Unrecognisable app has appeared and I can't uninstall

[starshine]

So I have upgraded my Samsung galaxy s20 5g to a Samsung galaxy s23 ultra 

On looking upon my installed apps I came across one on my system apps I don't even recognise but it says installed 😱

The system app i found is called Search Engine Selector next to it is a box with a magnifying 🔎 symbol inside.

I cannot delete this app only force stop or disable it, on speaking with others who have exactly the same device they DO NOT have this system app within their device at all.

On searching on Google it seems its a browser hacker of some sort I have avg installed yet its not picked this up as being a virus 🤔

I'm asking if anyone can please help me with any ideas of how to remove the app or suggest what else I should do.

I have for the time being forced stop on this app but as this device is new to me I'm extremely worried with the security of my phone.

Thanking you in advance for your time and help 🙏 

[GoanGeek]

I'm presuming you have done smartswitch.

If so it might have carried some app from your previous phone .

Ideally I would recommend if possible to do a clean install and manually adding apps as and when you need them.

Only back up your photos , messages etc to either Google one of MS one drive

[starshine]

This appeared 2 days ago had the phone for over 2 weeks now.
So it hasn't come from my previous phone 😕

[ynneL]

I have the same app so I assume it must be already installed by default

[starshine]

How odd as I have spoken to a few people who have the same device and its not showing up on their phone hence why I decided to write on here.
I'm concerned as on goggle it states its a virus

[starshine]

You can't even click on it to open it up which you can on all other apps installed again another Red flag

[Tourbillon De La Vie]

It is not a virus. It is a simple app allowing you to pick a default web browser. Google was forced to role it out following a EU ruling enforcing fair competition. It is there for us all in Europe 

[starshine]

Ohhh ok 👍 thank you for clearing that up for me

[PaulC59]

I've checked my apps and I don't have it on my S23 Ultra. I'm in the UK. I can't find much about "Search Engine Selector" online but there is a nasty browser hijacker called "Search Selector" Whilst not viruses they can still get up to all kinds of mischief on devices such as monitoring, gathering data and redirecting searches etc so it's always worth checking out if apps are legit. Dodgy apps will make it hard to uninstall etc and can have hidden files that will just reinstall them afterwards. Putting the app in battery optimisation mode should stop it based on what other users have said. You could try stopping the app and then try uninstalling whilst it's stopped or in safe mode, if that's not possible you could see if the app can be put to sleep? I can't confirm much info about the app itself but I'll have a look next time I'm on pc as it's easier to research from a pc. Hope this is helpful

[starshine]

See this is my point as I have asked others who have the same device and they don't have it.
I can't uninstall it I can only force stop or disable it so I have done both I will put it into battery optimization now u have said that but if you do find any more information please let me know