What is Video Converterz?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Video Converterz is a search hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" manipulate your browser(s), for example to change your startpage or searchscopes, so that the affected browser visits their site or one of their choice.
This particular one is a search hijacker and uses a web push notifications service that is blocked by Malwarebytes for fraud.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Video Converterz?
You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:

and these warnings during install:



You will see this icon in your Chrome menu-bar:

and these changed settings:


How did Video Converterz get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:

after a redirect from their website:

How do I remove Video Converterz?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes removes Video Converterz completely.
- If you have allowed the notifications you can read here how to disable them.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the Video Converterz hijacker. It would have blocked their notifications service, giving you a chance to stop before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxps://feed.videoconverterz.com/?q={searchTerms}&publisher=videoconverterz&barcodeid=551050000000000 CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> VideoConverterz CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxps://api.videoconverterz.com/suggest/get?q={searchTerms} CHR Extension: (VideoConverterz) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc [2019-06-24]Alterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0 Adds the file closer.js"="8/7/2018 11:31 AM, 15 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="6/24/2019 8:41 AM, 2327 bytes, A Adds the file popup.html"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 1163 bytes, A Adds the file tab.html"="8/7/2018 11:31 AM, 165 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="6/24/2019 8:41 AM, 2561 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 2947 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images Adds the file how-1.png"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 2862 bytes, A Adds the file how-2.png"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 3247 bytes, A Adds the file logo-small.png"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 1577 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\icons Adds the file 128x128.png"="6/24/2019 8:41 AM, 5263 bytes, A Adds the file 16x16.png"="6/24/2019 8:41 AM, 815 bytes, A Adds the file 64x64.png"="6/24/2019 8:41 AM, 3194 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\scripts Adds the file background.js"="4/16/2019 10:40 AM, 31445 bytes, A Adds the file jquery-3.3.1.min.js"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 86927 bytes, A Adds the file popup.js"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 596 bytes, A Adds the file sitecontent.js"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 77 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\styles Adds the file popup.css"="4/15/2019 10:48 AM, 1270 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\_crx_cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc Adds the file Video Converterz.ico"="6/24/2019 8:41 AM, 178487 bytes, A Adds the file Video Converterz.ico.md5"="6/24/2019 8:41 AM, 16 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc"="REG_SZ", "5057F526C32F5005AE628DE09472E9BF9C23C10F038839718682382436868359"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 6/24/19 Scan Time: 9:06 AM Log File: 88abe368-964e-11e9-bf9d-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.7.1.2839 Components Version: 1.0.586 Update Package Version: 1.0.11214 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 236289 Threats Detected: 29 Threats Quarantined: 29 Time Elapsed: 6 min, 57 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 0 (No malicious items detected) Module: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Key: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Value: 1 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 7 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\icons, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\scripts, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\styles, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CNELJAJJFKDDGNFJCAIHDCJNHIKIEOGC, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 File: 21 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\CNELJAJJFKDDGNFJCAIHDCJNHIKIEOGC\1.0.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\icons\128x128.png, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\icons\16x16.png, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\icons\64x64.png, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\how-1.png, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\how-2.png, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\images\logo-small.png, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\scripts\background.js, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\scripts\jquery-3.3.1.min.js, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\scripts\popup.js, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\scripts\sitecontent.js, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\styles\popup.css, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\closer.js, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\popup.html, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\cneljajjfkddgnfjcaihdcjnhikieogc\1.0.0_0\tab.html, Quarantined, [413], [680329],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [413], [680332],1.0.11214 PUP.Optional.VideoConverterz, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [413], [680332],1.0.11214 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention