Editing Desktop search (section)

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{{how-to||date=October 2016}}
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[[File:AdunaAutoFocus5.png|thumb|OSL Desktop Search engines software Aduna AutoFocus 5]]
'''Desktop search''' tools search within a user's own [[computer files]] as opposed to searching the Internet. These tools are designed to find information on the user's PC, including web browser history, e-mail archives, text documents, sound files, images, and video. A variety of desktop search programs are now available; see [[List of search engines#Desktop search engines|this list]] for examples.  Most desktop search programs are standalone applications. Desktop search products are software alternatives to the search software included in the [[operating system]], helping users sift through desktop files, emails, attachments, and more.<ref>[http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/brianmadden/archive/2015/03/11/what-do-you-do-for-desktop-search-in-vdi-and-rdsh.aspx  "What do you do for desktop search in VDI and RDSH?"]. Blogpost by Brian Madden on brainmadden.com. Retrieved on March 25, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2008/06/02/lookeen-offers-a-new-way-way-for-outlook-users-to-search/|title=Lookeen offers a new way for Outlook users to search|author=Anthony Ha|date=2 June 2008|work=VentureBeat|access-date=8 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2475293/desktop-apps/x1-rises-again-with-desktop-search-8--virtual-edition.html/|title=X1 rises again with Desktop Search 8, Virtual Edition|author=Robert L. Mitchell|date=8 May 2013|work=Computerworld|access-date=24 June 2015}}</ref>

Desktop search emerged as a concern for large firms for two main reasons: untapped productivity and security. According to analyst firm Gartner, up to 80% of some companies' data is locked up inside [[unstructured data]] — the information stored on a user's PC, the directories (folders) and files they've created on a [[Computer network|network]], documents stored in repositories such as corporate [[intranet]]s and a multitude of other locations.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2006/04/25/215622/security-special-report-who-sees-your-data.htm | title = Security special report: Who sees your data? | newspaper = Computer Weekly | date = 2006-04-25}}.</ref>  Moreover, many companies have structured or unstructured information stored in older [[file formats]] to which they don't have ready access.

The sector attracted considerable attention in the late 2004 to early 2005 period from the struggle between Microsoft and Google.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3952285.stm|title=BBC NEWS - Technology - Search wars hit desktop computers|work=bbc.co.uk|date=26 October 2004|access-date=24 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/Editorial/Features/The-evolution-of-desktop-search--Good-news-for-the-knowledge-worker-9608.aspx|title=KMWorld - The Evolution of Desktop Search|date=February 2005 |access-date=7 January 2019}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dtsearch.co.uk/the-blog/blog/2014/october/23/desktop-wars.aspx|title=dtSearch UK Blog - Desktop Wars|access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref> According to market analysts, both companies were attempting to leverage their monopolies (of [[web browser]]s and [[search engine]]s, respectively) to strengthen their dominance. Due to [[Google]]'s complaint that users of Windows Vista cannot choose any competitor's desktop search program over the built-in one, an agreement was reached between [[US Justice Department]] and [[Microsoft]] that [[Windows Vista Service Pack 1]] would enable users to choose between the built-in and other desktop search programs, and select which one is to be the default.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goebelgroup.com/searchtoolblog/2007/06/20/microsoft-agrees-to-change-vista-desktop-search-tool/|title=SearchMax|work=goebelgroup.com|access-date=24 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227130749/http://goebelgroup.com/searchtoolblog/2007/06/20/microsoft-agrees-to-change-vista-desktop-search-tool/|archive-date=27 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of September 2011, Google ended life for [[Google Desktop]].