Norton safe search Ask.com?

Is norton safe serach powered by ask.com???   I've had probs with my computer and it might be related to ask.com malaware.  Norton don't apprently pick it up.  The reason why I ask is that after fixing my internet security settings . I emailed microsoft and appears maybe I have ask.com malaware.  If so, then  i've been using norton safe search  why would it have it>??????  I have deleted 2 entries on my hijackthis and am waiting to see what happens.

 

Tomas01