{"id":27891,"date":"2025-03-31T18:47:16","date_gmt":"2025-03-31T13:17:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.systweak.com\/blogs\/?p=27891"},"modified":"2025-04-01T18:59:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T13:29:28","slug":"free-online-converter-may-install-malware-on-your-pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.systweak.com\/blogs\/free-online-converter-may-install-malware-on-your-pc\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Online Converter May Install Malware On Your PC – FBI Warning!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Free Online File Converters May Install Malware On Your PC – <\/span>FBI Warning!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Instead of just converting files, these tools secretly install harmful software on your computer. The dangerous part is that this software may look like a real app and seem to work as expected. However, it can steal your personal information, track your activities, or even lock your computer and demand money to unlock it.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many file formats available for different purposes. The most common ones are Documents (PDF, DOC), Images (JPG, PNG), Video (MP4, AVI), and Audio (MP3, AAC). With almost everything happening (converting) online, you never know which format you require at a given point in time. And this is where free online file converters come into play. For example, if someone asks you to submit your ID in a PDF format, what would you do? The answer is – Click the photo of the ID using the mobile camera, convert the image (JPG format to PDF) using any online converter, and send the PDF to the person.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most people do not realize the mess they have gotten into with the above steps. Let me explain-<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You have uploaded your ID to an unknown server where it can be misused, causing Identity Theft. You also do not know when the ID image will be deleted from the online converter\u2019s server.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The converted PDF file you have downloaded may consist of a hidden malware that may provide a backdoor access to your PC.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. The downloaded file may also contain elements that may lead to a Ransomware attack.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The FBI Denver Field Office has recently issued a warning on its <\/span>official website<\/span><\/a> asking people to stay alert of the free online file converter scams.<\/span> Some of you might think that these free online converters are harmless and are doing a free community service. But that is not true! In this article, we have explained what the dangers of online converters are, how they work and what alternatives are available.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"FBI<\/p>\n

    How Do Online File Converters Work?<\/h2>\n

    Free online converters help users convert one file format to another. The process is simple and requires the user to upload a file to the server of the online web tool. The next step is to choose the format to convert and then download the converted file. The process is simple, but here is where the complexity begins. Most free online converter websites embed malware into the converted file. This malware, once downloaded on your PC or mobile device, begins its work of scraping data and sending it to a malicious or threat actor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
    Bonus Tip – Use The Virus Total Website To Identify Malicious Websites.<\/b><\/p>\n

    Navigate to the <\/span>Virus Total Website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Choose the URL tab and paste the link of a website you wish to use.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Press the Enter button and examine the report.<\/span><\/p>\n

    For example, we checked a famous converter site – <\/span>http:\/\/convertix-api.xyz\/<\/span> on Virus Total.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We found the website to be reported as malicious.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Identify<\/p>\n

    Other converter websites discovered by our research team include –<\/span><\/p>\n

    Freejpgtopdfconverter.com<\/span><\/p>\n

    Convertallfiles.com<\/span><\/p>\n

    convertisseurs-pdf.com<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    What Type Of Data Does The Malware Look For?<\/h3>\n

    Hidden malware may not necessarily affect your system\u2019s performance, but it will start accessing your data and transferring it to the hacker or mastermind behind this. Here is a list of data that is at risk –<\/span><\/p>\n