Elite Video Converter is a rogue video converter for Mac with adware features
Elite Video Converter – an application designed for Mac operating systems and is categorized as adware because it typically gets installed with the help of InstallCore– a HTML-based rogue installer. The application is promoted as a video converter that is compatible with macOS, iOS, iPad, Apple TV, and other devices. According to its developers, the app is capable of converting to up to 180 video formats with outstanding quality. While many users might find Elite Video Converter a great addition to their software list, it is a potentially unwanted application that disturbs users' online activities by displaying numerous intrusive ads and records information such as device location, technical details, browsing habits, and similar.
| Name | Elite Video Converter |
|---|---|
| Type | Rogue tool |
| Category | Adware/Potentially unwanted application |
| Promoted as | Video file converter |
| Affects | Mac OS supporting devices |
| Distribution | Official site, software bundles |
| Symptoms | Delivers intrusive ads, redirects to dubious sites |
| Elimination | Uninstall this rogue tool from your computer and use FortectIntego for virus damage repair |
People often call this tool Elite Video Converter virus because of the intrusive activity like sponsored content delivery to Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and other browsers. Additionally, adware[1] and similar PUPs raise questions about the data tracking. It typically collects:
- visited URLs;
- IP address;
- geo-location;
- search queries;
- commonly viewed sites and searched deals, sales, discounts.
Privacy Policy on the official Elite Video Converter website indicates this information can be collected and later shared with third-party advertisers with the purpose of creating the targeted advertisement. This way, the publisher generates revenue[2] from click made.
Elite Video Converter website states the following:
The Software may include advertisements that will be displayed to you (“Third Party Ads”), and are provided by third parties. These Third Party Ad providers may collect information about your online activities through the Software and across other Web sites or online services over time in order to make their advertising more relevant. Any use by you of Third Party Ads is subject to their respective terms and conditions, which will be available as part of the Third Party Ads. You acknowledge that we have no control over, and assume no responsibility for any Third Party Ads. We may share certain information with the providers of Third Party Ads. This information may include your IP address, MAC address, certain technical data, whether you clicked on a Third-Party Ad or took other steps in relation to the Third-Party Ad. We share this information in order to provide you with Third-Party Ads that are relevant to you.
Elite Video Converter removal should be performed immediately after you notice unwanted activity regarding this tool. It is crucial for the safety of your device. A full system scan using anti-malware software can detect and delete this infection.
It is believed that Mac devices, in general, are safe from malware, which is just a misconception. In addition, PUPs are especially common on Mac operating systems. In order to prevent suspicious applications from entering your computer, use a reputable anti-virus engine that includes the real-time scanning feature.
You should remove Elite Video Converter to stop unwanted redirects to malware-ridden or phishing websites. On the other hand, some rerouting destinations might lead to trusted sites, such as Amazon. Nevertheless, it is best to enter the website you desire without redirection from external sources.
Researchers[3] warn that Elite Video Converter is coming from an adware family and as other silent intruders it can install additional programs and change the settings of your browser. After a proper malware termination, scan your system with FortectIntego to see if there is any leftover files or virus damage that need fixing.
PUPs infiltrate the system without your consent
There is an opportunity to install the fake video converter tool or a similar PUP from their official website but the most common method used for infecting devices is software bundling technique. This method has been actively used by freeware providers and PUP developers because that's how they get an opportunity to infiltrate systems unnoticed. They just pack products together to ensure the installation of the app.
If you choose questionable sites as a source for your downloads or use p2p networks when downloading software, you may be at risk of getting additional programs on your computer. Beware that these components can be seen only if you monitor installation of the freeware. For that, make sure you always opt for Advanced or Custom installation mode. This method allows you to get a chance to de-select unwanted programs from the list and prevent their installation.
Delete Elite Video Converter from your computer and get back to the safe browsing
To remove Elite Video Converter completely and prevent unwanted redirects on your computer, you need to employ your trustworthy antivirus program or get an alternative tool for malware elimination. Based on potentially unwanted program functionality and silent infiltration, a full system scan is recommended. In this case, you can use programs that we presented below to see if there is anything malicious on your computer system.
After successful Elite Video Converter removal, we also recommend resetting web browsers to their primary state. Usually, this procedure helps people preventing the reappearance of PUPs. Your default search engine and bookmarks should not be touched.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
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