How to remove GetSearchConverters browser hijacker

Easy tips to delete GetSearchConverters virus

GetSearchConverters is a browser hijacker application as it alters browser’s settings and does not allow undoing it. It conducts such changes to promote a fake search engine named GetSearchConverters.com. Usually, users install browser hijackers unknowingly. This is the reason why these apps are also called potentially unwanted applications.

As a rule, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by altering addresses of default search engine, homepage and new tab. GetSearchConverters also conducts such changes to promote GetSearchConverters.com fake search engine. It is considered as a fake search engine because it shows results generated by Yahoo, searchlee.com.

It is important to mention that searchlee.com is a questionable search engine- it may include links to untrustworthy pages in its results. Thus, it is strongly not recommended to browse with GetSearchConverters.com and trust on the results produced by questionable searchlee.com search engine.

As mentioned earlier in the introduction, GetSearchConverters does not allow its victims to restore the changes made to the browsers’ settings. Usually, such changes can be reverted only when the app is no longer installed on the system.

Another reason you should perform its removal is its data tracking feature. The app is capable of tracking users’ browsing session and collecting the data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations and etc. Moreover, these data can be used for marketing purpose, sold to third parties, potentially cyber criminals and used in stealing identities and etc.

So, the PUA could be the reason for various issues with online privacy, browser safety, identity theft and other problems. To prevent such issues from happening in future, immediately remove GetSearchConverters and all associated components right away. Below the post, you will find both manual as well as automatic guide to perform its removal.

How did GetSearchConverters infiltrate in?

In some cases, users cause unwanted downloads by clicking unreliable ads designed to execute certain scripts. However, most often, the unwanted downloads are caused bundled with regular software. It is common that PUAs are included in the downloders/installers of other programs. Users can decline such unwanted offers using Custom/Advanced settings. They agree to the download when they perform downloads without changing those settings.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

Apps should always be downloaded from reliable, official pages and via direct download links. It is not safe to use other sources for downloading files, programs. Examples of unreliable channels are p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/installers. Downloaders/installers that have some settings should be used for checking unwanted apps for their de-selection.

One more way to avoid unwanted downloads, installations is to not click on any ads appear on any shady pages. Those ads can be designed to open various potentially malicious pages or cause unwanted download/ installation by running malicious scripts. If the system is already infected with GetSearchConverters, we recommend you use some reputable antivirus tool and remove it right away.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove GetSearchConverters:

Remove the related items of GetSearchConverters using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing GetSearchConverters issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (GetSearchConverters) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to GetSearchConverters removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to GetSearchConverters still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove GetSearchConverters plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in GetSearchConverters removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete GetSearchConverters (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.