diff --git a/agent/tools/web_search/web_search.py b/agent/tools/web_search/web_search.py
index 2fe0c71c..06097704 100644
--- a/agent/tools/web_search/web_search.py
+++ b/agent/tools/web_search/web_search.py
@@ -114,14 +114,27 @@ def _get_api_key(provider: str) -> str:
     return ""
 
 
+def anonymous_opt_in(value) -> bool:
+    """Whether a config value explicitly enables keyless search. Anything not
+    clearly "on" (e.g. the string "false") stays off, since it sends queries
+    to a third party."""
+    if isinstance(value, bool):
+        return value
+    if isinstance(value, int):
+        return value == 1
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        return value.strip().lower() in ("true", "1", "yes", "on")
+    return False
+
+
 def _anysearch_anonymous_enabled() -> bool:
     """Check if AnySearch anonymous mode is enabled via config."""
-    return bool(_tools_web_search_conf().get("anysearch_anonymous"))
+    return anonymous_opt_in(_tools_web_search_conf().get("anysearch_anonymous"))
 
 
 def _keenable_anonymous_enabled() -> bool:
     """Check if Keenable anonymous (keyless) mode is enabled via config."""
-    return bool(_tools_web_search_conf().get("keenable_anonymous"))
+    return anonymous_opt_in(_tools_web_search_conf().get("keenable_anonymous"))
 
 
 def _get_searxng_url() -> str:
diff --git a/channel/web/api/models.py b/channel/web/api/models.py
index b4d47a52..a5d9b0dd 100644
--- a/channel/web/api/models.py
+++ b/channel/web/api/models.py
@@ -1489,8 +1489,10 @@ class ModelsHandler:
         if not isinstance(ws_cfg, dict):
             ws_cfg = {}
 
-        anonymous_on = bool(ws_cfg.get("anysearch_anonymous"))
-        keenable_anonymous_on = bool(ws_cfg.get("keenable_anonymous"))
+        from agent.tools.web_search.web_search import anonymous_opt_in
+
+        anonymous_on = anonymous_opt_in(ws_cfg.get("anysearch_anonymous"))
+        keenable_anonymous_on = anonymous_opt_in(ws_cfg.get("keenable_anonymous"))
         searxng_url = (ws_cfg.get("searxng_url") or "").strip() if isinstance(ws_cfg, dict) else ""
         providers = []
         configured_ids = []
diff --git a/tests/test_web_search_explicit_anonymous.py b/tests/test_web_search_explicit_anonymous.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6083eafe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_web_search_explicit_anonymous.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import pytest
+from agent.tools.web_search import web_search as ws
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('value', ['false', 'off', '0', '', None, 0, [], {'invalid': True}])
+def test_anonymous_search_requires_boolean_opt_in(monkeypatch, value):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ws, '_get_api_key', lambda provider: '')
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ws, '_get_searxng_url', lambda: '')
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ws, 'conf', lambda: {'tools': {'web_search': {'anysearch_anonymous': value, 'keenable_anonymous': value}}})
+    assert ws.configured_providers() == []
+
+
+def test_explicit_opt_in_and_api_key_configuration_remain_supported(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ws, '_get_api_key', lambda provider: 'fake-key' if provider == 'tavily' else '')
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ws, '_get_searxng_url', lambda: '')
+    monkeypatch.setattr(ws, 'conf', lambda: {'tools': {'web_search': {'anysearch_anonymous': True, 'keenable_anonymous': True}}})
+    assert ws.configured_providers() == ['anysearch', 'tavily', 'keenable']
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('value', [True, 'true', 'True', 'yes', 'on', '1', 1])
+def test_explicit_on_values_enable_anonymous_search(value):
+    assert ws.anonymous_opt_in(value) is True
+
+
+def test_console_status_matches_the_tool(monkeypatch):
+    from channel.web.api.models import ModelsHandler
+    cfg = {'tools': {'web_search': {'anysearch_anonymous': 'false', 'keenable_anonymous': 'false'}}}
+    providers = {p['id']: p for p in ModelsHandler._search_capability(cfg)['providers']}
+    assert not providers['anysearch'].get('configured')
+    assert not providers['keenable'].get('configured')