decided not to overstretch it and include it in the next one. You are right, it is great!
Startpage also has a private browsing function that basically acts as a VPN. It opens the website for you in their browser window so your ISP just sees startpage.