How to remove TopSearchConverter application?

TopSearchConverter browser hijacker removal instructions

What is TopSearchConverter?

Browser hijackers are potentially unwanted applications that alter the behavior of the browsers, usually by changing some of their settings. Typically, the two main purposes of the apps of this type are to promote some fake search engine (its address) and collect browsing data. The TopSearchConverter browser hijacker promotes the topsearchconverter.com address. It is worthwhile to mention that apps of this type are called PUAs because users often download and install them unintentionally.

Typically, browser hijackers force users to visit the address (or multiple addresses) that they have no intention to visit by changing browser settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab. They change those settings to make a browser to open a specific address after users enter search queries into the URL bar, open a browser (or new window), or new tab. As mentioned in the above paragraph, TopSearchConverter promotes the topsearchconverter.com address. Depending on the geolocation of its visitors/users, topsearchconverter.com redirects them either to searchlee.com or search.yahoo.com. It shows results generated by another shady search engine or by Yahoo. It is important to know that fake search engines can be used to trick their users into visiting dubious pages by generating misleading results, displaying deceptive advertisements. Most browser hijackers are designed to prevent users from undoing their changes. Instructions on how to remove topsearchconverter.com from the settings of a hijacked browser are provided below.

It is known that TopSearchConverter can read browsing history. Although, it is possible that it can access other details like IP addresses, geolocations, or even sensitive information such as login credentials, passwords. Browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted applications that collect details should never be installed on browsers or computers. There is always a chance that their developers may use collected data for marketing purposes, sell it to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or monetize it in another way, which could cause users problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, or other issues.

Threat Summary:

Name	TopSearchConverter
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	TopSearchConverter
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience
Promoted URL	topsearchconverter.com
Serving IP Address (topsearchconverter.com)	172.67.153.23
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 Malwarebytes. ▼ Download Malwarebytes To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

To summarize, browser hijackers are useless applications (they are useful to their developers only) that make users to visit certain pages and collect information relating to their Internet browsing activities, or even more personal details. In most cases, all the changes that were made by apps of this type can be undone only after their uninstallation. More examples of apps that are browser hijackers too are DigitalIncognitoSearch, IncognitoSearchTech and My Smartlink.

How did TopSearchConverter install on my computer?

It is common that PUAs are bundled with various free software (also known as freeware). More precisely, potentially unwanted applications often are offered in downloaders, installers for other programs. Users can always decline unwanted offers/opt out bundled applications before completing downloads, installations. They can do it by changing settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual", by unticking checkboxes. When users forget to check those settings or they do not notice them, they download and install PUAs alongside programs that they wanted to download, install. In some cases, users download, install unwanted apps by clicking deceptive advertisements. Although, only if users click on ads that are designed to execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advisable not to download or install any applications using untrustworthy sources, tools like third-party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks like torrent clients, eMule, unofficial web pages, etc. It is recommended to downloaded apps and files from official pages and via direct download links. Another way to avoid unwanted downloads, installations is to opt out unwanted offers that downloaders, installers often contain. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, it can be done using their settings like "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual", or checkboxes. Also, it is advisable to avoid clicking on advertisements if when they appear on unreliable, shady pages. Those ads can be used to promote potentially malicious pages, cause unwanted downloads, installations. Lastly, a browser should not have any unwanted extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed on it, the operating system should not have any programs of this kind installed on it too. If your computer is already infected with TopSearchConverter, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Topsearchconverter.com redirects to searchlee.com (GIF):

Topsearchconverter.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):

Notification saying that TopSearchConverter can read and change certain data:

 

Website promoting TopSearchConverter browser hijacker:

Another website promoting TopSearchConverter browser hijacker:

Third website promoting TopSearchConverter 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

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Malwarebytes is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:

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

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

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the topsearchconverter.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

TopSearchConverter 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 "TopSearchConverter" 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 "TopSearchConverter", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.topsearchconverter.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 "topsearchconverter.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 topsearchconverter.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 "TopSearchConverter", 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 "TopSearchConverter", remove hxxp://topsearchconverter.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 topsearchconverter.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 topsearchconverter.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://topsearchconverter.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 "TopSearchConverter".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the topsearchconverter.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.

Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove topsearchconverter.com redirect from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

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