this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2025

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apparently startpage\startmail has an exclusive partnership with Dan Bongino?? (slrpnk.net)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by xnx@slrpnk.net to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/18846267

I've been trying different search engines and was pleasently surprised by startpage so i started looking into startmail too and then when i searched for startmail i saw they have a link directly to their dan bongino section https://www.startmail.com/bongino so thats a huge pass from me

EDIT: looks like they saw this thread or something and decided to have the link redirect to the homepage with the discount applied and removed his picture etc from their website. Here's an archive link: https://web.archive.org/web/20250120094905/https://www.startmail.com/bongino/

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[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Who's Dan Bongino?

[–] xnx@slrpnk.net 33 points 2 days ago (3 children)

he's a very conservative podcast host whos now the FBI deputy director who pushed the conspiracy theory that trump actually won the 2020 election and rallied against face masks and "In 2018, Bongino said, "My entire life right now is about owning the libs. That's it."" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Bongino

[–] timewarp@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago

He's subscribed to just about every conspiracy theory imaginable & advocating for killing Democrats. It would be like Alex Jones becoming FBI deputy director.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 6 points 2 days ago

Ew, gross. I wonder if that's why I stopped using startpage...? It's been so long since I bothered, but at least I know now why it should be avoided.

[+] dukethorion@lemmy.world -8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

He is also a former Secret Service agent. You can dislike him but at least include that he has a bit of LE experience.

[–] Alteon@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

Hell, this has "I have nipples Greg, can you milk me?" vibes.

I mean, I've technically designed a component that's gone into numerous commercial aircraft. Does that make me qualified to head up the FAA? Or would that make me qualified to lead NASA?

These chuds are so unqualified to lead any of these departments. The one saving grace as that none of these guys know what they are doing, so short of firing people, they're just going to embarrass themselves for the next 4 years.

[–] xnx@slrpnk.net 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What does that have to do with anything?

[–] CedarA64@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

It is kind of relevant that he has some relevant experience for becoming the deputy director of the FBI. Now, some people don't like cops, the FBI or his politics, but that's a different discussion entirely.

[–] leraje@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 2 days ago

Such a weird thing for them to do - why would a Dutch company highlight a connection with a US Trump supporter? Is it a very recent thing? Like Proton's CEO massaging Trump's ego?

[–] scytale@lemm.ee 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Am I missing something in the link? I see the url yes, but I only see the quote of him endorsing startmail. Is there any other info on what kind of partnership they have? Genuinely curious because I use startpage a lot and will definitely stop if this is true.

[–] xnx@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago

They have a special discount with his code and mention its for fans of his so they sponsored his podcast directly

[–] tabel2@lemmy.wtf 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I think its just an affiliate link. It looks like every one can make a affiliate link https://www.startmail.com/affiliate.

[–] xnx@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

check the wayback machine link i added to the OP, its not just an affiliate link it seems like they had sponsored him directly https://web.archive.org/web/20250120094905/https://www.startmail.com/bongino/

[–] tabel2@lemmy.wtf 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

You're right. All Things Secure has some recommended email providers with affiliate links on his website https://www.allthingssecured.com/identity-protection/best-email-alias-service/. The URL on his affiliate link looks different more like a normal affiliate https://www.startmail.com/partner?ref=mmviyzz and the page also looks different.

[–] fubbernuckin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Am I missing something or did they take it down? That link redirects to https://www.startmail.com/ for me.

[–] xnx@slrpnk.net 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Wow it didn’t do that before it was a dedicated site with his photo and his endorsement i edited the OP to include a archive.org link