The Privacy of Ubuntu
Canonical faced significant criticism this past year when it first launched the built-in Amazon search function. The recently expanded research method, and the mode in which it is implemented, will probably raise additional concerns.
When a user opens the Dash, the underlying software will begin a search session with Canonical's hosts. It will deliver platform and version details, the user's state, the user's locale, and information about which search resources and scopes the user has added or removed.
The company does keep track of certain usage data that it may assess to enhance search results.
Even though I believe that a worldwide Web search really has the potential to be helpful, I'm not necessarily comfortable with the way Canonical tacks it on to local method queries. In its current form, it strikes me as being too intrusive.
Luckily, the Web search function is really easy to disable. Ubuntu 12.04 released a separate privacy control panel in the integrated System Settings application. To disable Dashboard Web queries in 13.10, all you've got to execute is open the privacy panel, navigate to the search tab, and throw off the toggle-switch.