private-search

# Private Search for OpenClaw Route all web searches through privacy-respecting engines. No ads. No tracking. No query monetization. ## Why This Exists OpenAI now shows ads to ChatGPT users and routes queries through ad-network-partnered search APIs. OpenClaw defaults to Google/Bing-backed search — both of which monetize your queries. This skill replaces that with: - **Brave Search** — independent index, no ad tracking, free tier available - **Kagi** — premium ad-free search, best result quality - **SearXNG** — fully self-hosted, zero third-party dependency ## Quick Setup (Brave Search — Recommended) 1. Get a free Brave Search API key: https://api.search.brave.com/ 2. Set env var: `BRAVE_API_KEY=your_key_here` 3. Done. All agent web searches now route through Brave. ## Configuration Set any of these in your OpenClaw environment: | Variable | Description | Default | |----------|-------------|---------| | `BRAVE_API_KEY` | Brave Search API key | Required for Brave | | `KAGI_API_KEY` | Kagi API key | Optional | | `SEARXNG_URL` | Self-hosted SearXNG URL | Optional | | `PRIVATE_SEARCH_ENGINE` | `brave`, `kagi`, or `searxng` | `brave` | | `PRIVATE_SEARCH_RESULTS` | Number of results to return | `5` | | `PRIVATE_SEARCH_STRIP_TRACKING` | Strip UTM/tracking params from URLs | `true` | ## Usage Once configured, use web search naturally. This skill overrides the default search behavior: ``` Search for the latest OpenAI news Find me pricing for Hetzner VPS plans What are the top AI tools this week? ``` All queries route through your chosen private engine. ## Engine Comparison | Engine | Cost | Privacy | Index Quality | Best For | |--------|------|---------|---------------|----------| | Brave | Free tier (2,000/mo) / $3/mo for 20K | High | Good | Most users | | Kagi | $10–$25/mo | Highest | Excellent | Power users | | SearXNG | Self-hosted (free) | Maximum | Varies | Devs/privacy maximalists | ## How It Works This skill provides a `private_web_search` tool that: 1. Accepts a query string and optional parameters 2. Routes to your configured engine via API 3. Strips tracking parameters from all result URLs (UTM, fbclid, gclid, etc.) 4. Returns clean, structured results 5. Never logs queries to third-party ad networks ## Scripts Run the setup script for guided configuration: ```bash bash scripts/setup-brave-search.sh ``` ## References See `references/privacy-engines.md` for full engine documentation, pricing tiers, and self-hosting instructions for SearXNG. ## Privacy Guarantee This skill never sends your queries to Google, Bing, or any ad-network-affiliated search provider when properly configured. Your research stays private. --- *Published on ClawHub. Built in response to OpenAI's March 2026 ad rollout.*