Prevent unwanted ads and redirects caused by converto.io

What is converto[.]io?

The converto[.]io website offers features to download videos from YouTube and save them in .mp3 or .mp4 formats.

This is a typical YouTube video downloader/converter, however, note that it is illegal to download videos from YouTube. Additionally, this site uses rogue advertising networks and thus contains unwanted advertisements and causes redirects to other dubious web pages.

Like most websites of this kind, converto[.]io contains advertisements. Do not click these ads, since they redirect to dubious websites that might contain malware. When the conversion service provided by converto[.]io is used, this site causes redirects to other dubious web pages.

For example, it redirects to a website that advertises an unwanted application using deception - when visited, the site claims that the visitor's computer is infected and that detected viruses must be removed with the advertised software immediately. Do not trust applications that are promoted by deceptive websites.

Furthermore, converto[.]io asks to show notifications. Allowing this will lead to unwanted ads, notifications, and so on. When clicked, these open untrustworthy web pages.

Note that web pages opened through ads displayed on converto[.]io might be used to promote browser hijackers, adware type ads, and so on. If installed, these dubious apps feed users with ads, gather browsing data, cause unwanted redirects, etc. To keep your computer safe from problems caused by converto[.]io, do not use any of its services.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by converto.io
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads
Detection Names	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	149.56.24.72
Observed Domains	s8.converto[.]io, s7.converto[.]io, s9.converto[.]io, s11.converto[.]io, s3.converto[.]io, s10.converto[.]io, s1.converto[.]io, s5.converto[.]io, s2.converto[.]io, s4.converto[.]io
Symptoms	Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Redirects to dubious web pages. Unwanted notifications. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution Methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications (adware)
Damage	Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

converto[.]io is virtually identical to many other websites of this type. Some examples are convert2mp3[.]net, onlinevideoconverter[.]com, and ytmp3[.]cc. These sites offer illegal services (downloads from YouTube), are filled with ads, and cause redirects to other untrustworthy web pages. The best option is to simply avoid them.

How did adware install on my computer?

This usually happens when users click deceptive advertisements or when software developers successfully trick them into downloading/installing unwanted apps using "bundling", a deceptive marketing method used to trick people into causing unwanted download/installation of unwanted apps with other software.

Developers achieve this by hiding PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced" settings of the download/installation set-ups. They do not properly disclose information about the inclusion of additional apps and hope that this will go unnoticed. In summary, inadvertent installations happen when people leave settings available in set-ups unchanged.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Download programs from official sources (websites) and use direct download links. Third party software downloaders and installers, dubious web pages, Peer-to-Peer networks should not be used as channels to download software. They are often monetized by promoting potentially unwanted apps.

Install software with care - do not skip installation steps, analyze each installation setup step by checking "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings/options. Deselect offers to install additional apps and only then complete the installation.

If you often encounter advertisements that lead you to untrustworthy websites (adult dating, gambling, pornography, etc.), check for recent installations: the list of installed add-ons, extensions, and plug-ins on your browser and programs on your computer. Uninstall any unknown/suspicious apps or programs immediately.

If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

converto[.]io asking to show notifications:

Notification by converto[.]io:

Redirect to a deceptive website (apple.com-shield-device[.]live) caused by converto[.]io:

converto[.]io opens a dubious web page:

Appearance of converto[.]io website (GIF):

IMPORTANT NOTE! This deceptive site asks to enable web browser notifications.

Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:

Google Chrome (PC):

• Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Settings", scroll down to the bottom and click "Advanced"
• Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Content settings" and then "Notifications"
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Google Chrome (Android):

• Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click "Settings"
• Scroll down, click on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
• Select "Notifications" in the "Permissions" section and set the toggle button to "OFF"

Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Options" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
• Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select "Block"

Internet Explorer:

• Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
• Select "Internet options"
• Select the "Privacy" tab and click "Settings" under "Pop-up Blocker" section
• Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the "Remove" button

Microsoft Edge:

• Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window
• Scroll down, find and click "Settings"
• Scroll down again and click "View advanced settings"
• Click "Manage" under "Website permissions"
• Click the switch under each suspicious website

Safari (Mac):

• Click "Safari" button on the left upper corner of the screen and select "Preferences..."
• Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
• Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option for each

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is converto[.]io?
• STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Adware 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 potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes converto[.]io redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

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 browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by converto.io, 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by converto.io, 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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by converto.io 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by converto.io, 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:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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