Help. My default search engine is some Chinese thing. How do I get rid of it?

[applegrove]

I keep choosing Google as my default. I get a checkmark beside it and it works once but default is still written beside the Chinese option and after one try my search engine goes back to the Chinese one. I tried looking in apps but the Chinese search engine is not listed there. I am on my android phone.

[Tetrachloride]

1. Get another browser in the meantime

what is your computer or phone that you are using

and the name of the browser

[usonian]

2. My "go to" is just to do a web search on the problem.

Even I, and therefore you, will not be the first to run into a problem!

It might be the language setting getting changed to Chinese through some fluke.

Of course, it could be something incredibly complex, like malicious javascript or your DNS (name server) getting changed for you, but most likely, it’s something simple.

Even I am not exceptional, for better and for worse.

Good luck.

[Jilly_in_VA]

3. Duck Duck Go.

Scrub that other thing and get that.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Been doing the duck for years, and it'sostly good. But, ddg uses Google for most of the work...

It does, however leave a lot of the junk in the floor.

Things have gotten so complex now, that no one seems to know what's going on.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. Try installing the duckduckgo app from google play.

[Donkees]

6. Do you have any other Chinese apps?

[applegrove]

7. Nope. I don't even have tic toc.

[Donkees]

8. Next - ''Bad apps occasionally slip through ... If Google Play Protect somehow got turned off ... ''

While official app stores are more secure than third-party options, they are not infallible. Bad apps occasionally slip through the vetting process of the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

One of the best ways to ensure you don’t download malicious apps is to utilize Google Play Protect. It is enabled by default, but only if you have a Play Protect certified device. Here’s how to check your device:

Open the Google Play Store app.
At the top right, tap the profile icon.
Tap Settings.
Under About, check if your device is Play Protect certified.
Play Protect runs a safety check on apps from the Google Play Store. It inspects them for potentially harmful apps from other sources, which could contain malware.

When Google finds a harmful app on your phone, it warns you and gives you the option to remove it or deactivate functionality. Of course, you can turn the setting off, but that isn’t a wise move.

If Google Play Protect somehow got turned off, here’s how to turn it back on:

Open the Google Play Store app.
At the top right, tap the profile icon.
Tap Play Protect > Settings.
Turn Scan apps with Play Protect on.


https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/chinese-owned-apps/881862/