Search Companion must be prevented from automatically downloading content updates.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-14258	WN08-CC-000041	SV-48212r1_rule	ECSC-1	Medium

Description
Some features may communicate with the vendor, sending system information or downloading data or components for the feature. Turning off this capability will prevent potentially sensitive information from being sent outside the enterprise and uncontrolled updates to the system. This setting prevents the Search Companion from automatically downloading content updates during local and Internet searches.

Description

Some features may communicate with the vendor, sending system information or downloading data or components for the feature. Turning off this capability will prevent potentially sensitive information from being sent outside the enterprise and uncontrolled updates to the system. This setting prevents the Search Companion from automatically downloading content updates during local and Internet searches.

STIG	Date
Windows 8 Security Technical Implementation Guide	2013-10-01

Details

Check Text ( C-44891r1_chk )
If the following registry value does not exist or is not configured as specified, this is a finding: Registry Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE Subkey: \Software\Policies\Microsoft\SearchCompanion\ Value Name: DisableContentFileUpdates Type: REG_DWORD Value: 1

Fix Text (F-41348r1_fix)
Configure the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Internet Communication Management -> Internet Communication settings -> "Turn off Search Companion content file updates" to "Enabled".