# Of Browsers and Search Engines **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218 "2017-11-10T14:02:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/1 "2017-11-10T14:02:11Z")
For various reasons, I prefer to use both Firefox and Internet Explorer. In recent months or so, I have lost control. How do I take back my life on MY computer? a) Using Firefox, I was forced to switch from Google as my default search engine to “My Way enhanced by Google”. The root of the website is [hp.myway.com](http://hp.myway.com)… If this is a Hewlett-Packard (HP) product, I am not surprised by its lackluster performance. This sucks! I want my pure, unadulterated “Google” back! b) My Internet Explorer was magically “switched” to IE Edge. I want my pure unadulterated IE back! Furthermore, IE uses Bing as the search engine which, after giving a fair chance, sucks! Again, I want plain vanilla “Google” as my search engine! There was an option on a limited pull-down menu to switch to plain IE. But, that option seems to be gone. Now, many of you may disagree with me on various points above for various reasons. And, feel to free to enlighten me if there are actually advantages to these products despite my objections. But, understand I believe in the Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS) method, the “if ain’t broke don’t fix it” approach, and so on. That said, how do I take back control of MY computer, MY way!?! Thanks in advance for your help. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/2 "2017-11-10T14:42:20Z")
You should be able to go into settings in both browsers and pick a new search engine. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/3 "2017-11-10T14:46:26Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > a) Using Firefox, I was forced to switch from Google as my default search engine to “My Way enhanced by Google”. The root of the website is [hp.myway.com](http://hp.myway.com)… If this is a Hewlett-Packard (HP) product, I am not surprised by its lackluster performance. This sucks! I want my pure, unadulterated “Google” back! ??? I don’t understand this. I’m using Firefox and my search engine is Google. I set it up via Tools\>Options\>Search Engines and then selecting only Google. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/4 "2017-11-10T15:14:50Z")
My browser(s) were similarly hijacked once. I don’t really remember how I solved the problem, but [this page](https://malwaretips.com/blogs/search-myway-com-removal/) discusses the following procedure: > [@](#): > > To remove the [Search.myway.com](http://Search.myway.com) redirect, follow these steps: > STEP 1: Uninstall the Mindspark programs from Windows > STEP 2: Use Zemana AntiMalware Portable to remove [Search.myway.com](http://Search.myway.com) Redirect > STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes to Scan for Malware and Unwanted Programs > STEP 4: Double-check for malicious programs with HitmanPro > (OPTIONAL) STEP 5: Reset your browser to the default settings I’ve no idea if any or all of these steps are necessary or sufficient. Malwaretips might itself be a Malware site for all I know. Since such pathogens do not move freely, but are carried by disease vectors, the long-term solution may include downloading your future [del]porn[/del] freeware from a more reputable site. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/5 "2017-11-10T15:35:21Z")
Go to [Malwarebytes.com](http://Malwarebytes.com) and download and run both Malwarebytes and AdAware. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/6 "2017-11-10T16:21:25Z")
Edge is the default Microsoft browser in Windows 10. IE is still available, though. [How to locate and open Internet Explorer in Windows 10](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-networking-winpc/how-to-locate-and-open-internet-explorer-in/4b067f8b-a0dc-4fba-9e63-00fb14ea82e8). [Make Google my default search engine](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/464?hl=en) has the procedures for several versions of Windows. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/7 "2017-11-10T16:32:54Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > ??? I don’t understand this. I’m using Firefox and my search engine is Google. > I set it up via Tools\>Options\>Search Engines and then selecting only Google. My guess is that the OP downloaded a new piece of software (or even an updated version of a plug-in), and the installation instructions for it included a sneaky “make this your default” (for which he would have had to uncheck a box in the dialogue window). I see these fairly often, and they’re truly annoying. However, as others have noted, it should be a fairly straightforward fix to reset your search engine to whatever you want, once you know how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-browsers-and-search-engines/801218/8 "2017-11-10T17:09:33Z")
You have malware. Get rid of it first or it’ll just switch your search engine back to crapway even after you manually change it. Firefox is fine. Edge is fine. Don’t use IE. More and more websites will fail to display correctly, and IE will have more and more security risks. It’s a dead product; move on to really ANY other choice. Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Opera, Chromium-offshoots… just anything but IE. Please, please, please.