How to Remove FileConvertOnline Toolbar

Can’t Remove FileConvertOnline hijacker virus? This page includes detailed FileConvertOnline Removal instructions!

The FileConvertOnline toolbar (by MyWay) is a malicious extension. It’s brought to you by a nasty browser hijacker. What you have to do is get rid of the hijacker ASAP. Remember, these infections are full of bad surprises and expose you to various threats. In addition, hijackers are especially invasive. Take measures on the spot and uninstall the virus for good. As soon as the virus invades your PC, it starts making modifications. Not a single one of these changes has anything to do with your consent. Unfortunately, you can’t expect from malware to take care of your preferences. That is not why infections get developed. The hijacker has some quite prosaic purposes. It injects your browsers with sponsored web links to help hackers gain profit online. As you probably know already, the pay-per-click mechanism allows crooks to make money at your expense. All they need to do is take control over your browsers. That’s where the hijacker comes in super effective. This program replaces both your search engine and default homepage with its domain. Hence, you’re stuck with the hijacker. Every single time you attempt to surf the Internet, you have to deal with a virus. It goes without saying that the results this program generates are questionable. There is no reason for you to believe the web links displayed by the virus are harmless. As mentioned, you’re only seeing sponsored, specific links. When clicking any of them, hackers gain profit. Wave your online experience goodbye because the virus takes over all your browsers. It also drops the FileConvertOnline toolbar. Don’t be shocked when you realize you’re bombarded with commercials as well. The infection is actively trying to generate web traffic. To do so, it injects your once reliable browsers with sponsored links. You also get redirected on a daily basis and you may land on random websites. To top it all, the parasite lies to your face. Its plugin was originally supposed to convert file formats and be beneficial for you. However, helping you out was the last thing hackers cared for. They are solely attempting to trick you into clicking the sponsored links open. The problem is, clicking not only helps hackers gain profit. It also jeopardizes your safety because some of the pop-ups and search results could be fake. To find out whether a certain link is safe or not, you have to click it. Unless you’re willing to test out the limits of your luck, avoid anything generated by the parasite. This nuisance might also serve as a back door to malware. Its presence slows down your PC speed so you can’t even use your own computer.

How did I get infected with?

Hackers usually rely on secretive methods to distribute malware online. In other words, the hijacker didn’t need your permission. How do such parasites manage to get downloaded without your help? Easy. The most commonly used technique at the moment involves freeware/shareware bundles. If you tend to often install unverified bundles, watch out for potential intruders. You have to deselect any bonus infection you may spot in the bundle. To do that, though, you have to be paying attention. Opting for the Custom option in the Setup Wizard will allow you to be in charge of the installation process. If you’re not the one in charge, it could be hackers. Take your time so you don’t have to tackle infections later on. Removing parasites is indeed more time-consuming and problematic than protecting your PC. Do yourself a favor and be cautious. Only download programs you trust, especially if they are bundled. Note that rushing gives you no information about the software you’re giving green light to. Instead of skipping important steps, watch out for viruses.

Why is this dangerous?

Your default browser settings get modified and your PC underperforms. The infection stubbornly generates sponsored, utterly worthless web links. It redirects you and might also steal some of your browsing-related details. Do you see why keeping this program on board is ill-advised?  The FileConvertOnline toolbar has nothing but trouble to offer. To regain control over your infected browsers, uninstall the hijacker. This pest harasses you till the very moment you take measures. Make sure you avoid all commercials, search results and other pop-ups you might come across. The parasite could generate some bogus program updates as well. It’s able to spy on your browsing history and email-addresses, usernames, passwords. Deleting the infection will protect your privacy as well as safety. Please follow our detailed manual removal guide down below.

How to Remove FileConvertOnline virus

The FileConvertOnline infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the FileConvertOnline infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down FileConvertOnline related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate FileConvertOnline startup location

STEP 3: Delete FileConvertOnline traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down FileConvertOnline related processes in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate FileConvertOnline startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean FileConvertOnline virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean FileConvertOnline traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the FileConvertOnline by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by FileConvertOnline

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for FileConvertOnline, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove FileConvertOnline argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove FileConvertOnline Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.