Now that iOS 15 uses Google rather than Safari, are we at risk for security breaches, tracking, etc?
Safari is indeed a browser. It has never been a search engine. Where it gets confusing, is that Google is both a search engine, and a web browser (Chrome).
Within the options for Safari, you can select a search engine, and the choices are: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and Ecosia. Personally, I use DuckDuckGo, as it does not track my every move on the internet.
Safari is indeed a browser. It has never been a search engine. Where it gets confusing, is that Google is both a search engine, and a web browser (Chrome).
Within the options for Safari, you can select a search engine, and the choices are: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and Ecosia. Personally, I use DuckDuckGo, as it does not track my every move on the internet.
Not sure what you mean. Google has been the default search engine on the iPhone pretty much forever. You can change it at Settings > Safari > Search engine
More over, when you use the 'search feature' to searh content on any of your hard drives etc, if it doesn't find anything - it will open up a google search through your browser to find an answer.
The only solution to that, that I can see, is to block Google at the Router level!
Safari is a web browser.
Google is a search engine.
Safari has always defaulted to using Google as a search engine.
if you don’t like it, change it:
Choose a search engine
Go to Settings 
> Safari > Search Engine.
Unfortunately I don't know the difference between a search engine and a browser (I'll have to research that). For years, Safari did not default to Google because I would periodically get inquiries when searching in Safari if I wanted to make Google my default search engine or browser (still confused) and I would always decline. As far as I am able to discern, I no longer have the option of selecting Safari as my search engine/browser. It gives me some alternatives that I have never heard of.
NOTE: I just researched the difference between a search engine and a browser and the distinction is significant. Thank you for pointing that out.
Wrong Information
Politely Stated. I understand your concern. I don't think Apple Cares!
Exactly what is your concern?
Should we be concerned now that Apple now defaults to Google search rather than Safari …. I thought Google allows tracking and isn’t nearly as secure as Safari was
