Apple's Safari web browser is a popular choice for many users, especially since the platform is designed to be safe from malware. Unfortunately, malicious software can sometimes change your browser's search engine settings without you knowing, which could put your privacy at risk. If this has happened to you, you can easily restore your original search engine in Safari by following these steps.
While Google is undoubtedly the leader in search engines, there are several alternatives that offer better and more private results. Some, like DuckDuckGo, even have a separate Mac browser that is built for security and privacy, with locked down search, smart encryption and automatic cookie blocking.
To set a different search engine in Safari for private browsing on an iPhone, iPad or Mac, open the Safari app and select Preferences from the menu bar. Select one of the four alternatives to Google, including Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia (which plants trees with every search). Once you've selected a search engine, entering Safari's private mode will activate that particular option.
To protect your privacy, search suggestions in Safari's private mode will use on-device information to create recommendations instead of sharing your data with a search provider. However, this may result in less relevant suggestions. Regardless, it's still a great alternative to the invasive search experience offered by Google. You can also opt to disable all search suggestions entirely. This will prevent your history from being shared with any other search engines, even Apple's.