Feed.convertowiz.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is feed.convertowiz.com ?
feed.convertowiz.com is presented as a legitimate search engine, however, this is a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted application (PUA) called ConvertoWiz. According to the developers, this app converts various documents to .pdf format (PDF files). Users often install apps of this type inadvertently. When installed, they collect data and modify targeted browser settings.
Typically, applications such as ConvertoWiz target browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. When installed, this app assigns settings such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL to feed.convertowiz.com.
None of these settings can be reverted to their previous states as long as ConvertoWiz is installed (it prevents users from changing the settings and reassigns them if attempts are made). ConvertoWiz forces users to visit feed.convertowiz.com when they open a browser, new tab, or enter a search query using the URL bar.
As a search engine, this web page is useless. When a search is performed, it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com and displays results generated by Yahoo. Therefore, feed.convertowiz.com does not generate unique search results.
This fake search engine and the Convertowiz app record browsing-related data such as URLs of visited websites, search queries, geo-locations, IP addresses, and so on.
Private details might also be recorded. The data is continually shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing it. Therefore, do not use fake search engines or apps that are categorized as browser hijackers.
Name | ConvertoWiz browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Fake search engines and apps used to promote them (browser hijackers) are usually presented as legitimate, practical, useful, and so on. In fact, developers have just one aim purpose: to trick people into installing and using them. These apps are useless and deliver no real value.
Furthermore, once installed, they usually perform actions that allow the developers to generate revenue. Examples of other fake search engines are searchsecureprime.co, search.securybrowse.com, and search.searchm3w1.com.
How did ConvertoWiz install on my computer?
In most cases, unwanted apps infiltrate systems without direct permission - users download and install them unintentionally. Typically, apps of this type are installed through intrusive (deceptive) advertisements that are capable of executing scripts. In other cases, this happens when software developers use the "bundling" method.
Bundling allows them to trick people into installing and downloading unwanted apps together with regular software. Developers hide information regarding the inclusion of bundled apps in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar parts of the installation/download set-ups.
Unwanted installations/downloads usually occur due to careless behaviour: i.e. installation/download steps are skipped without checking settings/options.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To avoid unwanted downloads and installations of unwanted applications, handle download and installation processes with caution. Download software from official/trustworthy sources only and avoid using third party downloaders/installers. These tools often are monetized by promoting various unwanted (rogue) applications.
Do not skip software download/installation steps without checking all "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings/options of the set-up. Deselect offers to download or install apps that are not required and only then finish the download or installation process. Be careful when browsing the internet. Avoid intrusive ads that are displayed on dubious websites.
Once clicked, they often redirect to untrustworthy websites (such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, and so on). If you experience unwanted redirects or intrusive ads, check installed browser plug-ins, extensions, and add-ons and remove any suspicious/unwanted entries.
Also check unknown or unwanted programs installed on your computer. If your computer is already infected with ConvertoWiz, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting ConvertoWiz browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is feed.convertowiz.com ?
- STEP 1. Uninstall ConvertoWiz application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove feed.convertowiz.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove ConvertoWiz browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove feed.convertowiz.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove feed.convertowiz.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
ConvertoWiz browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "ConvertoWiz"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the feed.convertowiz.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
ConvertoWiz browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://feed.convertowiz.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertowiz browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "ConvertoWiz" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a "ConvertoWiz" browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.feed.convertowiz.com ) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "feed.convertowiz.com ", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertowiz browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "ConvertoWiz", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, disable "ConvertoWiz", remove hxxp://feed.convertowiz.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "feed.convertowiz.com "
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with convertowiz browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertowiz browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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