GetSearchConverter ads: what it is and how to remove it
GetSearchConverter is a browser hijacker developed to collect non-personal data and display deceptive ads in search results. It can do that by altering specific browser preferences, such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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GetSearchConverter ads: summary
| Distribution | Software bundles, freeware, fake Flash Player updates |
|---|---|
| Damage | Privacy issues, installation of other PUPs, possible malware infections via deceptive ads |
| name | GetSearchConverter |
| type | Redirect virus, browser hijacker, PUP |
| promoted fake search site | feed.getsearchconverter.com |
| IP address | 104.27.143.76 |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 11 more facts
| Altered browser settings | Homepage, new tab, default search engine |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Slower performance and internet connection, all searches going through a new search engine, sudden redirects to unknown sites, ads shown in search results |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Name | GetSearchConverter |
| Type | Ad redirect domain |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | feed.getsearchconverter.com |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 5 March 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is GetSearchConverter ads dangerous?
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
GetSearchConverter – a browser-based infection that will greatly impede your browsing experience
GetSearchConverter is a browser hijacker developed to collect non-personal data and display deceptive ads in search results.
It can do that by altering specific browser preferences, such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. That allows it to redirect all search inquiries through an engine of its choice.
In this case, it's feed.getsearchconverter.com. That's an address of a fake search engine. When users type something in the search bar, it will open a new tab with modified results from (depending on your geolocation and device) Yahoo, Searchlee, Bing, or other providers.
Due to its shady functions and stealthy distribution techniques, GetSearchConverter virus is categorized as a potentially unwanted program. These types of apps could endanger both your safety and privacy.
GetSearchConverter browser hijacker can cause you a lot of problems. When it changes the aforementioned settings, you might see search results from untrustworthy sources. And those results will be riddled with deceptive ads. These ads could redirect you to sites with explicit, hazardous content, such as:
You might be forced to visit these sites without even clicking on the ads because of GetSearchConverter redirect. Shady portals might try to steal your private information, involve you in scams, show explicit content, download malware instantly through the drive-by downloading method, etc.
Furthermore, this potentially unwanted program can record your browsing habits, including search inquiries, used apps, device/browser details, geolocations, IP address, etc. This is considered non-personal information, , but it could be misused for malicious purposes if it well into the wrong hands.
Therefore, you should remove GetSearchConverter ASAP. The best way to do it is by entrusting this task to dependable anti-malware software. It will automatically detect the browser hijacker with all its components and safely get rid of it. Use free security apps like or to achieve the best results.
Once GetSearchConverter removal is done, you need to clean up your device from tracking cookies and recover any damage your system files and settings sustained. Cybersecurity specialists recommend using the all-in-one app to fix all these issues.
- push notification viruses,
- other PUP software,
- scam sites,
- porn,
- gambling, and so on.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on GetSearchConverter
- All computer infections should be dealt with swiftly by using reliable anti-malware software
- Fix any broken system files and delete any tracking cookies by using the versatile system tune-up tool
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
feed.getsearchconverter.com
How to remove GetSearchConverter ads
How to stop the GetSearchConverter redirects
Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.
Step 1: Check the browser's extensions
A browser that keeps landing on
feed.getsearchconverter.comby itself usually has an add-on doing it. Open the extension list (chrome://extensions, edge://extensions, or Extensions and themes in the Firefox menu) and remove anything you do not remember installing.Coupon, PDF, new tab, search and video downloader add-ons are the usual suspects. Do this in every browser on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue
When
feed.getsearchconverter.comkeeps opening after the extensions are cleaned, reset the browser to its defaults. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; Edge: Settings > Reset settings; Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.A reset keeps bookmarks and saved passwords but clears site permissions, the start page and the search engine.
If every browser still redirects afterwards, the cause is a program in Windows 11 or Windows 10: check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for anything you did not install.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
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.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
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.
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.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Prevent PUPs installations by staying away from third-party software vendors
A conducted research has revealed that 31 out of 50 of the top downloads on one of the most popular software vendors on the internet had PUPs hidden within them.
That reiterates the point that all programs should be downloaded directly from their developers or official distributors.
Third-party software vendors get paid for distributing shady software, such as adware, browser hijackers, and other PUPs. The method, when a pack contains more than one installer, is called software bundling. And the trick behind this is that all apps withing are preselected for installation.
Thus if you badly need some app from a bundle, you need to be cautious. You have to pick the Advanced or Custom installation mode and go step-by-step, deselecting each and every app that raises at least a bit of suspicion. Better yet, deselect all apps and install only the one you wanted in the first place.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Simple instructions to quickly remove GetSearchConverter virus
Apart from slowing down your PC, changing browser settings, GetSearchConverter ads and redirects might pose real dangers.
Since potentially unwanted programs advertise other similar shady software, your device might soon be overrun with various junkware.
Whether you installed it willingly or were tricked into doing it, GetSearchConverter removal should be done immediately. To do that automatically, you will need to use trustworthy anti-malware tools with updated virus databases.
You will need to reset your browsers to remove Yourlandsecurity.com from them. Below this paragraph, you'll find our free instructions for every possible browser. Please don't forget to clean up tracking cookies and perform system diagnostics with compatible software to fix any system issues.
Questions about GetSearchConverter ads
How do I stop feed.getsearchconverter.com from opening?
Find and remove whatever opens it. Start with the browser's extensions page and remove anything you do not remember adding. Next, open the notification settings and take away permission from sites you do not recognise.
Then check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for programs added around the day the redirects began, and uninstall those. Restart the browser and test a few links after each step.
If feed.getsearchconverter.com still appears, reset the browser, which restores the default search engine, start page and permissions without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords. Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program in Windows, and a full scan is the next step.
Should I worry about redirects to feed.getsearchconverter.com?
Worry less about feed.getsearchconverter.com itself and more about what keeps sending you there. A single redirect from a free streaming or download site is normal and harmless once the tab is closed.
Repeated redirects on sites that used to work fine mean something in the browser or in Windows changed, often an extension or program installed alongside other software. It may also collect the pages you visit. Remove the cause with the steps in this guide, and do not act on anything the redirected pages ask:
- no Allow clicks
- no downloads
- no calls
If you already did one of those, the matching section of this guide explains what to do next.
What is GetSearchConverter?
GetSearchConverter is an ad redirect domain, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.
GetSearchConverter does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.
Why does feed.getsearchconverter.com keep showing up?
There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from feed.getsearchconverter.com, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.
If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if feed.getsearchconverter.com never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.
Which browsers does GetSearchConverter affect?
In the cases we checked, GetSearchConverter showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.
Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.
Are the pop-ups I see really from GetSearchConverter?
Compare them with the details in the table above. GetSearchConverter produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to feed.getsearchconverter.com. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.
If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.
Did GetSearchConverter collect my data?
Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:
- the sites you visit
- search terms
- approximate location
- browser and system details
Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.
If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?
Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.
Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.
Will Fortect remove GetSearchConverter?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For GetSearchConverter, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Non-personal data (read October 6, 2026)
- Emisoft: 62% of the Top 50 Download.com applications bundle toolbars and other PUPs (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)