How to uninstall Convert Your File Now browser hijacker

What is Convert Your File Now?

Convert Your File Now is advertised as a tool allowing quick access to various file conversion tools, however, this app is a browser hijacker which promotes search.convertyourfiletab.com, the address of a fake search engine. Typically, browser hijackers promote such addresses by changing browser settings.

Furthermore, they often operate as information tracking tools. These apps are classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), since people tend to download and install browser hijackers unintentionally.

Convert Your File Now sets search.convertyourfiletab.com as the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab. When Convert Your File Now users open a browser (new window), new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar, this app forces them to visit search.convertyourfiletab.com.

In most cases, it is impossible to remove the address of the fake search engine from the settings as long as the browser is hijacked. Therefore, search.convertyourfiletab.com can be stopped from being opened on certain occasions only by uninstalling Convert Your File Now.

If used to search, search.convertyourfiletab.com provides results generated by Yahoo - it simply redirects users to search.yahoo.com. This fake search does not generate any unique results, and is therefore useless. Furthermore, fake search engines often provide misleading results.

Apps such as Convert Your File Now also gather information relating to users' browsing habits. For example, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, IP addresses and other browsing data. Some can access personal, sensitive details as well.

Developers sell the information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.

In any case, installed browser hijackers can cause problems relating to privacy, browsing safety or even identity theft. Remove any browser hijackers (including Convert Your File Now) from the browser and operating system immediately. These apps should never be downloaded or installed.

Threat Summary:

Name	Convert Your File Now
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), AVG (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Microsoft (PUA:Win32/OpenDownloadManager), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Browser Extension(s)	Convert Your File Now
Supposed Functionality	Quick access to various conversion tools.
Promoted URL	search.convertyourfiletab.com
Serving IP Address (search.convertyourfiletab.com)	34.193.210.44
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.
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.

There are many browser hijackers on the internet (e.g., File Converter Pro, Driver Maps, CrypSearch). Generally, these apps promote fake search engine addresses and collect data.

Browser hijackers are commonly advertised as useful apps, which supposedly deliver various features, improve the browsing experience, etc., however, few PUAs operate as promised and simply cause problems. Remove Convert Your File Now and other PUAs from the browser and computer immediately.

How did Convert Your File Now install on my computer?

In most cases, people download and install browser hijackers, and other PUAs, when they click deceptive ads or download and install programs that have PUAs included into the set-ups as "additional offers". When clicked, deceptive ads can cause unwanted downloads and installations when they execute certain scripts.

PUAs are often downloaded and installed when people download and install programs without checking and changing the settings ("Custom", "Advanced") included in the set-ups - this allows PUAs to be downloaded and installed together with the required programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

It is important to download software from official, trustworthy sources (websites). Do not to use third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites or other similar channels/tools. Also avoid third party installers. These download/installation channels are used to distribute unwanted, potentially malicious apps.

Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings of the download/installation setup and dismiss offers to download or install unwanted software. Do not click intrusive ads that appear on dubious web pages, since they can redirect to other, potentially malicious websites. In some cases, they can run scripts to download and install unwanted applications.

Remove any unwanted apps (extensions, add-ons, plug-ins) installed on the browser immediately. Also remove software of this kind that is installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Convert Your File Now, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Convert Your File Now browser hijacker installation setup:

Website promoting Convert Your File Now browser hijacker:

IMPORTANT NOTE! This and search.convertyourfiletab.com sites ask permission 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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Quick menu:

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

Convert Your File Now 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, "Convert Your File Now"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Convert Your File Now 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://search.convertyourfiletab.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 "Convert Your File Now".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.convertyourfiletab.com 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 "Convert Your File Now" 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, disable "Convert Your File Now", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.convertyourfiletab.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 "search.convertyourfiletab.com", 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 search.convertyourfiletab.com 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 "Convert Your File Now", 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 "Convert Your File Now", remove hxxp://search.convertyourfiletab.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search.convertyourfiletab.com 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 search.convertyourfiletab.com 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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