GetSearchConverter Hijacker - How to remove

GetSearchConverter is a browser hijacker that causes Yahoo or another unexpected site to take over your internet searches. It’s not very dangerous, but it can be really annoying. It’s also bad for privacy.

To get rid of GetSearchConverter, the extension needs to be removed, notification settings need to be reviewed, and potentially unwanted programs need to be deleted.

GetSearchConverter in short:

Classification	Browser hijacker, adware.
How to remove GetSearchConverter	Uninstall it and other unwanted extensions, scan your device for malware with Combo Cleaner for Mac, Spyhunter for PC, and other scanners, block notification spam.
How GetSearchConverter gets installed	Advertised online, included with other programs.
Problems and issues	GetSearchConverter collects information about the user, including their search history and browsing history, it also changes the default search engine in a way that is unhelpful.

GetSearchConverter

There are a few steps in removing GetSearchConverter:

• get rid of the browser extension,
• check if there are any other suspicious items on your computer and remove them,
• if needed, block ads from Getsearchconverter.com sites and other sites.

Remove the extension

You can remove the GetSearchConverter extension by going to your extensions area in the top right corner of your browser or by opening your browser settings.

If the add-on keeps coming back, disable sync and try removing it then. If the Remove button is not clickable or if it’s not visible, read our post on removing extensions that abuse the Enterprise policy.

Delete all malware

But it’s important to check your other extensions and programs. Use an anti-malware tool, like Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter for Windows, and other security programs. Scan your computer and see if anything suspicious is found. If yes, then remove it.

Block notifications

To block pop-up ads by GetSearchConverter, go into your browser settings and find which websites can send ads to you:

• Chrome – open Settings, scroll down to Site settings (under Privacy and security), click on Notifications.
• Edge (Chromium) – open Settings, click Site Permissions, Notifications.
• Firefox – open Settings, Privacy & Security, scroll down to Permissions, and click on Settings next to Notifications.
• Safari – in the Safari menu, choose Preferences, Websites, Notifications.

Block Getsearchconverter.com and other unwanted sites from sending notifications. You can also block all future notification requests.

How GetSearchConverter spreads

I first encountered GetSearchConverter while on File-upload.com. It and other file-hosting sites show ads for GetSearchConverter and other hijackers (as well as ads for get-rich-quick schemes, clickbait sites, adware viruses for macOS, and other dangerous stuff).

The ad for GetSearchConverter leads to the Chrome Web Store. GetSearchConverter is presented as a tool to help you search the internet. The description is a bit vague, but it does mention that GetSearchConverter uses Yahoo search to deliver search results.

If you agree to install it, then it gets added to your browser extensions.

Besides being advertised online, GetSearchConverter may arrive in the installers of free programs. This could allow it to be installed automatically, without the user even noticing.

Either way, I doubt that people install GetSearchConverter for its features. After all, this extension does nothing but redirect your search queries. Deceptive ads may trick people into thinking that GetSearchConverter is mandatory in order to be able to use the websites that advertise it. In other cases, people might just install it by accident.

Problems and issues caused by hijackers

When the GetSearchConverter extension is installed, you might not notice anything different with how your browser looks. But when you search for something from your address bar, your search results might be delivered by Yahoo.com, even if you used another search engine prior.

Once installed, GetSearchConverter makes Feed.getsearchconverter.com your default search engine. Together, they can:

• read your browsing history,
• read your search queries,
• know your language and location,
• see which ads and search results you click on.

GetSearchConverter’s privacy policy lays this out. Whenever you’re installing something, it’s always a good idea to skim the program's privacy policy and see if you’re comfortable with what information is collected and what it’s used for.

GetSearchConverter, as well as WebSearchConverter, MovieBoxSearch, GamingSearch, FreeStreamSearch, CoVideoSearch, LivePDFSearch, and other similar browser add-ons hijack thousands of web browsers and spy on their users. These add-ons regularly get removed from extension stores, but new ones are created and uploaded regularly.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

TopHow To remove GetSearchConverter Hijacker from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to GetSearchConverter Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove GetSearchConverter Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
• Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to GetSearchConverter Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings

• Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
• Press the Restore settings to their default values option.

• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How To remove GetSearchConverter Hijacker from Firefox:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything GetSearchConverter Hijacker related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to GetSearchConverter Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on theReset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.