I stopped using Google a couple of months ago after reading something about changes to their privacy policy. Something to do with tracking cookies, storing web usage data, targeting adds, user profiling etc...I thought it all seemed a bit unnecessary.
I use IXquick instead. It's updated now to startpage.com.
https://www.startpage.com/
Also available as a Firefox add on.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/ixquick-privacy-search-engine/
Here's some of the blurb.
Startpage offers you Web search results from Google in complete privacy!
When you search with Startpage, we remove all identifying information from your query and submit it anonymously to Google ourselves. We get the results and return them to you in total privacy.
Your IP address is never recorded, your visit is not logged, and no tracking cookies are placed on your browser. When it comes to protecting your privacy, Startpage runs the tightest ship on the Internet. Our outstanding privacy policy and thoughtful engineering give you great search results in total anonymity.
You can also use their free proxy service as well...