Q: Safari has been hacked so I can't change my search engine to google, what do I do?

Missy1743 wrote:

 

Safari has been hacked so I can't change my search engine to google, what do I do? Every time I search, it says it is set on Google search but as soon as I press enter it comes up with yahoo. It has been hacked.

You haven't been hacked.  It sounds like you've installed malware or adware on your hard drive, and it's causing your search results to be redirected to Yahoo.  You have two options for removing it:

• Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware for Mac.  It was developed by a trusted and respected contributor here.  It's a simple, non-intrusive program that deletes known malware/adware from your hard drive.  That's all it does.  It doesn't add anything and it doesn't take away anything else.  Unlike anti-virus programs, it doesn't run in the background of your computer, using up resources, and also unlike anti-virus programs (which are unnecessary on Macs), it doesn't actively prevent malware or adware infections.  Its sole purpose is removing them.
• Restart your computer.  As of April 26, 2016, changes made to the support article here --> Stop pop-up ads in Safari - Apple Support state that El Capitan removes adware at login, but only at login.  So, if you don't want to use Malwarebytes, this is another option for you.

Next, go to Safari Preferences --> Extensions and delete any you don't remember installing or that you don't need.  Then, go to Safari Preferences --> Search and change your preferred search engine back to Google.  Lastly, go to Safari Preferences --> General and make sure your homepage has not been changed, and if it has, change it back to what it was before.

First, never use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" software on a Mac. That's how you cause problems, not how you solve them.

Please disable all Safari extensions and test. If the problem is resolved, re-enable the extensions one or a few at a time until you find the culprit.

I second pinkstones recommendation for Malwarbytes. I've found it very helpful. Like any tool, it won't solve every problem but it can solve a few and provide a useful starting point.