Use a Trustworthy Search Engine

Clusty Search, protecting your privacy.

Avoid Allowing the Other Search Engines To Track You

In FireFox 1.5.x

Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy Tab -> Cookies -> Exceptions

Then add the Google domains you wish to block/allow. This will result in many random cookies being generated by Google for each search done (as they will think you are a new comer each time). Personally I white-list all my cookies, only allowing the sites I trust to set cookies, which are then automatically cleared when I close FireFox.

Also do not use GMail via the web interface, it is possible to use GMail via an email client residing on your computer.

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=13273
http://gmail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=13285

From there you can use your choice of email Encryption/Steganography as you see fit.

You can only be controlled, if you allow it.
You can only be surveyed, if you are unaware of or ignore it.
It’s your choice.