Sending a search request includes: during a running procedure of a search engine client, generating a forged search request, where the forged search request carries a forged search word; and sending the forged search request to the search engine server. The forged search request is sent to the search engine server, to serve as a factor interfering with an analysis of a user behavior by the search engine server based on a true search request, to prevent the search engine server from analyzing the user behavior based on a search word entered by a user, thereby improving user experience.