Semi-Automating Microsoft Edge Searches

Microsoft Rewards medal.

Microsoft has a suprisingly worthwhile rewards program - in addition to their three daily tasks (which range in value from 5 to 50 points each), there are a possible 250 points(~$1.25) to be earned from Bing searches within the Edge browser. This is my quick and dirty solution for snagging those points without manually searching 50 queries in Edge every day.

Contents

Introduction

First off, I’d like to say that I have nothing against Edge. It’s beautiful and zippy. However, when I attempted to accrue search points naturally, I found myself cursing Bing’s algorithm (StackOverflow on the second page?? GeeksForGeeks at the top?!??). And so here we are, automatically search made-up words in pursuit of the ultimate hypothetical prize:

The ultimate hypothetical prize.

Word Generation

The first order of business was generating plausible words. I’m not sure if Bing ignores nonsense words. In fact, I don’t know if there’s any critera that Bing filters by. Anyway, to generate words, I just sampled a bit of code from here, which simply alternates vowels and consonants.

// From https://j11y.io/javascript/random-word-generator/
function createRandomWord(length) {
  var consonants = "bcdfghjklmnpqrstvwxyz",
    vowels = "aeiou",
    rand = function (limit) {
      return Math.floor(Math.random() * limit);
    },
    i,
    word = "",
    length = parseInt(length, 10),
    consonants = consonants.split(""),
    vowels = vowels.split("");
  for (i = 0; i < length / 2; i++) {
    var randConsonant = consonants[rand(consonants.length)],
      randVowel = vowels[rand(vowels.length)];
    word += i === 0 ? randConsonant.toUpperCase() : randConsonant;
    word += i * 2 < length - 1 ? randVowel : "";
  }
  return word;
}
console.log(createRandomWord(5));
console.log(createRandomWord(10));
console.log(createRandomWord(20));

Xajiq
Sexetelufa
Vazocolebaboxugosiqi

Searching

Well, we’re almost done. Add the listener to the search button that’s in the html:

document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", init, false);
function init() {
  var button = document.getElementById("bing-search-button");
  button.addEventListener("click", startSearch, true);
}

startSearch is called, and continueSearch is called until the max number of searches is reached (typically 50ish):

function startSearch() {
  let searchCount = 0;
  let randomWord = () => createRandomWord(Math.ceil(Math.random() * 14) + 3);
  let tab = window.open(`https://www.bing.com/search?q=${randomWord()}`);
  let tab2 = window.open(`https://www.bing.com/search?q=${randomWord()}`);

  setTimeout(continueSearch, 2000, searchCount);
  

  function continueSearch(searchCount) {
    if (searchCount < MAX_BING_SEARCHES) {
      tab.location = `https://www.bing.com/search?q=${randomWord()}`;
      tab2.location = `https://www.bing.com/search?q=${randomWord()}`;
      searchCount++;

      setTimeout(continueSearch, 5000, searchCount);
    }
  }
}

Note that two tabs are opened - one for desktop searches, and one for mobile. I couldn’t find a simpler way to mock a mobile user agent than just hitting F12 and toggling mobile device emulation (if you’re on desktop) or requesting the desktop site (if you’re on mobile).

Toggling Mobile Device Emulation

In order for both tabs to open, you’ll have to allow pop-ups from eldun.github.io.

The Result

I try to click this button everyday:

#web #javascript #automation