Remove Direct PDF Redirect — How to Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The Direct PDF search hijacker is an example of a standard unwanted program; such programs are distributed massively nowadays. On this page you will see the precise information of “Direct PDF” hijacker removal in different methods: using anti-malware tools and hand-operated elimination method.
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Direct PDF – What is it?

“Direct PDF” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some specific information, for instance, about sporting activity events, make your web browser a lot more secure, enable downloading of any kind of video clip, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “Direct PDF” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such features are currently built-in to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even expert users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular cases, this hijacker is dispersed together with free programs.

Direct PDF hijacker - Direct-pdf.com

Direct PDF Search Hijacker

Here is a short summary for the Direct PDF hijacker
NAME Direct PDF
Site Direct-pdf.com
Hosting AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection Type Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address 172.67.176.24
Symptoms Changed search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behavior Propdfconvertersearch, Inspsearch, Myincognitosearch
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To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is Direct PDF hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Direct PDF hijacker is also really hazardous for web browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Direct-pdf.com, and additionally changes your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified symptom).

Apart from viewable adjustments done by Direct PDF hijacker, you can see that some of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unknown websites, filled with links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you try to start Google search page forcibly.

But all these actions are far more irritating than truly harmful. The major danger, particularly for individuals who have a huge amount of confidential information in their internet browsers, is embedded in data collecting functions. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are simply gathered by Direct PDF hijacker.

How to remove Direct PDF search hijacker?

  • Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
  • Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
  • “Move to quarantine” all items.
  • Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
  • Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
  • Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are almost always very easy to remove. In many cases, they have a separate application that can be located in the list of installed software. Due to the particular distribution tactic of Direct PDF hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted manually. Nonetheless, if you got Direct PDF in the bundle with a free applications, your personal computer can be contaminated with a lot more harmful malwaretrojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you utilize anti-malware tools to remove the Direct PDF PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and eliminating a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. But significant malware, that can exist on your computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus program by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all malicious applications on your desktop with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can see the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible harm till the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious programs, you need to wait until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To choose the action for every spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing Direct PDF hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

To reset Edge, do the following steps :
  1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
  2. Reseting the Edge browser

  3. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
  1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
  2. The first step to revert Mozilla Firefox

  3. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
  4. The second step of Firefox restoration
    After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
    The last step for Firefox

If you use Google Chrome
  1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
  2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
  3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
  1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
  2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

I need your help to share this guide.

Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur Woodham
How to Remove Direct PDF?

Name: Direct PDF

Description: Direct PDF - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove Direct PDF?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Direct PDF (Direct-pdf.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Browser Hijacker

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References

  1. More information about PUAs
  2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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