How to remove the ConverterSearchBox unwanted application?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ConverterSearchBox?
The main reason why applications like ConverterSearchBox are categorized as browser hijackers is that they modify browser settings to promote questionable websites (usually, the addresses of fake search engines).
This particular app changes browser settings to convertersearchbox.com. It is noteworthy that most users cause downloads, installations of browser hijackers unknowingly.
Therefore, apps of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Another detail about browser hijackers is that they often are designed to gather various data.
Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines (or other shady addresses) by changing settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab. ConverterSearchBox changes these addresses to convertersearchbox.com.
In other words, it is designed to make sure that its users would visit convertersearchbox.com when they open a browser, new tab, and enter search queries into the URL bar, and use this fake search engine to search the web. It is known that convertersearchbox.com shows Yahoo (redirects users to search.yahoo.com) or searchlee.com results.
Therefore, this fake search engine can show results generated by legitimate and questionable search engines. Results provided by fake search engines should not be trusted - their results can include links to malicious pages, unwanted ads.
Typically, users can remove addresses like convertersearchbox.com from the settings only after uninstalling a browser hijacker that promotes it. It is because most browser hijackers restore their settings after attempts to change, undo them.
Another problem with having a browser hijacked by an app like ConverterSearchBox is that it may be designed to gather information related to browsing habits, for example, geolocations, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, IP addresses. However, the bigger issue is that it may be capable of reading personal details as well.
Depending on the gathered data, it could be used to commit identity fraud, steal accounts, or monetized in other ways. Therefore, it is strongly advisable not to have any have apps of this type installed on browsers or computers.
| Name | ConverterSearchBox |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | ConverterSearchBox |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | convertersearchbox.com |
| Serving IP Address (convertersearchbox.com) | 172.67.157.95 |
| 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. |
There are many browser hijackers like ConverterSearchBox. A couple of examples are VIPSportSearch, Note mini, and SuperPDFConverterSearch. Typically, the main variable is the address that they are designed to promote (open on certain occasions).
It is worthwhile to mention that most browser hijackers are advertised as useful, legitimate applications that are supposed to improve the browsing experience (e.g., provide accurate search results).
Nevertheless, most of them have one purpose - to generate revenue for their developers. If an app like ConverterSearchBox is installed on a browser or the operating system, then it should be uninstalled.
How did ConverterSearchBox install on my computer?
In most cases, users download and install browser hijackers and other PUAs unknowingly - when apps of this kind are distributed by bundling them together with other programs. More precisely, those apps are included in downloaders, installers as additional offers, and users do not decline them.
As a rule, offers to download or install bundled applications can be found and declined by unticking certain checkboxes or through "Custom", "Advanced", or other settings. Quite often, users do not know that those settings can be used to opt out bundled apps, or they forget to check and change them.
In some cases, users cause unexpected downloads and installations by clicking on deceptive ads designed to execute certain scripts. As a rule, those ads appear on dubious websites.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is strongly recommended to avoid using third-party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, and other channels to download or install any software, files. Files, programs should be downloaded only from official websites and through direct links.
Furthermore, it is advisable to check downloaders and installers with "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings or checkboxes for additionally included apps. In other words, it is recommended not to finish downloads and installations without declining unwanted offers.
One more important detail is not to trust (click) advertisements on various questionable websites. Those advertisements can be used to advertise shady websites or designed to cause unwanted downloads, installations.
Unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons, plug-ins installed on a web browser, and software of this kind installed on the operating system should be uninstalled. If your computer is already infected with ConverterSearchBox, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Convertersearchbox.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):
Convertersearchbox.com redirects to searchlee.com (GIF):
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Quick menu:
- What is ConverterSearchBox?
- STEP 1. Uninstall ConverterSearchBox application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ConverterSearchBox browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove convertersearchbox.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove convertersearchbox.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
- STEP 6. Remove convertersearchbox.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
ConverterSearchBox 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, "ConverterSearchBox"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the convertersearchbox.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
ConverterSearchBox browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 "ConverterSearchBox" 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 "ConverterSearchBox", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.convertersearchbox.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 "convertersearchbox.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 convertersearchbox.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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "ConverterSearchBox", 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 "ConverterSearchBox", remove hxxp://convertersearchbox.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 convertersearchbox.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 convertersearchbox.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.
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://convertersearchbox.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 "ConverterSearchBox".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convertersearchbox.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.
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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