What Is FileConvertor Search Mac
FileConvertor Search is an ad-supported application for Mac. These apps exist solely to make a profit to their developers and their main objective is to redirect you to websites that are often unverified by official ad providers. Such sites could sometimes turn out to be risky and should be removed from your Mac. Read this article to understand more about how FileConvertor Search functions, and how you can get rid of it from your browsers and your macOS permanently.
FileConvertor Search Summary
| Name | FileConvertor Search |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / PUP |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your computer. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Device Has Been Affected by FileConvertor Search
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss FileConvertor Search. |
FileConvertor Search – More Information
FileConvertor Search is yet another alleged hoax search engine that may be set on your new tab, default search and home pages. This is done by the unwanted software behind it. The same behavior can be seen with other suspicious Mac apps, related to adware, like SearchWebMesh, Fireseerch.com and ShinySearch.
These apps may all get in your Mac because of software bundling or their install files getting included in the setups of other apps. It is difficult to spot them because they are often added to other software setups, like “free extra” and the install prompt to disable them is in the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation modes.
FileConvertor Search could be the reason that you may begin seeing tons of ads in different forms, for example:
- Pop-ups on your browser.
- Push notification content.
- Redirections.
- Ads on your search results.
- Text link ads.
- Banners.
These ads could contain different objects, called trackers dropped on your Mac. They often turn out to be:
- Cookies.
- LSOs (Locally Shared Objects, also known as flash cookies).
- Tags.
- Pixels.
- Geo-location trackers.
The main outcome of seeing these trackers appearing is that different information could be snooped from your online browsing behavior. This is done so that the FileConvertor Search software could show you ads based on your behavior and hence profit from you having to click on them. The information that may be obtained as a result of this could be:
- Bookmarks.
- Your search history.
- Last Pages you visited.
- Where you click with your mouse.
- Your browsing history.
But these trackers are nothing compared to where the ads shown by this pesky software could lead you to. They could end up redirecting you to several suspicious websites, for example:
- Fake websites made for phishing.
- Download of rogue and scammy software.
- Endless redirect via long URLs.
- Survey fraud.
- Scammer web oages.
- Virus URL.
- Fake Tech Support.
This is the primary reason why you should consider removing FileConvertor Search from your computer system completely.
Is FileConvertor Search a Virus?
By definition, FileConvertor Search does not belong to the category of computer viruses. A computer virus is the type of program that replicates itself upon execution by modifying other programs and inserting its own code. Once the replication happens, the affected areas become “infected” with the computer virus. FileConvertor Search does not have these properties. However, the program’s behavior fits the description of adware and potentially unwanted programs. Despite not being a real computer virus, FileConvertor Search is threatening to your online security and should be removed from your Mac.
Remove FileConvertor Search from Your Mac
In case you are all in for removing FileConvertor Search from your Mac and are seeking how, the removal instructions below should be able to help you in this. They are specifically oriented to help in uninstalling this software from both your web browsers and your macOS. For the removal with the greatest effectiveness, cyber-security professionals do advise scanning your device using anti-malware for Mac. It has been created with the main purpose to help you delete this nasty software from your Mac.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
Steps to Prepare Before Removal:
Before starting to follow the steps below, be advised that you should first do the following preparations:
- Backup your files in case the worst happens.
- Make sure to have a device with these instructions on standy.
- Arm yourself with patience.
- 1. Scan for Mac Malware
- 2. Uninstall Risky Apps
- 3. Clean Your Browsers
Step 1: Scan for and remove FileConvertor Search files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as FileConvertor Search, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Quick and Easy Mac Malware Video Removal Guide
Bonus Step: How to Make Your Mac Run Faster?
Mac machines maintain probably the fastest operating system out there. Still, Macs do become slow and sluggish sometimes. The video guide below examines all of the possible problems that may lead to your Mac being slower than usual as well as all of the steps that can help you to speed up your Mac.
Step 2: Uninstall FileConvertor Search and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to FileConvertor Search:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to FileConvertor Search. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to FileConvertor Search. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any leftover files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove FileConvertor Search via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1. Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2. Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3. Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as FileConvertor Search. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3: Remove FileConvertor Search – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
FileConvertor Search-FAQ
What is FileConvertor Search on your Mac?
The FileConvertor Search threat is probably a potentially unwanted app. There is also a chance it could be related to Mac malware. If so, such apps tend to slow your Mac down significantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
Can Macs Get Viruses?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get malware. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that almost all of the Apple devices can become infected with a threat.
What Types of Mac Threats Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the types of threats that can currently infect your Mac can be rogue antivirus programs, adware or hijackers (PUPs), Trojan horses, ransomware and crypto-miner malware.
What To Do If I Have a Mac Virus, Like FileConvertor Search?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One recommended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you.
There are many Mac anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter for Mac is one of the reccomended Mac anti-malware apps, that can scan for free and detect any viruses. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to Secure My Data from FileConvertor Search?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and Apple devices will become significantly more safe against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our MacOS Virus section, where you can also ask any questions and comment about your Mac problems.
About the FileConvertor Search Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this FileConvertor Search how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific macOS issue.
How did we conduct the research on FileConvertor Search?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of Mac threats, especially adware and potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).
Furthermore, the research behind the FileConvertor Search threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.