Private Search

Route OpenClaw web searches through privacy-respecting engines (Brave Search, Kagi, SearXNG) instead of Google or Bing. Eliminates ad-network tracking from y...

Security Scan

The skill's files, required credential (BRAVE_API_KEY), and runtime instructions are consistent with a private-search replacement and do not request unrelated privileges or hidden endpoints.

Purpose & Capability

The skill's name/description (route searches through Brave/Kagi/SearXNG) matches the declared requirement of BRAVE_API_KEY and the optional KAGI_API_KEY/SEARXNG_URL. The primary credential and declared env vars are appropriate for the described functionality.

Instruction Scope

SKILL.md and references stay on-topic (choose engine, strip tracking params, return results). The included setup script guides the user, stores the key, and tests the Brave API. Minor scope note: the script will write persistent variables into ~/.openclaw/.env or, if that doesn't exist, ~/.env — this modifies a general dotfile which may affect other tooling. The instructions otherwise don't attempt to read unrelated secrets or system files.

Install Mechanism

No install spec; instruction-only skill plus a small setup script. No downloads from untrusted URLs, no package installs, and the script's network activity is limited to the Brave API test (curl to api.search.brave.com).

Credentials

Only BRAVE_API_KEY is required (KAGI and SEARXNG are optional). The env vars requested match the stated purpose and are proportionate to a search-replacement skill.

Persistence & Privilege

The skill does not set always:true and allows normal autonomous invocation. The setup script persists configuration by writing env entries to ~/.openclaw/.env or ~/.env; this is expected but may be intrusive for users who don't want their general ~/.env modified. The skill does not modify other skills or system-wide agent settings beyond writing its own config entries.

Assessment

This skill appears coherent for routing searches through Brave/Kagi/SearXNG. Before installing: 1) Decide whether to run the included setup script or set BRAVE_API_KEY manually — the script writes to ~/.openclaw/.env or falls back to ~/.env (backup these files first). 2) Verify any API keys you paste are from the official Brave/Kagi endpoints. 3) If you need maximal assurance, self-host SearXNG and set SEARXNG_URL instead of sharing keys with third parties. 4) The skill's privacy claims (e.g., "never logs queries to third-party ad networks") are assertions you may want to verify via reading the engine's policies or using a self-hosted engine. 5) If you prefer no persistent changes, export the env vars in a session or container rather than letting the script append to your home dotfile.

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 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.

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Published on ClawHub. Built in response to OpenAI's March 2026 ad rollout.