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Safari is sending every search query to Apple

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Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#91
post #89
post #45

Disabling "Include Spotlight Suggestions" in Safari Preferences seems to make it stop.

FTA: In Yosemite, all Safari web searches are sent to not only the search engine you've selected (e.g., Google, DuckDuckGo), but also to Apple, even if you've disabled "Spotlight Suggestions"

It's because the author is completely wrong.

Disable the Smart Search features in Safari and it won't send anything to Apple.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#92
post #53
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The gist summary on TFA says: > even if you've disabled all use of Spotlight Suggestions and sharing of Usage and Diagnostics data

praseodym is pointing out that there are two checkboxes called "Spotlight Suggestions". One in System Preferences, and one in Safari. It's unclear which OP unchecked. Screenshots of the two options: http://imgur.com/a/TWDxy

Had deleted my original comment because OP mentioned "all use of Spotlight Suggestions", so I assumed that OP did uncheck the Safari Preferences box. But apparently OP only unchecked the System Preferences one.

As noticed elsewhere in this HN thread (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8480173), unchecking the Safari Preferences box fixes the issue.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#93
post #90
post #61

This is inaccurate alarmism. It shouldn't be surprising that the search bar makes autocomplete requests to Apple as you type. The address, phone number, and map link that popped up when you typed in the name of a local business, for example, didn't just appear out of thin air. However, it seemed suspicious to me that Apple would make it impossible, as the author claims, to type in the Safari address bar without sendi…

[deleted]

> Wow so in other words feature with privacy violation or no feature at all? I.E. if you need search engine suggestions you have to give your search queries to Apple then? How is it not problematic?

How the hell else would you expect it work? It's like saying you expect to drive your car forever and never need to refuel.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#94
post #93
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

> Wow so in other words feature with privacy violation or no feature at all? I.E. if you need search engine suggestions you have to give your search queries to Apple then? How is it not problematic? How the hell else would you expect it work? It's like saying you expect to drive your car forever and never need to refuel.

> In Yosemite, all Safari web searches are sent to not only the search engine you've selected (e.g., Google, DuckDuckGo), but also to Apple

It would work perfectly fine if Apple only sent the search query to the search engine I have configured. Just like Chrome and Firefox do it.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#95
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Wow so in other words feature with privacy violation or no feature at all? I.E. if you need search engine suggestions you have to give your search queries to Apple then? How is it not problematic? How the hell else would you expect it work? It's like saying you expect to drive your car forever and never need to refuel.

> In Yosemite, all Safari web searches are sent to not only the search engine you've selected (e.g., Google, DuckDuckGo), but also to Apple It would work perfectly fine if Apple only sent the search query to the search engine I have configured. Just like Chrome and Firefox do it.

And then where would the Maps suggestions come from? The App Store suggestions? Have you used the feature at all?

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#96
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe he did touch Safari's, but foolishly only looked in the "Privacy" section of Safari's preferences, rather than in the "Search" section where any normal person would know the privacy-related settings are actually found. OK, that's highly sarcastic, but I just went looking for these options and was gobsmacked to discover that no relevant options were present under Privacy.

Why would you look under Privacy ? Sending my search term to Apple which then simply does a back end aggregated search and returns the results does not invade my privacy. Unless of course you have some evidence that Apple is collecting those search terms.

I completely disagree. Sending my search terms to Apple is an invasion of privacy. I feel like "don't share your info with other people" is such a basic aspect of privacy that I don't even know how to argue the point. I'm at a loss, as if you had said that trees are made out of meat, or that cars are delivered by storks.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#97
post #61

This is inaccurate alarmism. It shouldn't be surprising that the search bar makes autocomplete requests to Apple as you type. The address, phone number, and map link that popped up when you typed in the name of a local business, for example, didn't just appear out of thin air. However, it seemed suspicious to me that Apple would make it impossible, as the author claims, to type in the Safari address bar without sendi…

[deleted]

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In Yosemite, all Safari web searches are sent to not only the search engine you've selected (e.g., Google, DuckDuckGo), but also to Apple It would work perfectly fine if Apple only sent the search query to the search engine I have configured. Just like Chrome and Firefox do it.

And then where would the Maps suggestions come from? The App Store suggestions? Have you used the feature at all?

I don't need Apple Maps to suggest anything to me. Where do I go to disable that? I don't see anything Maps related in any of the Safari or Spotlight options. Forcing it on by default so Apple gets all my queries is bad in itself - but not having an easy to find option to disable it is worse.

Edit: Found it in Include Spotlight Suggestions in Safari options - that seems to stop the Maps results. It's a mess - Safari has an option that relates to Spotlight results which invisibly relates to Apple Maps results but there is no mention of Apple Maps in any of the Spotlight options. _And_ it is on by default - not enabled at first run after user consent.

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#99
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you assume that I assume that you are assuming something? Where did you get that? Why do you label me as an Apple defender? Tell me how would Apple provide this feature without sending data back?

You said, "But let us not assume something nefarious is happening." Why even bring that up unless you think somebody might assume nefariousness? Why do I label you as an Apple defender? Because... you're defending... Apple.... Is this a trick question? How would Apple provide this feature without sending data? I don't see how that's a relevant question. You imply that it's OK for them to do this as long as it's neces…

"Let us not do X"

can also be uttered before someone does X.

Are you saying that online community of Apple haters (I am not calling you a hater) is not prone to assumptions?

Re: Safari is sending every search query to Apple

#100
post #61

This is inaccurate alarmism. It shouldn't be surprising that the search bar makes autocomplete requests to Apple as you type. The address, phone number, and map link that popped up when you typed in the name of a local business, for example, didn't just appear out of thin air. However, it seemed suspicious to me that Apple would make it impossible, as the author claims, to type in the Safari address bar without sendi…

Landon feels that disabling Spotlight Suggestions in OS X System Preferences would have an effect on Safari . I'm as mystified as you.

Why doesn't Apple read my thoughts and disable everything?
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