On a fresh install of mint linux your default web browser is firefox and your default search provider is google, but when you do searches you get a strangely formatted Google result page that is ad ridden, and all around ugly.

Luckily this problem is very easy to fix. The default homepage uses this search so you should change your homepage to the regular google or to wherever else you like. To change your homepage click edit on your top bar, go to preferences, then type a new homepage url.

To fix the Google search box on your navigation bar go to this page and click the green “add to firefox” button. A dialog box should pop up. Check the box that says “start using right away” and click add. Your searches will now be back to normal.