Spotlight searches are sent to Apple by default?

trying out little snitch el capitan, have been noticing few processes attempting access internet did not expect/understand. not use itunes, example, yet spotlightnethelper wants access init.itunes.apple.com.
curious why mac wanted access api-[...]-[...].smoot.apple.com.

digging system preferences > spotlight > spotlight suggestions & privacy (which required jumping through few hoops because display default font tiny , there no option print text) found:

"when use spotlight or up, search queries, spotlight suggestions select, , related usage data sent apple.
search results found on mac not sent.

if have location services on mac turned on, when make search query spotlight or use location of mac @ time sent apple.

searches common words , phrases forwarded apple microsoft's bing search engine. these searches not stored microsoft.

to provide more relevant music , video suggestions, if mac can access music or video subscription services, information such names of subscription services , types of subscriptions may sent apple. account name, number , password not sent apple.

location, search queries, , usage information sent apple used apple make spotlight suggestions more relevant , improve other apple products , services.

if not want spotlight , search queries , spotlight suggestions usage data sent apple, can turn off spotlight suggestions. deselect checkbox “allow spotlight suggestions in spotlight , up” , checkbox bing web searches in search results tab in spotlight preference pane found within system preferences on mac. if turn off spotlight suggestions , bing web searches, spotlight search contents of mac , search dictionary on mac.
..."
(^ paragraph formatting & highlighting added me)

now, before reading above, had deselected location services , "allow spotlight suggestions in spotlight , up". had deselected bing web searches spotlight search results options. however, had not deselected movies , music, among other choices, search results options. seems spotlight set default automatically send queries apple, if trying items on local hard drive(s).

seems me potentially significant enough privacy issue should made clear users rather buried in privacy statement somewhere may or may not noticed.

i upgraded older version of os x, while way spotlight operates may old hat many, me complete surprise.

it's great search results found on computer not sent apple. isn't potentially problematic names of files or of acquaintanes searching being sent? , information being transmitted , stored (for long stored) in encrypted format?

 

yup, been working @ least since os x yosemite. had attack of paranoia myself, , tried turning off these searches (which consuming quite bit of cpu/battery power @ time), time ago, , have fuzzy recollection of unexpectedly difficult do, there non-intuitive settings involved.

 

Forums Macs macOS OS X El Capitan (10.11)

• iPhone
• Mac OS & System Software
• iPad
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