How Can I Set Up Bing SafeSearch To Filter Out Explicit Content On A Shared Or Public Computer

Setting Up Bing SafeSearch to Filter Out Explicit Content on Shared or Public Computers

In an effort to maintain a safe and appropriate online environment, especially in shared or public settings such as schools, libraries, and workplaces, it is crucial to configure Bing SafeSearch to filter out explicit content. Here are several methods to achieve this, each tailored to different administrative needs and technical setups.

Method 1: DNS Configuration for Network-Level Enforcement

For a comprehensive and network-wide solution, administrators can update the DNS configuration to ensure strict SafeSearch settings for all users. This method involves mapping the DNS entry for www.bing.com to strict.bing.com. Here’s how to do it:

Update your DNS settings by creating a CNAME record that points www.bing.com to strict.bing.com. This ensures that all searches conducted through Bing will return results with strict SafeSearch filtering applied, regardless of the user's individual settings[4].
For environments using the Microsoft Edge browser, it is also necessary to map edgeservices.bing.com to strict.bing.com to enforce strict SafeSearch in the Edge sidebar[4].

This method is highly recommended for schools and other institutions that need to guarantee strict SafeSearch results across the entire network.

Method 2: Using URL Filtering and SSL Forward Proxy Decryption

Another approach involves using advanced network security tools, such as those provided by Palo Alto Networks. This method allows for transparent enforcement of strict SafeSearch settings without requiring manual adjustments by users.

Enable Safe Search Enforcement in a URL Filtering profile. This involves configuring the URL Access Management settings to block access to search engines unless strict SafeSearch is enabled. Create a custom URL category for the supported search engines (e.g., www.bing.*, search.yahoo.*, yandex.com.*)[1].
Edit the URL filtering safe search block page to include JavaScript that appends strict SafeSearch parameters to the search query URLs. This ensures that all search queries are filtered strictly, even if the user does not manually enable it[1].
Enable SSL Forward Proxy decryption to inspect encrypted search traffic and enforce the strict SafeSearch settings. Add the custom URL category to the Decryption policy rule to ensure the firewall can detect and modify the search queries accordingly[1].

Method 3: Group Policy and Registry Settings for Individual PCs

For environments where a more granular control is needed, such as in a home or small business setting, you can use group policy settings or registry edits to enforce strict SafeSearch on individual PCs.

On Windows PCs, you can change the SafeSearch filters through the Settings app. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Search permissions, and select the Strict option under SafeSearch. This setting will be shared with Bing and enforced regardless of the Bing.com settings page configuration[3].
Alternatively, you can use registry files to make these changes. Download and run the appropriate .reg file to set the SafeSearchMode to 2 for strict filtering. For example, the registry entry would look like this:
```
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings]
"SafeSearchMode"=dword:00000002
```
This method allows administrators to enforce strict SafeSearch settings without user intervention[3].

Method 4: Browser Policy Configuration

For organizations using Microsoft Edge, you can enforce strict SafeSearch through browser policy configurations.

Use the ForceBingSafeSearch policy to ensure that all Bing searches are conducted with strict SafeSearch settings. This policy can be configured in the registry or through group policy settings. Set the ForceBingSafeSearch value to 2 to enable strict SafeSearch:
```
Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Registry Path: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
Value Name: ForceBingSafeSearch
Value Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 2
```
This setting prevents users from changing the SafeSearch settings, ensuring a consistent and safe search environment[5].

Method 5: Hosts File Modification

For a more localized solution on individual PCs, you can modify the hosts file to redirect Bing searches to the strict SafeSearch domain.

Open the hosts file (usually located at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) as an administrator and add the following entries:
```
204.79.197.220 www.bing.com
204.79.197.220 edgeservices.bing.com
```
This redirects all Bing searches to the strict SafeSearch domain, ensuring that all search results are filtered accordingly[4].

Each of these methods provides a robust way to ensure that explicit content is filtered out of Bing search results, making them suitable for various administrative scenarios and technical infrastructures. By implementing these configurations, administrators can maintain a safe and appropriate online environment for all users.