Microsoft announced on April 28, 2016 that it implemented a change on Windows 10 that prevents third-party programs from hijacking the operating system's web search functionality.

It took one day to create a solution to revert the change so that web searches on Windows 10 once again open in the default system browser regardless of whether that is Microsoft Edge or another web browser such as Firefox, Chrome or Opera.

Caveat: The method described below works only for the active session and web results are opened in Microsoft Bing currently egardless of whether it is the default search engine or not.

Note: it is highly recommended to create a system backup before you proceed to make sure you can restore the original functionality should the need arise. I use the free Veeam Endpoint Backup for that but there are plenty of other backup programs out there that you can use as well.

Preparations

First thing you may want to do is download the Cortana Search Override archive from the Winaero website. It is based on code created by Valentin Gabriel Radu which the author uploaded to Gitlab.

Download the 27 Megabyte archive and extract its contents to a local directory afterwards.

Before you continue, make sure that the browser you want used for web searches is the default system browser.

Tap in Windows-I to open the Windows Settings application. Switch to System > Default apps, and check the "web browser" listing on the page that opens. If your browser is listed already close the window again, if not, click on the name of the browser displayed on the page and use the selection menu that is displayed afterwards to pick the browser you want to use.

Open the folder you extracted the files of the archive to after you are done with the preparations.

Open the x86 or x64 folder based on whether a 32-bit or 64-bit copy of Windows 10 is installed on the device. Run SearchUIMonitor.exe inside the selected folder. A SmartScreen filter warning may be displayed. Click on "more info" and then on "Run anyway" to run the application. A window appears for a split-second and is closed automatically afterwards. If you get an error message stating that a dll is missing, open the vcredist folder and run the 32-bit or 64-bit executable file in there to add the missing dll to your system. If that is the case, go to step 2 and repeat it. Run EdgeAutomation.exe afterwards. You may get another SmartScreen filter prompt. Click on "more info" and "run anway" to execute the program. A new window should flash for a second before it is closed automatically as well.

Now it is time to test the implementation. Tap on the Windows-key, type a search term (e.g. test), and select the web search result.

What you will notice is that Edge opens shortly but is closed again. The result is then opened in the default system browser using Bing.

Closing Words

The hack needs work before it becomes really useful. While most users may not mind that Microsoft Edge opens for a moment before results are loaded in the default web browser, the fact that Bing is used to display the results will likely make it a deal breaker for users. (via Deskmodder)

Summary Article Name Microsoft's Windows 10 Search lock already bypassed Description Microsoft's browser and search lock for web searches on the company's Windows 10 operating system has been bypassed a day after the announcement. Author Martin Brinkmann Publisher Ghacks Technology News Logo

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