Disable Web Search in Windows 10 Search Bar
One of the worst features is the data leakage that comes out of your Windows 10 computer, every single time you search it for a local app. What I mean by this is when I click on my search bar, next to the start button…Say I search for Putty. It shows me Web results first, then my Putty app second. Now anyone monitoring a network can see the constant stream of requests coming out of a network and fingerprint the applications in use. HUUUUUGE issue in my opinion.
To disable this feature do the following
Click the Type here to search bar
Type Edit group policy
Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search
Double click the Allow Cloud Search policy and set to Disabled. Click Ok to save
Double click the Don’t search the web or allow web results in search policy and set to Disabled. Click Ok to save
Double click the Don’t search the web or allow web results in search over metered connections policy and set to Disabled. Click Ok to save
That is it. Your data leakage settings have been changed.
