Stop getting redirected to search.hgreatfileconverter.com
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
Great File Converter browser hijacker removal instructions
What is Great File Converter?
Great File Converter is a rogue application, advertised as a free tool capable of providing quick access to file conversion websites, accompanied by a "sponsored web search update". It is allegedly able to covert formats like PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC, XLS, PPT, XPS and others. Instead, Great File Converter makes unauthorized changes to browsers in order to promote search.hgreatfileconverter.com - a fake search engine. Therefore, this app is categorized as a browser hijacker. Furthermore, it spies on users' browsing activity and gathers their private data. Due to Great File Converter dubious proliferation methods, it is also considered to be a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application).
Typically, browser hijackers target Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and other popular browsers. Following successful infiltration, these apps change browsers' homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of their fraudulent web searchers. With pavadiniams2 installed, these settings are changed to search.hgreatfileconverter.com. Which means that every new tab/window opened and every search query typed into the URL bar - redirect to search.hgreatfileconverter.com. Few fake search engines can actually generate search results, so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Google, Yahoo, Bing or other genuine ones. This is true for search.hgreatfileconverter.com as well, it redirects to search.yahoo.com. While these changes may seem minor and relatively easy to undo, without removal of the browser hijacker - it is impossible. Any changes users attempt to make can be automatically reset, if access to the browsers' settings is not limited/denied outright. As mentioned, Great File Converter has data tracking abilities. This is common not only for browser hijackers but to PUAs in general. They can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) and collect users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and real-life personal details). This vulnerable data can then be shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), intent on misusing it for profit. In summary, unwanted applications can cause a variety of browser/system infiltrations and infections, also lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user safety, it is important to remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.
| Name | Great File Converter |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potenti), Emsisoft (Gen:Variant.Ser.Ursu.17195 (B)), Fortinet (Riskware/WinWrapper), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Great File Converter |
| Supposed Functionality | It supposedly provides quick access to various file conversion sites and improves web searches. |
| Promoted URL | search.hgreatfileconverter.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.hgreatfileconverter.com) | 34.206.238.123 |
| 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. |
| Removal |
To eliminate search.hgreatfileconverter.com redirect our malware researchers recommend scanning your computer with Spyhunter. |
Watch Movies Live, MapsMyWayFree, Recall Alerts, QuickTemplateFinder are a few examples of other browser hijackers. Regardless of specific abilities or supposed functions, all PUAs share certain similarities. They are designed to look legitimate and tempt users into installation with offers of "useful" features and improved experiences. However, the promised functions are rarely operational and even if they do work - then not as advertised. The only purpose of all unwanted content is to generate revenue for its developers; to users it has no genuine value. PUAs force-open untrustworthy and malicious sites, hijack browsers, run intrusive ad campaigns and track sensitive data.
How did Great File Converter install on my computer?
Great File Converter has an "official" promotional page, from which it can be downloaded for "free". However, PUAs can be inadvertently downloaded/installed alongside other programs as well. This false marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted content is called "bundling". By rushing through download and installation processes (e.g. by ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.) - users can unintentionally allow bundled applications onto their devices. When clicked, intrusive advertisements can execute scripts to download/install PUAs, without user consent.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Users should research content to verify its legitimacy, prior to downloading/installing it. It is recommended to use official and verified download channels. Free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.) and other third party downloaders are considered to be untrustworthy, therefore they are advised against use. When downloading/installing, user are encouraged to read terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out form additional apps, tools, features and so on. Intrusive adverts often appear ordinary and innocuous, however they redirect to highly questionable webpages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.). In case of encounters with such advertisements/redirects, it is strongly advised to inspect the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Great File Converter, we recommend running a scan with Spyhunter for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Great File Converter browser hijacker installer set-up:
Website promoting Great File Converter browser hijacker:
Instant automatic removal of search.hgreatfileconverter.com redirect:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Spyhunter is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of search.hgreatfileconverter.com redirect. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Spyhunter
By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Free scanner checks if your computer is infected. To remove malware, you have to purchase the full version of Spyhunter.
Quick menu:
- What is Great File Converter?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Great File Converter application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hgreatfileconverter.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Great File Converter browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hgreatfileconverter.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hgreatfileconverter.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Great File Converter browser hijacker removal:
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.
Windows XP users:
Click Start, choose Settings and click Control Panel. Locate and click Add or Remove Programs.
Windows 10 and Windows 8 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.
Mac 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, "Great File Converter"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the search.hgreatfileconverter.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Great File Converter 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.hgreatfileconverter.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 "Great File Converter".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.hgreatfileconverter.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 "Great File Converter" 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 look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hgreatfileconverter.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.hgreatfileconverter.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.hgreatfileconverter.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 "Great File Converter", 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 "Great File Converter", remove hxxp://search.hgreatfileconverter.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: "hgreatfileconverter"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.hgreatfileconverter.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 add-ons from Microsoft Edge:
Click the three horizontal dots icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, right click your mouse on these entries and click "Uninstall".
Change your homepage:
Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings", in the opened tab, click the "+ Add new page" link, after entering your preferred URL, remove the link of browser hijackers by clicking the "X" button next to the associated URL.
Change your default search engine:
Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". Click the "View advanced settings" button and select "Change search engine". In the opened tab, select your preferred Internet search engine and click "Set as default".
Optional method:
Click the three horizontal dots icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), and select Settings.
In the opened tab, click the "Choose what to clear" button.
Click Show more and select everything, and then click the "Clear" 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.
Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove search.hgreatfileconverter.com redirect from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.
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Outstanding!