How to replace Bing and get Google back as my default search engine? I have already changed it in preferences and disabled extensions. Nothing is working!!

Question

How to replace Bing and get Google back as my default search engine? I have already changed it in preferences and disabled extensions.  Nothing is working!!

Answer 1

You installed the "Genieo" spyware/adware. There is an uninstaller, but as the developer is not trustworthy, you shouldn't rely on it. I suggest the tedious procedure below to disable Genieo.
Back up all data.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
/Applications/Genieo.app
Right-click or control-click the line and select
Services ▹ Reveal
from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator password.
*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
Repeat with each of these lines:
/Applications/Uninstall Genieo.app
/Library/Frameworks/GenieoExtra.framework
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieo.engine.plist
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.plist
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.client.plist
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.genieoinnovation.macextension.client
/usr/lib/libgenkit.dylib
Note: Some of these items may be absent, in which case you'll get a message that the file doesn't exist.
The following configuration file is either created or modified by the Genieo installer:
/etc/launchd.conf
The file is unlikely to be used by anything but Genieo or something equally undesirable. Unless you know you need it, delete it in the same way as above. Otherwise, edit it to remove the line that begins as follows:
setenv DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES
The above is not a file, but a line inside a file.
Reboot. Safari should now launch without crashing. If not, stop here and post your results.
From the Safari menu bar, select
Safari ▹ Preferences ▹ Extensions
Uninstall any extension you don't recognize. If in doubt, uninstall all extensions. Do the equivalent for the Firefox and Chrome browsers, if you use either of those.
The Genieo installer may also install the "Silverlight" web plugin from Microsoft. If you have no use for that plugin, you should remove it according to Microsoft's instructions. Don't remove it if you subscribe to "Netflix."
This procedure may leave a few files behind, but it should render Genieo permanently non-functional, as long as you never reinstall it.