why does your new download have a hijacked browser "converters now"? how do i get rid of it?
a few days ago, I got a message "firefox is installing updates and will start shortly". since then, my computer has been a mess. I went back to reinstall FF, and it gave me "converters now", which won't let me enter any URL. why is this on your download page? I went into my programs to try to remove it, and it's not showing up with that name. My FF doesn't work right either - when i open it, the "restore session" option is missing. I've tried to reinstall FF twice and can't fix it. My virus and malware programs can't find anything wrong. thanks for any hep.
All Replies (5)
hello, this sounds like a problem possibly caused by adware on your pc - nothing that would be conatined in any genuine firefox update.
- please go to the firefox menu ≡ > addons > extensions & remove any suspicious entries (toolbars, things that you have not installed intentionally, don't know what purpose they serve, etc).
- also go to the windows control panel / programs and remove all toolbars or potentially unwanted software from there.
- finally, run a full scan of your system with different security tools like the free version of malwarebytes & adwcleaner, which are specialised in adware and browser hijackers.
Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page
Just because you see it installed in Firefox does not mean it indeed came with Firefox.
No Firefox versions for Windows, Mac OSX 10.9+, or Linux from www.mozilla.org or www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ or internal updates comes with this ConvertersNow 8.405.12.17447 ([email protected]) you appear to have listed in your More Systems Details on right of post.
Thank you, Philipp. I followed your instructions and seem to be ok now. James, this occurred when I got a message that Firefox was updating and would start soon. This thing was within the message. I didn't download anything on my own. I must have been scammed, but i don't know how they did it. Thanks to both of you for helping me.
rachelpeine said
James, this occurred when I got a message that Firefox was updating and would start soon. This thing was within the message. I didn't download anything on my own. I must have been scammed, but i don't know how they did it.
Mozilla never installed this extension in a Firefox install or update as Mozilla is not in the habit of including browser hijackers in any way. ConvertersNow is a application developed by Mindspark Interactive Network.
Something like this can come with software you downloaded from a download site particularly ones like cnet aka download .com as they have been known to add extras to otherwise clean software.
Also if it were true that ConvertersNow came with a Firefox install or update from Mozilla then it would be a hot topic and this thread and /questions/1203042 would not be the only threads on this forum about ConvertersNow.
There is also a Fake manual Firefox update page (image of example below) that pops up for some users in last while that installs a extension (if the user fell for it and clicked Install Now), usually with FF at start of name. The official abbreviation for Firefox is Fx so Mozilla would not be referring to update with FF in name.
Modified by James
James, thanks for the info about the fake page. i do still have one problem left from whatever went wrong here - i still can't get the start page that says "restore my session" - i just get a blank screen. i have to go to the menu to choose "restore my session". any ideas? thanks so much!