Remove PDFConverterSearcher Search redirect — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
PDFConverterSearcher search hijacker is an example of an average unwanted program; such applications are spread enormously nowadays. In this page you will see the comprehensive information of PDFConverterSearcher hijacker removal in several tactics: using anti-malware tools and manual elimination technique.
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About PDFConverterSearcher hijacker origins

PDFConverterSearcher search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some certain info, as an example, about sport events, make your web browser much more secure, enable downloading of any kind of web video, and so on.

Nevertheless, the PDFConverterSearcher plugin is rather pointless due to the fact that all such features are currently built-in to your browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted on low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even professional users are getting caught on such an attraction. In certain situations, this hijacker is spread together with free tools.

Here is a short summary for the PDFConverterSearcher hijacker
SiteFeed.PDFConverterSearcher.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address172.67.138.113
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorNewPDFsearch
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is PDFConverterSearcher hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, PDFConverterSearcher hijacker is likewise really unsafe for browser use. It modifies your search engine to its particular – PDFConverterSearcher.com, and also transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the specified symbol).

In addition to visual alterations done by PDFConverterSearcher hijacker, you may observe that many of your search questions are redirecting to the unknown web pages, full of links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can have web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you try to start Google search page by force.

But all these actions are far more frustrating than truly dangerous. The most significant hazard, especially for individuals who have a lot of confidential information in their internet browsers, is embedded in information gathering functions. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited sites and various other activities are easily collected by PDFConverterSearcher hijacker.

How to remove PDFConverterSearcher 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 fairly simple to delete. Usually, they have a separate app that can be spotted in the list of installed apps. Because of the certain marketing method of PDFConverterSearcher hijacker, it can be easily tracked and removed by hand. Nevertheless, if you got PDFConverterSearcher in the package with a free application( s), your PC can be infected with much more serious malwaretrojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I ‘d advise you to use anti-malware tools to remove the PDFConverterSearcher PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and removing different malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, major malware, that can be present on your computer in the discussed case, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all unwanted programs on your personal computer 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 spectate the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard during the scan process. But to perform 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 each detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of detected malicious program. By default, all malware will be removed to quarantine.

List of detected malware after the scan

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

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

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing PDFConverterSearcher 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 the time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of 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 most large 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 PDFConverterSearcher?

Name: PDFConverterSearcher

Description: PDFConverterSearcher - 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 PDFConverterSearcher?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with PDFConverterSearcher (Feed.pdfconvertersearcher.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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