How to remove SocialSearchConverter browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The SocialSearchConverter search hijacker is an example of a common unwanted program; such programs are spread massively these days. On this page you will see the precise directions of “SocialSearchConverter” hijacker removal in several tactics: making use of anti-malware programs and also manual removal procedure.
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Removing SocialSearchConverter manually may take hours and may damage your PC in the process. I recommend you to download GridinSoft Anti-Malware for threats removal. Allows to complete scan and cure your PC during the trial period.
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SocialSearchConverter – What is it?

“SocialSearchConverter” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some special info, for instance, about sport events, make your browser far more secure, enable downloading of any type of video, et cetera.

Nonetheless, the “SocialSearchConverter” plugin is rather ineffective due to the fact that all such features are already embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even expert users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is spread along with free software.

SocialSearchConverter hijacker - Socialsearchconverter.com

SocialSearchConverter Search Hijacker

Here is a short details for the SocialSearchConverter hijacker
SiteSocialsearchconverter.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address172.67.154.247
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
San Francisco, United States
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorDelta, Topincognitosearch, Big
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is SocialSearchConverter hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, SocialSearchConverter hijacker is also quite hazardous for web browser use. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Socialsearchconverter.com, and likewise modifies your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned sign).

Besides aesthetic changes done by SocialSearchConverter hijacker, you can see that a number of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unknown websites, filled with web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can contain links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you try to start Google search page forcibly.

However all these actions are a lot more irritating than truly destructive. The most significant danger, especially for people who have a huge amount of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in information collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and other activities are easily gathered by SocialSearchConverter hijacker.

How to remove SocialSearchConverter search hijacker?

  • Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
  • Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
  • “Move to quarantine” all items.
  • Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
  • Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
  • Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are generally pretty simple to delete. Usually, they have a separate app that can be located in the list of installed applications. As a result of the certain marketing method of SocialSearchConverter hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and deleted by hand. Nonetheless, if you got SocialSearchConverter in the bundle with a free applications, your PC might be infected with a lot more major malwaretrojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you use anti-malware tools to remove the SocialSearchConverter PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, significant malware, that may be present on your computer in the discussed instance, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To prevent such situations, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all unwanted applications on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malware, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can spectate the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible hazard during the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious apps, you need to wait until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To set the action for each detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing SocialSearchConverter hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

To reset Edge, do the following steps :
  1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
  2. Reseting the Edge browser

  3. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
  1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
  2. The first step to revert Mozilla Firefox

  3. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
  4. The second step of Firefox restoration
    After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
    The last step for Firefox

If you use Google Chrome
  1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
  2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
  3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
  1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
  2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

I need your help to share this guide.

Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur Woodham
How to Remove SocialSearchConverter?

Name: SocialSearchConverter

Description: SocialSearchConverter - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove SocialSearchConverter?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with SocialSearchConverter (Socialsearchconverter.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Browser Hijacker

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References

  1. More information about PUAs
  2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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