Qdownloader virus – Cybe Security Plan

Qdownloader – an online YouTube video downloading service that might infect your computer with malware

Qdownloader is a video conversion website that might cause redirects to malicious websites

Qdownloader virus is a term used by users to describe malicious activity coming from a video downloading website qdownloader.io. Users are promised a service that allows them to convert and download videos from like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other popular websites. The lack of download button next to videos that are posted on these popular sites is what fuels these converting websites, and Qdownloader is just one of the thousands created, each benefiting from ad revenue.

While websites like Qdownloader might seem useful, it is important to know that they are often using unsafe affiliates and advertising networks, which results in frequent pop-ups, redirects, fake updates, and push notification prompts, as well as other unwanted content. At best, these ads can be annoying to deal with, and at worse, they could be the reason why users get infected with a Qdownloader virus, which can range from unwanted ads to such threats like ransomware.

Name	Qdownloader or Online Video Downloader
Type	Redirect virus, adware
Official websites	qdownloader.io, qdownloader.net
Concerns	The service might be used to download copyrighted content such as TV shows, movies, or music Site uses unsafe advertising networks Redirects can lead to malware-laden sites Fake Flash update prompts might make users install malware Encountered scams might result in financial losses
Safety	The safety of video conversion websites is typically low, as deceptive techniques and fake ads might be often used to make users download potentially unwanted programs or malware
Elimination	The removal process of Qdownloader depends on the type of the infection (notifications can be eliminated via web browser settings; PUPs can be uninstalled manually; malware should be terminated with the help of powerful anti-malware program
Virus damage fix	In case you got infected with malware, you should also employ PC repair tools such as Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego to get rid of the infection consequences (computer slowdowns, crashes, BSODs, lag, stuttering, etc.)

Qdownloader is one of many websites that allow users to download videos from YouTube and other sites (for example, Online Video Converter, Mp3hub, Flvto, and many others). However, there is a reason why original websites do not provide download buttons – mainly because of copyright infringement policies. While listening to a music video for free is completely acceptable, downloading it on your phone would be illegal, as music is not generally free – the same goes for TV shows and movies.

As a result, many video converting sites such as the Qdownloader virus started being shut down, as many users download videos they are not supposed to. Nevertheless, the service itself is not illegal, as long as it is used to convert and download videos that are not copyrighted. In essence, the conversion service is similar to torrenting, and many websites, such as 1337x.to, exist to this day.

However, copyright is not the only issue that affects the Qdownloader website. As soon as you enter the URL of the video into the search bar, you will be immediately redirected several times to some other domain. In many cases, you will land on a site that asks you to enable notifications – various deception techniques are used, for example, the website asks you to press “Allow” and confirm that you are not a robot.

Qdownloader virus is a term used to describe malicious components of a video conversion website

Eventually, you might land on a destination site that promotes unknown browser extensions or suspicious apps. We encountered the following message which promoted a well-known browser hijacker known as UpdateSearch:

Download Ready
FREE
UpdateSearch

By clicking the button below you will be prompted to install the UpdateSearch Chrome extension. By doing so, your browser’s default search will be changed and will have access to UpdateSearch extension’s functionality.

Download Step 1

Please be aware that you should never download and install apps from such redirects, as you might end up infecting your machine with severe malware, such as ransomware. As a result, Qdownloader virus removal might be complicated, and it might also result in permanent personal file loss, sensitive information disclosure to cybercriminals, and other dangerous consequences.

In case you enabled notifications via one of the sites you got redirected to, you can remove Qdownloader ads and pop-ups by accessing the settings of your web browser – we explain how to do that below. Besides, if you interacted with the site in many different ways or downloaded something, you should also scan the machine with powerful anti-malware software and then utilize a repair program like Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego – it could help you get your computer up and running smoothly again after the infection.

Potentially unwanted programs and malware avoidance techniques

There is a huge misconception about the security of computers – users believe that infecting the device with PUPs or malware is almost impossible. Besides, the mentality of “if it happens to somebody else, it does not mean that it will happen to me” does not help at all. As a result, users neglect secure web browsing practices and security advice from experienced security researchers.^[1]

To protect your machine from nasties, you should employ secure web browsing practices and automated tools that could help you to protect the computer from invisible threats. Many people believe that malware infection is always visible – it displays pop-ups, BSODs,^[2] and other strange behavior. However, hackers are sophisticated individuals, and they write code that runs silently in the background without crashing the machine or disclosing its presence in other ways. As a result, your PC might be infected with a Trojan or other stealthy malware for weeks or months until it is discovered.

Thus, be attentive while you browse the internet and download new programs. If possible, always choose official download sources for the software and avoid third-parties. In case you insist on downloading apps from high-risk sites, you should always watch out for fake “Download” buttons, software bundle components (use “Advanced” settings instead of “Recommended” at all times) fake Flash update prompts or virus alerts, etc.

Finally, employ comprehensive security software that would repel potentially unwanted programs, malicious apps, and prevent access to malicious JavaScript sites^[3] that are engineered to download malware automatically.

Qdownloader downloads
Qdownloader site might promote potentially unwanted programs or redirect to malware-laden websites

Get rid of Qdownloader virus by following these instructions

As already mentioned above, Qdownloader removal differs, depending on your actions performed when visiting the website or converting videos. For future reference, we advise you to avoid websites that offer free video conversion services, as these sites can be dangerous and result in severe malware infection. In fact, there is a chance that your machine for infected with a silent malicious program that is running in the background without displaying any symptoms.

Thus, the first step to remove Qdownloader virus is to perform a full system scan with powerful anti-malware software. In case you installed potentially unwanted applications that belong to scareware or similar categories, a security tool would immediately flag them and eliminate them for you automatically. Besides, anti-virus will also check for invisible threats that would otherwise steal sensitive user data or install other malware on the device.

Since Qdownloader redirects often lead to suspicious site notifications being enabled, we recommend performing a full web browser reset. Alternatively, you can also stop notifications from a particular website by following these instructions:

Google Chrome

Press Menu > Settings
Locate Privacy and security section and click on Site Settings
Under Allow section, you should see Qdownloader.net/.io entry
Click More Actions and then select Block.

Mozilla Firefox

Go to Menu > Options
Select Privacy & Security section
Under Permissions, click Settings near Notifications section
In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, select the drop down menu near the Qdownloader.net/.io
Select Block and then Save Changes.

Safari

Select Safari > Preferences…
Under Websites tab, choose Notifications
Click on Qdownloader.net/.io and then select Deny.

You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

Reimage Intego has a free limited scanner. Reimage Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.

Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can’t grant a full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.

Nevertheless, there’s a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.

While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various circumstances, malware is also one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files. Potentially unwanted programs may clear files that keep the application from running smoothly.

More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, or images get locked. Ransomware is the one that is focused on such functions, so your device gets useless without access to needed data. Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for such recovery in the system.

In some cases, Data Recovery Pro can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.