Google search engine problem using Safari

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Level 1

11 points

Google search engine problem using Safari

For the last week, when using Safari with Google selected as the search engine, I have this problem -

I enter a word, name or sentence into the question field
the answers, many lines and pages, are displayed
I move my cursor over one selection, it changes shape from arrow to hand
I click on the selection and the answer is displayed
I click on the top left 'go-back-icon' (<) and the answer page is displayed again
when I now move my cursor over the various lines, its shape stayes as an arrow and clicking on a selection does nothing. I am unable to open any further answers
A click on the top left red button will close Safari, but it takes 5-10 seconds

Changing to BING or Yahoo or any other serach engine (in Safari Preferences/Search) results in everything running as normal.

Only Google shows this recent problem.

Anybody else experiencing this?

PS I'm running Mojave 10.4.4

iMac 27", 10.14

Posted on Feb 4, 2019 3:19 AM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

685,311 points

Feb 4, 2019 7:52 AM in response to Opi-Opi

Also try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues.

Isolating an issue by using another user account

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Answer 2

Opi-Opi Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 4, 2019 4:21 PM in response to Opi-Opi

Hi Dominic and Eric,

thanks for the feedbacks.

I've tried all of it, including opening a new Admin User, but Safari + Google continued having the same problem.

However, running EtreCheck, after updating my old v3.4.4 to the latest v5.1 (5020), gave an interesting result.

It showed a 'Major Issue': "More than one antivirus app This machine has multiple antivirus apps installed."

As I had not changed my setup since Snow Leopard, only ever using Bitdefender, that looked odd.

But then I remembered that BD had installed several upgrades over the last few months, e.g. 'Shield', VPN, TrafficLight.

I therefore -

fully uninstalled BD
reinstalled BD without activating any of these 'Extras' - Safari worked perfectly!
I activated and used VPN - Safari OK
I activated Shield - Safari OK
I activated TrafficLight - Safari had the problems when using Google Search!

Finally, deselecting TrafficLight in Safari/Preferences/Extensions resulted in Safari behaving OK

So, Safari [v12.1 (14607.1.22)] does not like the Bitdefender TrafficLight Extension while running Google Search Engine.

I have started contacting Bitdefender.com and will keep you updated.

In the meantime: Problem Solved.

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Answer 3

dominic23

Level 10

84,018 points

Feb 4, 2019 5:11 AM in response to Opi-Opi

Go step by step and test.

1. Quit all applications, restart the computer, and launch Safari holding the shift key down.

A fresh copy of macOS will be loaded and Safari will launch in Safe Mode.

2. Start up in Safe Mode, launch Safari and test.

Starting up in Safe Mode will perform a disk check and empty caches.

Launch Safari and test.

Click Restart button at the bottom to exit Safe Mode.

Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support

3 If Safari is slow, stops responding, quits unexpectedly, or has other issues - Apple Support

4. If this doesn’t help, download EtreCheck: https://etrecheck.com/maspro and post the report here.

Click, “Free Download” button and then “Click to download” button,

open Downloads folder, click on it to open, and then select ”Open”.

Click on the bouncing EtreCheck icon in the Dock.

“Choose a problem” from the popup menu box, and then “Start EtreCheck” in the dialog.

Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” .

Paste the report when you reply.

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

685,311 points

Feb 4, 2019 5:39 PM in response to Opi-Opi

You are welcome. I would uninstall Bitdefender. It tends to interfere with the computer's operation while providing minimal to no benefit unless you work with Windows files. Most long time posters recommend not using antivirus software or cleaning software such as CleanMyMac. They can adversely affect normal computer operation.

Bitdefender uninstall

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Google search engine problem using Safari

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