What is TopSearchConverter?
The cyber threat analysts have determined that TopSearchConverter is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the category of Browser hijackers. Browser hijacker is a kind of software that is developed to change the web browser settings without the knowledge or permission of the computer user, and it usually redirects the affected system’s browser to some advertisement-related websites. A browser hijacker redirects user web searches to its own web-site, changes the default web-browser search engine or home page, installs multiple toolbars on the web-browser, generates multiple pop-up advertisements and initiates numerous popups. If your internet browser has been affected by a browser hijacker you may need to follow manual steps or use a malware removal tool to revert changes made to your internet browsers.
Typically, browser hijackers and PUPs promote specially created websites by setting their address as the start page or search engine of the affected browser. In this case, the TopSearchConverter browser hijacker changes the browser settings to topsearchconverter.com. That is, in other words, this browser hijacker is created for the sole purpose of forcing the user to visit the topsearchconverter.com address when the user opens the startpage or uses the search engine. Therefore, the only way to get rid of a browser redirect to this unwanted website is to completely delete the browser hijacker associated with it. The reason for this is that potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers often block the ability to change browser settings, thus preventing the user from restoring the startpage and search engine. For example, in this case, to get rid of topsearchconverter.com from the address of the homepage and search provider, the user needs to uninstall the TopSearchConverter browser hijacker.
Another reason why you need to remove TopSearchConverter is its online data-tracking activity. It can collect confidential information, including:
- IP addresses;
- URLs visited;
- search queries/terms;
- clicks on links and ads;
- internet browser version information.
How can a browser hijacker get on your PC
Most often, PUPs and browser hijackers gets on your PC system together with the setup packages from file sharing web sites. So, install a free applications is a a good chance that you will find a bundled browser hijacker. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the install, choose the Custom or Advanced setup type. Next, press ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install additional applications. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any software or otherwise you can end up with another unwanted application on your computer such as this hijacker.
Threat Summary
| Name | TopSearchConverter |
| Type | browser hijacker, home page hijacker, search provider hijacker, redirect virus, PUP |
| Associated domains | feed.topsearchconverter.com, get.topsearchconverter.com, install.topsearchconverter.com, portal.topsearchconverter.com |
| Affected Browser Settings | startpage, newtab URL, search provider |
| Distribution | suspicious pop up advertisements, fake software updaters, free applications installers |
| Symptoms | You experience lots of of unwanted pop-up windows. Website links redirect to web-sites different from what you expected. There is an unexpected application in the ‘App & Features’ section of Windows settings. Unwanted browser toolbar(s) Your web-browser settings are being modified without your request. |
| Removal | TopSearchConverter removal guide |
How to remove TopSearchConverter from computer
There are a few ways that can be used to remove TopSearchConverter. But, not all potentially unwanted software like this hijacker can be completely uninstalled utilizing only manual ways. In most cases you are not able to delete any browser hijacker utilizing standard Windows options. In order to remove TopSearchConverter you need complete a few manual steps and run free malware removal tools. Most cyber security specialists states that Zemana Anti-Malware, MalwareBytes Free or HitmanPro utilities are a right choice. These free programs are able to look for and uninstall PUPs and restore your browser settings to defaults.
To remove TopSearchConverter, use the steps below:
- How to manually remove TopSearchConverter
- Automatic Removal of TopSearchConverter
- Use AdBlocker to stop TopSearchConverter redirect and stay safe online
- To sum up
How to manually remove TopSearchConverter
Steps to delete TopSearchConverter without any applications are presented below. Be sure to carry out the step-by-step tutorial completely to fully delete this browser hijacker.
Delete unwanted or newly added apps
First of all, check the list of installed applications on your PC and uninstall all unknown and newly added apps. If you see an unknown application with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malware and you should clean it off first with malicious software removal utility such as Zemana Anti-malware.
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Delete TopSearchConverter hijacker from Internet Explorer
The IE reset is great if your web browser is hijacked or you have unwanted extensions or toolbars on your web browser, that installed by a malware.
First, open the Internet Explorer, then click ‘gear’ icon 
. It will open the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the web-browser, then click the “Internet Options” like below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button as shown on the image below.
After the process is complete, press “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and reboot your personal computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web browser’s home page, new tab page and search engine by default to default state.
Get rid of TopSearchConverter browser hijacker from Firefox
If your Mozilla Firefox web-browser homepage has changed to TopSearchConverter without your permission or an unknown search engine displays results for your search, then it may be time to perform the browser reset. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as displayed in the following example.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button like below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Mozilla Firefox internet browser settings to their default values.
Remove TopSearchConverter from Google Chrome
If you have hijacker, pop-up advertisements problems or Google Chrome is running slow, then reset Chrome can help you. In this instructions we’ll show you the way to reset your Google Chrome settings and data to default state without reinstall.
- First, start the Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the add-on labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
- Next, press “Advanced” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Google Chrome will open the reset settings prompt as on the image above.
- Confirm the browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the blog post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Automatic Removal of TopSearchConverter
The manual guide above is tedious to use and can not always help to get rid of TopSearchConverter hijacker completely. Here I am telling you an automatic solution to delete this browser hijacker from your PC system easily. Zemana, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) and Hitman Pro are anti malware tools that can detect and remove all kinds of malicious software including TopSearchConverter hijacker.
Run Zemana Free to delete TopSearchConverter hijacker
Download Zemana Anti-Malware to remove TopSearchConverter automatically from all of your web-browsers. This is a free software specially created for malware removal. This tool can get rid of adware, browser hijacker from Internet Explorer, MS Edge, Firefox and Google Chrome and Microsoft Windows registry automatically.
Download Zemana on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the link below.
164030 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Once the download is complete, close all apps and windows on your computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup as shown in the figure below.
When the install begins, you will see the “Setup wizard” that will help you setup Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) on your PC.
Once setup is complete, you will see window as displayed on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button . Zemana Free program will scan through the whole PC for the TopSearchConverter hijacker. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your PC. While the Zemana Free application is checking, you may see number of objects it has identified as threat.
When Zemana Free is done scanning your computer, a list of all threats found is produced. Review the report and then click “Next” button.
The Zemana Free will remove TopSearchConverter browser hijacker and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine.
Delete TopSearchConverter hijacker and malicious extensions with HitmanPro
If Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) cannot delete this browser hijacker, then we suggests to run the HitmanPro. The HitmanPro is a free powerful, professional removal utility for malicious software, adware, PUPs, toolbars as well as TopSearchConverter browser hijacker. It completely deletes all traces and remnants of the infection.
Visit the page linked below to download HitmanPro. Save it on your Desktop.
After downloading is complete, open the folder in which you saved it. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the Hitman Pro desktop icon. When the tool is opened, you will see a screen like below.
Further, press “Next” button . HitmanPro tool will start scanning the whole computer to find out TopSearchConverter browser hijacker. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. Once finished, HitmanPro will open a list of all threats found by the scan like below.
Make sure to check mark the items which are unsafe and then click “Next” button. It will show a dialog box, press the “Activate free license” button.
Remove TopSearchConverter browser hijacker with MalwareBytes Free
You can remove TopSearchConverter browser hijacker automatically with a help of MalwareBytes Free. We suggest this free malware removal utility because it may easily remove browser hijacker, adware, potentially unwanted apps and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
- MalwareBytes Anti Malware can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326382 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- After the downloading process is finished, close all applications and windows on your computer. Open a file location. Double-click on the icon that’s named MBsetup.
- Select “Personal computer” option and click Install button. Follow the prompts.
- Once installation is complete, press the “Scan” button to start scanning your computer for the TopSearchConverter browser hijacker. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the utility is checking, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.
- After the scan is finished, MalwareBytes will display a list of found items. Review the report and then press “Quarantine”. After that process is complete, you can be prompted to reboot your computer.
The following video offers a tutorial on how to delete hijackers, adware software and other malware with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware.
Use AdBlocker to stop TopSearchConverter redirect and stay safe online
Enabling an ad-blocker program such as AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, adblocker software will also protect you from harmful advertisements and web-sites, and, of course, block redirection chain to TopSearchConverter and similar web-sites.
Download AdGuard by clicking on the link below. Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as displayed on the image below.
Follow the prompts. When the setup is done, you will see a window as displayed in the following example.
You can press “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop undesired ads, block TopSearchConverter, as well as other malicious or misleading web-pages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.
To sum up
Once you have done the step-by-step instructions outlined above, your computer should be free from TopSearchConverter browser hijacker and other malicious software. The Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, MS Edge and Mozilla Firefox will no longer show the TopSearchConverter web-page on startup. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step guide does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help here.
