Remove Search by Video Converterz from your browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Search by Video Converterz?
Search by Video Converterz is a rogue application promoted as a free tool for converting online media. It is supposedly capable of converting various video and audio formats. In fact, Search by Video Converterz operates as a browser hijacker and makes unauthorized changes to browsers and promotes a fake search engine (feed.videoconverterz.com).
This app also possesses data tracking capabilities, which it employs to record users' browsing activity. Due to its dubious distribution methods, Search by Video Converterz is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and other popular browsers are common targets for browser hijackers. After successful infiltration, these apps assign their fake web search addresses as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URL.
With Search by Video Converterz installed, each new tab/window opened and each search made via the URL bar redirects to feed.videoconverterz.com. Typically, fake search engines are unable to generate unique results, and thus redirect (or cause redirection chains ending with) a legitimate search engine.
Note that feed.videoconverterz.com is no exception: it redirects to search.yahoo.com. While these modifications may seem minor and relatively easy to undo, this is not the case. Any changes users attempt to make are reset, if indeed access to the settings is allowed at all.
The browser hijacker must be removed to recover the afflicted browser. Most applications of this type have data tracking capabilities, including Search by Video Converterz. By monitoring browsing habits (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.), it collects users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations, and other details).
This sensitive data is then passed on to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), seeking to generate revenue by misusing it. In summary, the presence of data tracking content/software on systems can lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss, and even identity theft.
To protect devices from infiltration and infection, and ensure user safety, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.
Name | Search by Video Converterz. |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Browser Extension(s) | Search by Video Converterz. |
Supposed Functionality | Video search. |
Promoted URL | feed.videoconverterz.com |
Serving IP Address (feed.videoconverterz.com) | 13.84.45.249 |
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. |
Nearly all browser hijackers share common traits, and those released by the same developers can even be identical. My Obituares App, UP Tab, and PDF Converter HD Search are just some examples of apps similar to Search by Video Converterz. In fact, all PUAs have similarities.
They often seem legitimate and tempt users to install by offering "useful" and features. These features are rarely operational, or at least do not work as advertised. The only purpose of unwanted software/content is to generate revenue for the developers. Regular users receive no value.
Rather than delivering any useful functionality, PUAs hijack browsers, cause redirects to untrustworthy and malicious sites, run intrusive advertisement campaigns (pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, etc.), and collect private data.
How did Search by Video Converterz install on my computer?
Some PUAs, such as Search by Video Converterz, have "official" download web pages on which they are often promoted as "useful" and "free" software. These applications can also be installed with other programs. The deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted content is called "bundling".
Rushed download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps, using pre-set options, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled or deceptive software onto devices. Intrusive advertisements can also proliferate PUAs. Once clicked, they execute scripts designed to make rogue downloads/installs of PUAs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to research all software and content to verify its legitimacy, before downloading/installing. Only official and verified sources should be used. P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), free file-hosting websites, third party downloaders and similar channels are untrusted.
Do not use them. Untrusted download sources are far more likely to offer unwanted/malicious software or bundled programs. Download/Installation processes should be approached with caution. Read the terms, study possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting-out of downloading/installing additional apps, tools, features, etc.
Intrusive ads usually seem legitimate and innocuous, however they often redirect to various dubious sites (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling, and others). If you experience advertisements/redirects of this type, inspect the device and immediately remove all suspect applications and/or browser extensions.
If your computer is already infected with Search by Video Converterz, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Search by Video Converterz browser hijacker asking for various permissions:
A website promoting the Search by Video Converterz browser hijacker:
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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Quick menu:
- What is Search by Video Converterz?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Search by Video Converterz application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove feed.videoconverterz.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Search by Video Converterz browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove feed.videoconverterz.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove feed.videoconverterz.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search by Video Converterz 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, "Search by Video Converterz"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the feed.videoconverterz.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Search by Video Converterz 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.videoconverterz.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 by Video Converterz".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the feed.videoconverterz.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 "Search by Video Converterz" 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 "Search by Video Converterz", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.feed.videoconverterz.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.videoconverterz.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 feed.videoconverterz.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 "Search by Video Converterz", 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 "Search by Video Converterz", remove hxxp://feed.videoconverterz.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: "videoconverterz"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with feed.videoconverterz.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 feed.videoconverterz.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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