X2convert Virus

X2convert

X2convert is a browser application that can attach itself to common web browsing programs such as Chrome, Firefox Edge and Opera. After it gets installed to the targeted browser, X2convert starts to flood it with different web advertisements and unexpected page-redirects.

X2convert
The X2convert virus will interfere with your web browser and display unwanted messages.

More often than not, the presence of X2convert on your OS may lead to automatic redirects to apparently random websites that you have no intentions to visit. These sites may be filled with more aggressive ads, attractive offers and promotional links and may use various tricks to make you click or visit specific revenue-generating content.

Unfortunately, your efforts to remove the ads and the browser changes may be fruitless unless you fully uninstall the browser hijacker from your system. This task, however, may often be quite challenging for inexperienced users since the creators of the browser hijacker typically don’t give clear and easily accessible options to uninstall their software from the system.  Therefore, users who end up with an app like X2convert would manually need to check through all the hijacker-related components and uninstall them one by one. The concern here is that the hijacker will reinstall itself to your machine and bombard you with intrusive advertising again, in case you skip a file.

Therefore, if you are not experienced with dealing with browser hijackers, it is best to use a detailed removal guide or a professional removal tool. On this page, you can find a guide with all the instructions that you may need and trusted software that can help you get rid of X2convert once and for all, so you don’t really need to seek anymore.

The X2convert Virus

The X2convert Virus switches some of the basic features of the hijacked browser, ( such as the homepage and the default search engine), with some sponsored ones. The changes caused by the X2convert Virus are usually intended to facilitate the display of more promotional materials in the forms of banners, pop-up ads, page-redirect links and on-screen notifications on every web page that you visit.

The presence of a browser hijacker in your device is not fatal for the health of your computer but is presumably quite irritating. And that is understandable considering the fact that you are not able to use your web browser normally without being interrupted by hundreds of sponsored pop-up ads, banners and notifications during your web browsing session.

In our everyday lives, however, a quick and safe web browser that is fully under your control is a necessity. And with that in mind, an app like X2convert is not only a source of nagging advertisements but also a software that can make unwanted changes to your browser that are not of your control and may potentially lead to security issues.

For one, you can never be sure about the reliability of the newly installed search engine, toolbars, buttons and other third-party components that the hijacker may integrate with your default browsing app. There are plenty of poorly developed browser add-ons which can easily be compromised by viruses, Trojans, Ransomware and other malware. Not to mention that the auto-redirects initiated by this software may also expose you to insecure web locations where different viruses may lurk.  Thus, it is a smart decision to get rid of and reduce the chances of being exposed to some advanced malware or potentially malicious browser components.

SUMMARY:

NameX2convert
TypeBrowser Hijacker
Danger LevelMedium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk)
SymptomsIt is hard to ignore the aggressive pop-up ads and the browser changes that a Browser Hijacker may impose.
Distribution MethodThe free file-bundling method is a common method that developers of Browser Hijackers use to distribute their software.
Detection Tool

X2convert Virus Removal

To try and remove X2convert quickly you can try this:

  1. Go to your browser’s settings and select More Tools (or Add-ons, depending on your browser).
  2. Then click on the Extensions tab.
  3. Look for the X2convert extension (as well as any other unfamiliar ones).
  4. Remove X2convert by clicking on the Trash Bin icon next to its name.
  5. Confirm and get rid of X2convert and any other suspicious items.

If this does not work as described please follow our more detailed X2convert removal guide below.

If you have a Windows virus, continue with the guide below.

If you have a Mac virus, please use our How to remove Ads on Mac guide.

If you have an Android virus, please use our Android Malware Removal guide.

If you have an iPhone virus, please use our iPhone Virus Removal guide


Step1

Some of the steps will likely require you to exit the page. Bookmark it for later reference.

Reboot in Safe Mode (use this guide if you don’t know how to do it).

Step2

WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC at the same time and go to the Processes Tab (the “Details” Tab on Win 8 and 10). Try to determine which processes are dangerous.

malware-start-taskbar

Right click on each of them and select Open File Location. Then scan the files with our free online virus scanner:

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    After you open their folder, end the processes that are infected, then delete their folders.

    Note: If you are sure something is part of the infection – delete it, even if the scanner doesn’t flag it. No anti-virus program can detect all infections.

    Step3

    Hold together the Start Key and R. Type appwiz.cpl –> OK.

    appwiz

    You are now in the Control Panel. Look for suspicious entries. Uninstall it/them.

    Type msconfig in the search field and hit enter. A window will pop-up:

    msconfig_opt

    Startup —> Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer or otherwise look suspicious.

    Step4

    Hold the Start Key and R copy + paste the following and click OK:

    notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts

    A new file will open. If you are hacked, there will be a bunch of other IPs connected to you at the bottom. Look at the image below:

    hosts_opt (1)

    If there are suspicious IPs below “Localhost” – write to us in the comments.

    Open the start menu and search for Network Connections (On Windows 10 you just write it after clicking the Windows button), press enter.

    1. Right-click on the Network Adapter you are using —> Properties —> Internet Protocol Version 4 (ICP/IP), click Properties.
    2. The DNS line should be set to Obtain DNS server automatically. If it is not, set it yourself.
    3. Click on Advanced —> the DNS tab. Remove everything here (if there is something) —> OK.
    DNS

    Step5
    • After you complete this step, the threat will be gone from your browsers. Finish the next step as well or it may reappear on a system reboot.

    Right click on the browser’s shortcut —> Properties.

    NOTE: We are showing Google Chrome, but you can do this for Firefox and IE (or Edge).

    browser-hijacker-taskbar-properties

    Properties —–> Shortcut. In Target, remove everything after .exe.

    Browser Hijacker Removal Instructions

    ie9-10_512x512 Remove X2convert from Internet Explorer:

    Open IE, click IE GEAR —–> Manage Add-ons.

    pic 3

    Find the threat —> Disable. Go to IE GEAR —–> Internet Options —> change the URL to whatever you use (if hijacked) —> Apply.

    firefox-512 Remove X2convert from Firefox:

    Open Firefox, click mozilla menu ——-> Add-ons —-> Extensions.

    pic 6

    Find the adware/malware —> Remove.
    chrome-logo-transparent-backgroundRemove X2convert from Chrome:

    Close Chrome. Navigate to:

    C:/Users/!!!!USER NAME!!!!/AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data. There is a Folder called “Default” inside:

    Rename the Folder to Backup Default

    Rename it to Backup Default. Restart Chrome.

    Step6

    Type Regedit in the windows search field and press Enter.

    Inside, press CTRL and F together and type the threat’s Name. Right click and delete any entries you find with a similar name. If they don’t show up this way, go manually to these directories and delete/uninstall them:

    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—–Random Directory. It could be any one of them – ask us if you can’t discern which ones are malicious.
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—-Windows—CurrentVersion—Run– Random
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—Internet Explorer—-Main—- Random

    If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!


    About the author

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    Lidia Howler

    Lidia is a web content creator with years of experience in the cyber-security sector. She helps readers with articles on malware removal and online security. Her strive for simplicity and well-researched information provides users with easy-to-follow It-related tips and step-by-step tutorials.

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