How to remove FileConvertPro

What is FileConvertPro?

FileConvertPro is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker that can supposedly convert files online. Like most apps of this type, it promotes a fake search engine.

This particular app promotes fileconvertpro.co by changing certain browser settings. Furthermore, FileConvertPro is designed to gather various browsing-related data and promote another PUA called Search Defender Prime. Typically, people do not download or install software of this type intentionally.

After installation, FileConvertPro changes browser settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine, and new tab to fileconvertpro.co. Users are then forced to visit this address when they open a new browser tab, window, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

It is impossible to undo these changes without uninstalling FileConvertPro. Note that fileconvertpro.co does not generate any unique search results - when used, it simply redirects users to search.yahoo.com and displays results generated by Yahoo (a legitimate search engine).

Furthermore, when opened, the site asks permission to show notifications. If granted, it then starts to display deceptive ads that advertise untrustworthy software, websites, and so on.

Furthermore, most browser hijackers gather browsing-related data. In most cases, they collect IP addresses, search queries, geolocations, URLs of visited websites and other similar details, however, apps of this type sometimes record private/sensitive data.

Developers share the data with third parties who might be cyber criminals and misuse it to generate revenue. Having apps of this type installed can cause problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, or even identity theft. Do not have apps such as FileConvertPro installed or use fake search engines such as fileconvertpro.co

Threat Summary:

Name	FileConvertPro
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	FileConvertPro
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly converts various files online.
Promoted URL	fileconvertpro.co
Serving IP Address (fileconvertpro.co)	104.31.80.163
Detection Names (fileconvertpro.co)	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine.
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Additional Information	FileConvertPro is distributed together with another browser hijacker called Search Defender Prime.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers.
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
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.

My Flight Finder, Search Selector and Get Breaking News are examples of other browser hijackers that function in a similar manner to FileConvertPro. Typically, developers advertise browser hijackers (and other PUAs) as useful, legitimate, etc., however, most are designed only to enable developers to generate revenue and they provide no other features or any value.

How did FileConvertPro install on my computer?

Generally, potentially unwanted apps are downloaded and/or installed through clicked deceptive ads or when software developers distribute them using the "bundling" method. This deceptive method is used to trick people into downloading/installing unwanted apps with other software.

Typically, offers to download and/or install PUAs are hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of installation or download set-ups.

People who download and/or install software without checking these settings often allow them to be installed by default. In some cases, PUAs are downloaded and/or installed through deceptive ads that, if clicked, run scripts that download or install potentially malicious or untrustworthy software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download software only from official websites and direct links. Channels/sources such as third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks, unofficial websites, etc., should not be used to download or install software. Do perform any download or installation without first checking "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings included in the set-ups.

Dismiss any unwanted additionally-included applications. Intrusive ads, especially when displayed on dubious pages, often redirect people who click them to deceptive, untrustworthy or even malicious websites, or they cause unwanted downloads/installations.

If there are any unwanted or suspicious extensions, add-ons or plugins installed on the browser or similar programs on the computer, remove them immediately. If your computer is already infected with FileConvertPro, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

FileConvertPro asks permission to access various data on Chrome:

 

FileConvertPro asks permission to access various data on Firefox:

 

Website promoting FileConvertPro browser hijacker:

IMPORTANT NOTE! Websites that promote FileConverterPro browser hijacker ask to enable 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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Quick menu:

• What is FileConvertPro?
• STEP 1. Uninstall FileConvertPro application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove fileconvertpro.co redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove FileConvertPro browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove fileconvertpro.co homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove fileconvertpro.co redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

FileConvertPro 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, "FileConvertPro"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the fileconvertpro.co website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

FileConvertPro 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://fileconvertpro.co 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 "FileConvertPro".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the fileconvertpro.co redirect, 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 "FileConvertPro" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Search Defender Prime"), 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, disable "FileConvertPro" or "Search Defender Prime", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://fileconvertpro.co or hxxps://searchdefenderprime.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 "hxxp://fileconvertpro.co" and "hxxp://searchdefenderprime.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 fileconvertpro.co redirect, 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 "FileConvertPro", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Search Defender Prime").

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 "FileConvertPro" or "Search Defender Prime", remove hxxp://fileconvertpro.co or hxxp://searchdefenderprime.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: "fileconvertpro"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with fileconvertpro.co redirect 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 fileconvertpro.co redirect, 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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