using CHROMN as attribution when searching using Bing

[kjozwiak]

Description

When searching via Brave within Desktop/Android, we use CHROMN as the search attribution. I'm pretty sure this belongs to Google which means any Brave user searching with Bing is generating revenue for Google.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=test&PC=U316&FORM=CHROMN

Steps to Reproduce

1. launch Brave
2. Using Bing, perform a search and you'll notice PC=U316&FORM=CHROMN being used as the search attribution

Actual result:

Using the following search attribution when using Bing:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=test&PC=U316&FORM=CHROMN

Expected result:

Remove PC=U316&FORM=CHROMN

Url should be: https://www.bing.com/search?q=%s

Reproduces how often:

100% reproducible using the STR/Cases mentioned above.

Desktop Brave version:

Brave | 1.34.81 Chromium: 97.0.4692.99 (Official Build) (64-bit)
-- | --
Revision | d740da257583289dbebd2eb37e8668928fac5ead-refs/branch-heads/4692@{#1461}
OS | Windows 11 Version 21H2 (Build 22000.438)

Android Device details:

• Install type (ARM, x86): ARM
• Device type (Phone, Tablet, Phablet): Mobile/Phone
• Android version: Android 12

Version/Channel Information:

• Can you reproduce this issue with the current release? Yes
• Can you reproduce this issue with the beta channel? Yes
• Can you reproduce this issue with the nightly channel? Yes

Other Additional Information:

• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Shields? N/A
• Does the issue resolve itself when disabling Brave Rewards? N/A
• Is the issue reproducible on the latest version of Chrome? N/A

Miscellaneous Information:

CCing @bsclifton @janypiotrowski @rebron

[kjozwiak]

iOS has a similar issue as per brave/brave-ios#4890 but uses MOZMBA rather than CHROMN.

[GeetaSarvadnya]

Verification PASSED on

Brave | 1.36.86 Chromium: 98.0.4758.87 (Official Build) beta (64-bit)
-- | --
Revision | e4cd00f135fb4d8edc64c8aa6ecbe7cc79ebb3b2-refs/branch-heads/4758@{#1002}
OS | Windows 10 Version 21H2 (Build 19044.1503)

Case 1: Search using bing search keyword :b
- Clean profile 1.36.x
- Enter the Bing search keyword :b in the URL bar and hit TAB
- Enter any string and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters mentioned in the issue #20659 (comment)
- Opened dev tool and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters

Search result parameter	Dev tool parameter

Case 2: Search using bing search engine via brave://settings/search
- Clean profile 1.36.x
- Select Bing as default search engine from brave://settings/search
- Enter any string and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters mentioned in the issue #20659 (comment)
- Opened dev tool and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters

Select Bing in settings	Search result parameter	Dev tool parameter

---

Verified with

Brave | 1.36.86 Chromium: 98.0.4758.87 (Official Build) beta (x86_64)
-- | --
Revision | e4cd00f135fb4d8edc64c8aa6ecbe7cc79ebb3b2-refs/branch-heads/4758@{#1002}
OS | macOS Version 12.2 (Build 21D49)

Reproduced the issue in both cases using 1.35.100 Chromium: 98.0.4758.87 (Official Build) (x86_64)

Case 1 Example	Case 1 Example	Case 2 Example	Case 2 Example

Logged follow up issue #21085 for upgrade profiles using quick search (:b) for Bing where Bing is not default SE still having the parameters in the URL.

Clean profile checks:

Case 1 - Search using bing search keyword :b - PASSED

       - Clean profile 1.36.x
       - Enter the `Bing` search keyword  `:b` in the URL bar and hit TAB 
       - Enter any string and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters mentioned in the issue https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/20659#issue-1113124586
       - Opened dev tool and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters

Example	Example	Example

Case 2 - Search using bing search engine via brave://settings/search - PASSED

       - Clean profile 1.36.x
       - Select `Bing` as default search engine from brave://settings/search
       - Enter any string and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters mentioned in the issue https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/20659#issue-1113124586
       - Opened dev tool and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters

Example	Example	Example

---

Verified PASSED using

Brave	1.36.93 Chromium: 98.0.4758.87 (Official Build) beta (64-bit)
Revision	e4cd00f135fb4d8edc64c8aa6ecbe7cc79ebb3b2-refs/branch-heads/4758@{#1002}
OS	Linux

Clean profile checks:

Case 1 - Search using bing search keyword :b - PASSED

       - Clean profile 1.36.x
       - Enter the `Bing` search keyword  `:b` in the URL bar and hit TAB 
       - Enter any string and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters mentioned in the issue https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/20659#issue-1113124586
       - Opened dev tool and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters

Example	Example	Example

Case 2 - Search using bing search engine via brave://settings/search - PASSED

       - Clean profile 1.36.x
       - Select `Bing` as default search engine from brave://settings/search
       - Enter any string and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters mentioned in the issue https://github.com/brave/brave-browser/issues/20659#issue-1113124586
       - Opened dev tool and confirmed URL no longer has the attached search-attribution parameters

Example	Example	Example

[Uni-verse]

Verification PASSED on Samsung Galaxy S21 running Android 12 using build version:

1.36.86, Chromium 98.0.4758.87

#20659 (comment)

• Verified search attribution is removed when setting Bing as default search engine
• Verified searching in private mode removes attribution

---

Verification passed on Samsung Tab A with Android 10 running 1.36.100 x64 beta build

• Verified CHROMN attribution is removed when Bing is set as default browser
• Verified on both normal and private tab

Normal Tab	Private Tab