Edit:
Since theres been some confusion with dates
In 2016 github made site side searching login only and hid the search bar if you werent logged in. This didnt include searching within a repository so that could still be done, just not all repositories
This year was the change being referred to in this link which made repository level searching require logging in
Blog post: https://github.blog/changelog/2023-06-07-code-search-now-requires-login/
On new installs it does force you. I had to do it today (Windows 10). There are workaround such as attempting to log into a banned account, or other weird hacks involving disconnecting the internet and know the right combinations of hidden menus to navigate.
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It shouldn’t have to be that way is the point. I shouldn’t have to take all these steps to opt out of getting a Microsoft account. Just like I shouldn’t have to click 3-5 times to deny cookies.
It should be as simple as it used to be: Do you want to log in with your Microsoft account?
User clicks “No thanks. I’ll log in locally.”
I agree it’s absolutely stupid, nothing I said was in support of it, I was just pointing out it wasn’t difficult to get around