SearchConverterz: what it is and how to remove it
SearchConverterz is the name of a free browser-based app that can be downloaded from a Chrome web store as a "useful" Chrome extension. However, once downloaded it alters web browser's settings, registers user's search queries, takes over search traffic, and initiates other advertising activities.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
Not sure what changed your search to portal.searchconverterz.com? An automatic scan checks extensions, programs and browser settings in one pass.
Do it yourself · free Remove SearchConverterz yourself 5 steps, about 15 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
SearchConverterz: summary
| Distribution | It can be downloaded directly from the Chrome Web Store. However, most people downloaded it accidentally via freeware bundles or misleading click-to-download ads |
|---|---|
| Name | SearchConverterz |
| Type | Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP), browser hijacker |
| Promoted as | Useful extension for Chrome |
| Search site promoted | portal.searchconverterz.com, feed.searchconverterz.com, search.yahoo.com |
| Symptoms | Chrome's settings altered without authorization. Start page, search provider, new tab window, and other settings changed. Search results contain sponsored links, multiple ads injected into random websites. Web browser runs slower, randomly freezes |
| 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 7 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | portal.searchconverterz.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 31 July 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What SearchConverterz changes in your browser
Any use by you of Third Party Content is subject to the terms and conditions of the Service Provider or the applicable third party. You acknowledge that we have no control over and assume no responsibility for Third Party Content. You assume all responsibility and risk in connection with your use of Third Party Content and we hereby disclaim any and all liability to you or any third party in connection thereto. We have no obligation to examine, review or monitor Third Party Content and are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, appropriateness or legality of Third Party Content.
Is SearchConverterz dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
SearchConverterz - a browser hijacker that can alter and manage web browser's settings without user's permission
SearchConverterz is the name of a free browser-based app that can be downloaded from a Chrome web store as a "useful" Chrome extension.
However, once downloaded it alters web browser's settings, registers user's search queries, takes over search traffic, and initiates other advertising activities.
Its sole purpose is to generate income for the developers regardless of the users' needs. For this purpose, it is actively distributed via misleading push notification pop-ups and freeware bundles. Therefore, the SearchConverterz virus has been attributed to the group of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and browser hijackers.
It is not possible not to notice the SearchConverterz hijack or see many other inturders that look and act the same as ConvertrzSearch.
If it infiltrates the machine as an optional download of freeware, it sets portal.searchconverterz.com or feed.searchconverterz.com as a default start page and sends user's search queries to Yahoo (sponsored version). The extension is Chrome-based, though some people reported that they have accidentally installed this hijacker on Mozilla Firefox and Safari browsers.
Those who have been considering to install this app should rather make a small research on it before doing that. Based on the NoVirus.uk research, SearchConverterz is identical to ConvertrzSearch, CoverterzSearch. It works the same as other applications based on hijacking the browser like SearchZone, Sealoid, Spinyon, and many other Chrome extensions. Each of them is basically used to push sponsored search site and hijack the web traffic.
Although it cannot affect the system severely, the processes that it initiates a considered potentially dangerous. First of all, users should not underestimate the fact that the SearchConverterz extension collaborates with unspecified third-parties to serve users with sponsored advertisements and redirect them to the domains that belong to those parties.
Such a marketing technique is not illicit in its nature and is applied by many developers. Nevertheless, no one takes the responsibility of the SearchConverterz redirects and cannot grant that the content behind its ads and links is reliable.
It has been noticed that this browser hijacker displays Yahoo-based search results. Nevertheless, the search.yahoo.com search seems to be sponsored. No matter what search query the user enters the search bar, the feed.searchconverterz.com related search displays irrelevant banner ads on the right side of the search results.
Besides, random websites contain hyperlinks within texts. It is not recommended to click on any of them to prevent landing on malware-infected phishing websites and get another intruder like ConvertrzSearch. As stated in the EULA of the extension:
Thus, if you click on any content represented by this extension and experience SearchConverterz virus redirects to dangerous websites, it will be your own responsibility. Thus, be responsible and rely on reputable search providers that filter the content that they display and ensure online security.
Experts recommend people remove SearchConverterz extension to prevent privacy violations. The extension injects tracking cookies to the web browser and keeps recording the following information:
Along with the SearchConverterz removal, you will eliminate the cookies that harvest your browsing history. Although such information is not extremely sensitive, third-parties can misuse it for marketing purposes and the ads that emerge on your web browser may be more seductive.
In general, this application causes more problems than benefits. Its real service is not clear at all, so if you have accidentally installed it, eliminate the malware, then root out the extension, and restore your web browser's settings.
You may need to find all the changes that ConvertrzSearch and other PUPs, injected on the system may cause. So rely on tools like that can indicate file corruption and affected programs or functions.
We have prepared a comprehensive step-by-step tutorial explaining how to deal with browser hijackers. Anti-malware tools still are the best for these PUP infections.
- type of browser
- type of the user's device
- language preferences
- time stamps
- clicks
- visited pages
- Search logs
- operating system
- utilized internet service provider
- IP address
- Contact information
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Browser hijackers usually do not ask users permission to change browser's settings explicitly
This PUP can be downloaded from Chrome web store purposely believing that Chrome's extension will improve the web browsing experience.
However, direct downloads of suchlike apps are not very common. In most of the cases, people install them accidentally by hitting the Next button during freeware installation.
Browser hijackers increase their users' rates with the help of bundling distribution. The installer of a hijacker is added to the main installer of a free application (converters, players, web browsers, games, etc.) in exchange for a commission fee. Additional installers are usually disclosed on the installation setup boxes; however, only if the user opts for the Advanced or Custom installation technique.
Thus, to prevent bundled installers, carefully select freeware to install and monitor the installation process. Read all terms, conditions, and Privacy Policy. Most importantly, do not skip any windows to spot additional installers and unmark the checkboxes saying that you agree with the installation of add-ons or extensions that settle down on web browsers and alter settings.
From our report of Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SearchConverterz
- In order to get rid of the SearchConverterz browser hijacker scan the system with a robust anti-malware program to delete unwanted programs altogether.
- Those who prefer manual PUP removal can use a free guide submitted by our security team (at the end of the article)
- Browser hijackers are non-malicious if we compare them to spyware, ransomware, or Trojans.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
portal.searchconverterz.com
How to remove SearchConverterz
How to remove SearchConverterz and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
SearchConverterz often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete portal.searchconverterz.com
Searches that pass through
portal.searchconverterz.commean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on portal.searchconverterz.com.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of SearchConverterz. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
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
If you determined to remove SearchConverterz virus manually, follow these steps in the right sequence:
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
Google Chrome is the main target for the SearchConverterz hijacker. To get rid of it completely, you should ensure that all potentially unwanted programs have been removed from the machine. After that, delete the extension and reset web browser's settings.
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.
Delete from macOS
SearchConverterz extension for Chrome can settle down on macOS successfully. To delete it from the system, follow this tutorial:
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.
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 Jul 2020 · not reviewed since
Eliminate SearchConverterz virus with a reliable AV tool completely
SearchConverterz removal can be accomplished in two ways, i.e. either manually or automatically.
Both methods are fully functional. However, malware elimination with a reliable AV tool is highly recommended in order to ensure the full elimination of suspicious applications.
If this extension has been installed on your machine without your permission, there's a high risk that your PC is heavily infected by PUPs. Thus, a full scan will do the trick and help you to perform the automatic ConvertrzSearch removal. Besides, experts stress the importance of a proper system's maintenance.
Malware is capable of altering Windows Registries and leaving related files in a random system's location. These unwanted entries may eventually cache the system and trigger malfunctions. So right after you remove SearchConverterz, check for issues with the system performance.
Questions about SearchConverterz
How do I change my search engine back from portal.searchconverterz.com?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove portal.searchconverterz.com from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put portal.searchconverterz.com back.
Is portal.searchconverterz.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. portal.searchconverterz.com is a search page that an extension or program set as your default without a clear choice from you.
It does not destroy files or spread to other PCs, but it takes control of your searches, collects them and shows ads, and the software behind it is often bundled with other unwanted programs.
Many antivirus products flag such software as potentially unwanted. Removing the extension or program and resetting the search engine is enough in most cases. A full scan afterwards checks for anything else that came with it.
Why do my searches go to portal.searchconverterz.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. SearchConverterz did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to portal.searchconverterz.com.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with portal.searchconverterz.com?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove SearchConverterz and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does SearchConverterz affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does portal.searchconverterz.com know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing SearchConverterz, delete the cookies and site data for portal.searchconverterz.com so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows portal.searchconverterz.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove SearchConverterz and search directly.
Will resetting the browser remove SearchConverterz?
A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.
It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so SearchConverterz can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
Will Fortect remove SearchConverterz?
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 SearchConverterz, 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
- ZDnet: Google removes 500+ malicious Chrome extensions from the Web Store (read October 6, 2026)
- HowTo Geek: Yes, Every Freeware Download Site is Serving Crapware (Here's the Proof) (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)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)