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. 1. Get a free Brave Search API key: https://api.search.brave.com/
2. Set env var: INLINECODE0
3. Done. All agent web searches now route through Brave.

Configuration

Set any of these in your OpenClaw environment:

Usage

Once configured, use web search naturally. This skill overrides the default search behavior:

CODEBLOCK0

All queries route through your chosen private engine.

Engine Comparison

How It Works

This skill provides a private_web_search tool that:

1. 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:

CODEBLOCK1

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.