Always use a virtual machine to test. DO NOT do this in your working system.
-
Install any network capturing tool like WireShark, tcpdump, Fiddler etc. Fiddler may be easier to understand here. Allow it to capture HTTPS traffic with Tools > Options > HTTPS > Decrypt HTTPS traffic. Allow it to capture all Windows programs in WinConfig > Exempt All > Save Changes. Do not close the window.
-
Open Immersive Control Panel aka. Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen > Windows SpotLight. This executes Background Task Host process under Microsoft Content Delivery Manager.
-
Wait some time. When you see
arc.msn.com
in host column in Fiddler stop it to capture further network packets. Copy the whole URL with Ctrl+U. The URL will be something like this:
https://arc.msn.com/v3/Delivery/Placement?pubid=da63df93-3dbc-42ae-a505-b34988683ac7&pid=338387&
adm=2&w=1&h=1&wpx=1&hpx=1&fmt=json&cltp=app&dim=le&rafb=0&nct=1&pm=1&cfmt=text,image,poly&
sft=jpeg,png,gif&topt=1&poptin=0&localid=w:13BB0C2A-BF26-FAA1-30D3-96E3178DBE1A&ctry=US&
time=20190501T195244Z&lc=en-US&pl=en-US&idtp=mid&uid=f7e90ccd-a609-45c2-8543-cd5fb4597749&
aid=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&ua=WindowsShellClient%2F9.0.40929.0%20%28Windows%29&
asid=d33a80c001534bd3bcd52f6ed281dbe9&ctmode=MultiSession&arch=x64&cdm=1&cdmver=10.0.18890.1000&
devfam=Windows.Desktop&devform=Unknown&devosver=10.0.18890.1000&disphorzres=1366&dispsize=15.8&
dispvertres=654&isu=0&lo=2655&metered=false&nettype=ethernet&npid=sc-338387&oemName=innotek%20GmbH&
oemid=innotek%20GmbH&ossku=Professional&rver=2&sc-mode=0&smBiosDm=VirtualBox&tl=2&tsu=2655&
waasBldFlt=1&waasCfgExp=1&waasCfgSet=1&waasRetail=1&waasRing=1
- In the scripts, the link is shortened as
https://arc.msn.com/v3/Delivery/Placement?&fmt=json&cdm=1&ctry=US&pid=338387
.
-
The
pid
field comes fromHKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ContentDeliveryManager
registry values. See the sample registry file. -
The URL string is constructed in
ContentManagementSDK
file. See these DLL files:
C:\Windows\System32\ContentDeliveryManager.Utilities.dll
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\ContentDeliveryManager.Background.dll
C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\ContentManagementSDK.dll
The same link also downloads Store Apps recommendations, Start Menu Tiles icon etc.
From CreativeFramework::TargetedContent::GetAdUnitIdFromSubscriptionId
arrays:
Subscription ID | Internal Ad ID | Public Ad ID |
---|---|---|
ActionCenter | 310092 | 310091 |
ApiTest | 280812 | 280812 |
DynamicLayouts | 314558 | 314559 |
MinuteZeroOffers | 310094 | 310093 |
OobeOffers | 314566 | 314567 |
ShareAppSuggestions | 280814 | 280815 |
SilentInstalledApps | 202913 | 202914 |
StartSuggestions | 338381 | 338388 |
PeopleAppSuggestions | 314562 | 314563 |
OneDriveLocal | 280797 | 280811 |
OneDriveSync | 280817 | 280810 |
OneDriveDocuments | 88000162 | 88000161 |
OneDriveDesktop | 88000164 | 88000163 |
OneDrivePictures | 88000166 | 88000165 |
LockScreen* | 338380 | 338387* |
WindowsTip | 338382 | 338389 |
Settings | 338386 | 338393 |
Signals | 346480 | 346481 |
SettingsHome | 353697 | 353696 |
SettingsValueBanner | 88000106 | 88000105 |
SettingsAccountsYourInfo | 353695 | 353694 |
Timeline | 353699 | 353698 |
AppDefaultsEdgeEnlightenment | 88000044 | 88000045 |
More to be discovered...