How to Get Rid of Search.yourvidconverter.com (Browser Hijacker/PUP)

What is Search.yourvidconverter.com? And how does it work?

Search.yourvidconverter.com is a bogus search engine that claims to help users in converting video formats quickly. On a first glance, this program might seem useful as it displays local weather updates, and provides shortcuts to other websites that also offer video conversion services. However, looks can really be deceiving as security experts consider this search engine as a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program that aims to hijack a victim’s browser settings such as the default search engine and homepage.
After the Search.yourvidconverter.com hijacks your computer, it changes the browser settings to make hxxp://search.yourvidconverter.com/ appear on the startup. You might find such changes insignificant but know that it could highly impact your internet browsing. Once it is able to control the browser, it will start to monitor your browsing-related activities so it can gather your information. While most information it gathers is considered to be non-personally identifiable, Polarity Technologies LTD. – the developer of this browser hijacker – warns users about the following in its Privacy Policy:
“BY USING THE SERVICES, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO GRANT POLARITY PERMISSION TO COLLECT YOUR URLS AND SEARCH DATA, INCLUDING SEARCH QUERIES THAT MAY CONTAIN PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION, SHARE THEM WITH THIRD PARTIES AND USE SEARCH-RELATED COOKIES.”
Its Privacy Policy should be enough to repulse you from installing this program as it clearly shows how it can jeopardize your privacy and security by sharing your personal information with third party sites affiliated with Search.yourvidconverter.com. Aside from that, some of the contents it displays can lead you to malware-laden websites that could seriously harm your computer.
How does Search.yourvidconverter.com spread online?
Search.yourvidconverter.com spreads as an extra program in a software bundle along with other free programs. These sub-components in a package are usually hidden under the Custom or Advanced setting so if you don’t select this setting when you install the software bundle, you will end up installing all the programs in the bundle, unwanted programs included.
Refer to the removal guide below to get rid of Search.yourvidconverter.com from your PC.
Step1. Close all the browsers infected with Search.yourvidconverter.com. If you’re having a hard time closing them, you can close them using the Task Manager just tap on Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Step2. After you open the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the infected browser’s process and end it.
Step3. Reset all your browsers back to default to their default state.
Internet Explorer

Open Internet Explorer.
Tap Alt + T and select Internet options.
Click the General tab and then overwrite the URL under the homepage section.
Click OK to save the changes.
Now switch to the Advanced tab and click the Reset button.
Then check the box for “Delete personal settings” and then click Reset again.

Google Chrome

Launch Google Chrome, press Alt + F, move to More tools, and click Extensions.
Look for Search.hyourweatherinfonow.com or any other unwanted add-ons, click the Recycle Bin button, and choose Remove.
Restart Google Chrome, then tap Alt + F, and select Settings.
Navigate to the On Startup section at the bottom.
Click on Advanced.
After that, click the Reset button to reset Google Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox

Open the browser and tap Ctrl + Shift + A to access the Add-ons Manager.
In the Extensions menu Remove the unwanted extension.
Restart the browser and tap keys Alt + T.
Select Options and then move to the General menu.
Overwrite the URL in the Home Page section.
Tap Alt + H to access Help.
Next, select “Troubleshooting information” and click “Refresh Firefox” at the top of the page.
Now click “Refresh Firefox” again to confirm the reset.

Step4. Open Control Panel by pressing the Windows key + R, then type in appwiz.cpl and then click OK or press Enter.

Step5. Look for any suspicious program that is affiliated with Search.yourvidconverter.com and then Uninstall it.

Step6. Hold down Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
Step7. Navigate to the following directories and look for suspicious files associated to Search.yourvidconverter.com and delete it/them.

%USERPROFILE%\Downloads
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
%TEMP%

Step8. Close the File Explorer.
Step9. Empty your Recycle Bin.
To make sure that nothing is amiss and that Search.yourvidconverter.com is completely removed from your computer, follow the advanced steps below.
Perform a full system scan using SpyRemover Pro. To do so, follow these steps:

Turn on your computer. If it’s already on, you have to reboot
After that, the BIOS screen will be displayed, but if Windows pops up instead, reboot your computer and try again. Once you’re on the BIOS screen, repeat pressing F8, by doing so the Advanced Option shows up.

To navigate the Advanced Option use the arrow keys and select Safe Mode with Networking then hit
Windows will now load the SafeMode with Networking.
Press and hold both R key and Windows key.

If done correctly, the Windows Run Box will show up.
Type in explorer http://www.fixmypcfree.com/install/spyremoverpro

A single space must be in between explorer and http. Click OK.

A dialogue box will be displayed by Internet Explorer. Click Run to begin downloading the program. The installation will start automatically once a download is done.