“ProSearchConverter” Removal Guide (Easy How-To Instructions)

What is ProSearchConverter Browser Hijacker?

The ProSearchConverter is not to be trusted and should not be part of your system. The domain portal.prosearchconverter.com presents a hoax search engine that and it is used as a potentially undesired program. Files associated with this redirect can alter main browsing preferences without informing you with any notifications. This browser hijacker belongs to the category and users might find the associated extension to be installed on many browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, IE, MS Edge or even Safari. The unexpected occurrence of this issue is relevant to the app’s deceptive distribution technique known as software bundling. Users thought that ProSearchConverter as a legit software that is why it is easy to access the computer. The ProSearchConverter often harnesses other software to steal and misuse data and information of the host.

If the ProSearchConverter is installed purposely or nor, it became visible to the homepage and the new tab address is exchanged with the portal.prosearchconverter.com, and a customized search engine is applied. When attempting to browse the web through it, users will immediately notice that their searches are redirected to search.yahoo.com.

If you think of many browser hijackers, yes, the ProSearchConverter belongs to an already established and broad browser hijacker family. You might be familiar with IncognitoSearchNet, VideoSearchNet, or HDMusicStreamSearch. These names have similar functionality but they all differ in the name of extension as it changes from version to version.

NAME	ProSearchConverter
TYPE	Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program
IP ADDRESS	172.67.172.175
DISTRIBUTION	Software bundles, deceptive ads, fake update prompts
SYMPTOMS	The symptoms of browser hijacking are not always apparent, although in this case, users would see that their homepage and a new tab is changed to portal.prosearchconverter.com and that their searches lead them to Yahoo. Search results are typically filled with sponsored links
RISKS	The presence of a browser hijacker does not necessarily means imminent danger, although those infected can be more prone to seeing an increased number of ads and promotional campaigns that offer potentially useless software. Privacy risks are also a concern since the app collects various information about users
REMOVAL	You can get rid of the browser extension easily by accessing the web browser’s settings. In case an app is installed on the system, it needs to be uninstalled with the help of the instructions provided below
OPTIONAL STEPS	Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings. To revert these changes and remediate the OS, perform a full system scan with iolo System Mechanic repair software

In terms and capabilities, the program developers have a framework that they apply in different appearances to and to rebrand them as new apps ready to be used. This is to prevent malware detection. Talking about the similarities between the applications, they all change the homepage and new tab address to correlate with their names. In all, they use Yahoo as the main search provider, and insert ads into users’ searches. The app includes the following functions that can be reached by clicking an appropriate link within the new homepage:

• PDF converter
• Calculator
• Currency Converter
• Crypto Converter

When using these features, you can access them without getting your browser hijacked. The only way to get rid of this is to remove ProSearchConverter from the web browser.

Reason Why Removing the ProSearch Converter is Essential

The ProSearchConverter removal is a good reason because of the information tracking practices. Based on the privacy policy provided by the hijacker on the main page:

The Non-Personal Information which is being collected may include technical information automatically transmitted by the user’s device (for example, type of browser, the type of the user’s device and technical information pertaining to the user’s device, language preferences, time stamps, clicks and visited pages, search logs, the operating system, utilized internet service provider and other similar information.

In case you have found a hijacker on your system, most likely that there are potentially unwanted programs or PUPs installed as well. With that said, the removal process is needed. To do so, follow the manual removal guidelines written in the rest of this article. In case you do not want to do the manual removal, you can scan your system with iolo System Mechanic.

Ways to Prevent Yourself from Falling Victim to PUPs

As mentioned, PUPs are mainly distributed through software bundling which can be downloaded from third-party websites. Examples are fine print text, misleading button placements or checkboxes to hide optional components that are inside. This way, users will tend to skip the essential steps, Recommended/Quick settings are offered as the best option to install a program. Instead of quick settings, use Advanced/Custom mode. Never skip steps – take your time with the process.

Remove the ProSearchConverter from Windows

1. Go to Control Panel
2. Choose the Programs under the options in menu
3. Access the list of installed software
4. Wait for the uninstallation process to be completed
5. Uninstall software and click ok to save the changes

Delete the ProSearchConverter from Mac OS X System

1. Go to Menu then Applications
2. In the App folder, Find the LoveSportsSearch Entries
3. Click and drag the application to Trash

Remove ProSearchConverter entirely on the system by accessing the Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files.

Launch the Folders in Mac:

1. In the Finder, Go to Folder
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter
3. Under the Application Support folder, look for entries related to ProSearchConverter
4. Delete entries

ProSearchConverter Removal From Popular Internet Browsers

• Remove it from Internet Explorer
• Remove it from Microsoft Edge
• Remove it from Chromium-Edge
• Remove it from Google Chrome
• Remove it from Mozilla Firefox
• Remove it from Safari

Uninstallation of ProSearchConverter from Internet Explorer

1. Go to the Menu icon in Internet Explorer
2. Select Manage Add-ons
3. Here, determine the malicious plugins
4. Select the entries associated with ProSearchConverter
5. Choose disable

To change your homepage in case of changes made before:

1. Go again to the menu icon for Internet Explorer
2. Select Internet Options

1. Select the General tab among the options
2. See the homepage section to replace it with your preferred URL
3. Click Apply and then select OK

To Remove Temporary Files:

1. Press the Gear icon again on the Internet Explorer
2. Select Internet Options
3. In the browsing history, choose delete
4. Select the items that you want to remove
5. Press delete

To reset Internet Explorer

1. Click the Gear icon
2. Go to Internet Options
3. Select Advanced tab
4. Click Reset
5. Check Delete personal settings then select Reset

To Remove ProSearchConverter from Microsoft Edge

1. Go to the Menu or the three dots in the right corner of the browser
2. Select Extensions
3. Pick the entries of ads that are related to ProSearchConverter
4. Click on Uninstall

To Clear Browsing History and Data:

1. Click the Menu
2. Pick the Privacy and Security
3. When you are in the clear browsing data section
4. Select what entries to clear
5. Click Clear

Reset Microsoft Edge

1. Go to the Task Manager
2. Select the More Details option
3. Locate each entry for the Microsoft Edge
4. Click End Task
5. This will reset your Microsoft Edge

In case of a solution failure, apply the advanced reset settings. Before proceeding with this method, keep in mind to back up data.

1. Locate the folder in your computer that contains: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe
2. Select all folders
3. When all folders are selected, right click the mouse
4. Click Delete

1. After doing the steps above, right click on the Start Button
2. Open Windows PowerShell as administrator
3. In a new window, enter the script below beside C:/WINDOWS/system32>

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose

Remove it From Chromium-based Edge

Remove the Extensions from MS Edge Chromium:

1. Open Edge and click select Settings then go to Extensions
2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove

Clear cache and site data

1. Click on Menu
2. Go to Settings
3. Select Privacy and services
4. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear
5. Under Time range, pick All time
6. Select Clear now

To Reset Chromium-based Microsoft Edge

1. Go to Menu
2. Then Select Settings
3. On the left side, Go to Reset Settings
4. Then Go to Restore settings to their default values
5. Confirm by clicking again the Reset

Remove the ProSearchConverter from Mozilla Firefox

Delete extensions

1. Go to the Firefox Menu
2. Select Add-ons
3. Find plugins related to the virus
4. Click Remove

To bring back your homepage

1. Click on the Menu placed at the top right corner
2. Go to Options then select General
3. Delete malicious URL and type in the preferred website or click Restore to Default
4. Click OK to save the changes you have recently applied

Reset Mozilla Firefox

1. Go to Firefox browser Menu
2. Select Help
3. Choose Troubleshooting Information
4. Click Refresh Firefox
5. Select the confirmation to Refresh the Firefox

Remove ProSearchConverter from Google Chrome

Hijackers use this platform to find their prey. Now, remove them by following these steps:

1. Go to the Menu on Google Chrome
2. Click More Tools
3. Select Extensions
4. In a new window, pick malicious extensions on the list
5. Move now to the uninstallation by clicking Remove

Set your Chrome to a Preferred Homepage

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Search Engines
3. Go to open a new page
4. Select add a new page
5. Type the preferred URL

Reset Google Chrome

When the above steps did not work, opt for a Chrome reset

1. Go to Chrome Settings
2. Scroll down and choose Reset Browser settings
3. Click Reset and confirm the action to complete removal of ProSearchConverter

Remove ProSearchConverter from Safari

1. On the Safari Browser, go to Safari on the upper tab
2. Select Preferences
3. In a new Window, select Extensions
4. Select unwanted extensions related to the virus

To set your homepage back to default or your preferred URL

1. Open Safari then go to the Menu section
2. Select Preferences
3. Go to the General tab
4. On the Homepage, change URL

To Reset Safari

1. Go to the Safari Browser then on the menu section, click Safari
2. Choose Reset Safari
3. Then a set of dialog window filled with options, you have to check all of them before clicking Reset again to confirm reset process

Keep your files secure online, do not let people spy on your moves online

It does not matter where you use your device, what matters is that you’re at risk of a data breach. Unencrypted data is very vulnerable, as is any info that comes through your browser that isn’t secure. Wireless connections, especially public access points, are particularly vulnerable to hijackers

What a VPN does is that a VPN encrypts, or scrambles, data so that a hacker cannot tell what a person is doing online. With Nord VPN, you can protect your information from prying eyes and regain a measure of privacy online.

Last Word and Advice

Every day, a file is as important as breakfast. Saving your data is not enough because it is best to have proper up-to-date backups, so that you can easily recover after incident of files used as hostage or when lost due to procedures or program reset. That’s why we always recommend backing up your data to cloud storage or external HDD.