SearchConverterIt browser hijacker removal instructions

SearchConverterIt – What is it?

“SearchConverterIt” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some particular details, as an example, about sport events, make your browser far more safe, enable downloading of any kind of video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “SearchConverterIt” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such features are currently embedded to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However sometimes even experienced users are getting caught on such a lure. In specific situations, this hijacker is distributed together with free apps.

SearchConverterIt Search Hijacker

How harmful is SearchConverterIt hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, SearchConverterIt hijacker is additionally fairly hazardous for browser use. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Searchconverterit.com, and likewise alters your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, changing it to default with the specified symbol).

Aside from seeable modifications done by SearchConverterIt hijacker, you might observe that many of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unfamiliar sites, full of links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting surges if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are far more frustrating than really damaging. The major hazard, primarily for people who have a considerable amount of confidential information in their web browsers, is embedded in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, and various other activities are simply collected by SearchConverterIt hijacker.

How to remove SearchConverterIt search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are often pretty easy to deal with. In many cases, they have a separate application that can be found in the list of installed apps. As a result of the particular marketing way of SearchConverterIt hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted manually. Nonetheless, if you got SearchConverterIt in the bundle with a free applications, your system might be contaminated with much more severe malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware tools to delete the SearchConverterIt PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and eliminating different malware, including named hijacker. Nevertheless, significant malware, that might be present on your computer in the mentioned instance, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all malicious programs on your computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can observe the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be counteracted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing SearchConverterIt hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender