"Safari cannot connect to the server." This is what keeps popping up on my sister's 2014 Macbook.

[Jirel]

2. You don't need a new MacBook

This can be caused by endless different problems, from malware on the computer that she got by clicking on something untrustworthy trying to redirect her somewhere hinky, to previous data in a cache blocking her from accessing specific sites, to a glitch in the OS, to the device using an unreliable DNS for browsing (often linked to malware also). But, it’s all going to be software, not hardware, related.

Before even thinking of buying a new machine, which could be such an expensive waste of money especially if she sometimes clicks on things she shouldn’t do it’s likely to happen again, take it to a REPUTABLE Mac repair center. That means Best Buy is right out. You want to either make an appointment with a nearby Apple Store, or an independent Mac repair shop. They can start by checking for malware, and go on through clearing caches, updating the OS, or whatever else needs to be done. This is a situation where a person like me could fix it in minutes to a couple hours, but we’d have to have hands on the machine to diagnose the problem that could be caused by many things, when you get that specific message.