How to remove GreatSearchPdf browser plugin?

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The GreatSearchPdf search hijacker is an example of a common unwanted program; such applications are spread enormously these days. On this page you will see the precise guidance of “GreatSearchPdf” hijacker elimination in different tactics: utilizing anti-malware software and manual elimination procedure.
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Removing GreatSearchPdf manually may take hours and may damage your PC in the process. I recommend you to download GridinSoft Anti-Malware for threats removal. Allows to complete scan and cure your PC during the trial period.
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GreatSearchPdf – What is it?

“GreatSearchPdf” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to browse some special info, for instance, about sport events, make your browser much more secure, enable downloading of any kind of video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “GreatSearchPdf” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such functions are already integrated to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even skilled users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain instances, this hijacker is dispersed together with free tools.

GreatSearchPdf hijacker - Greatsearchpdf.com

GreatSearchPdf Search Hijacker

Here is a details for the GreatSearchPdf hijacker
NAMEGreatSearchPdf
SiteGreatsearchpdf.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address104.21.57.106
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorProsearchconverters, Thesearchconverters, Searchstreamz/
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is GreatSearchPdf hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, GreatSearchPdf hijacker is likewise quite unsafe for browser usage. It changes your search engine to its particular – Greatsearchpdf.com, and also modifies your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the mentioned sign).

Apart from viewable alterations done by GreatSearchPdf hijacker, you may discover that some of your search queries are redirecting to the uncertain websites, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

But all these actions are a lot more annoying than truly harmful. The main risk, particularly for people who have a great deal of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, as well as various other activities are simply collected by GreatSearchPdf hijacker.

How to remove GreatSearchPdf 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 typically very easy to remove. Most of the times, they have an independent application that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. Because of the certain distribution method of GreatSearchPdf hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and deleted manually. Nevertheless, if you got GreatSearchPdf in the package with a free applications, your personal computer can be infected with far more severe malwaretrojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware tools to delete the GreatSearchPdf PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and eliminating a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, severe malware, that may exist on your personal computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware program by editing the Group Policies. To keep away from such situations, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can observe the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious apps, 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 detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all the viruses will be removed to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

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

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing GreatSearchPdf 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 GreatSearchPdf?

Name: GreatSearchPdf

Description: GreatSearchPdf - 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 GreatSearchPdf?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with GreatSearchPdf (Greatsearchpdf.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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