What is PdfConverterSearchNet browser plugin? — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The PdfConverterSearchNet search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such programs are spread enormously these days. On this page you will see the complete guidance of “PdfConverterSearchNet” hijacker removal in various tactics: using anti-malware programs and manual elimination process.
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PdfConverterSearchNet – What is it?

“PdfConverterSearchNet” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some particular details, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser far more secure, allow downloading of any video clip, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “PdfConverterSearchNet” plugin is pretty pointless because all such functions are currently embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even qualified users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is distributed together with free software.

PdfConverterSearchNet hijacker - Pdfconvertersearchnet.com

PdfConverterSearchNet Search Hijacker

Here is a info for the PdfConverterSearchNet hijacker
NAME PdfConverterSearchNet
Site Pdfconvertersearchnet.com
Hosting AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection Type Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address 104.21.2.125
Symptoms Changed search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behavior Searchinfonow, Smartsportsearch, Socialstreamsearch
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is PdfConverterSearchNet hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, PdfConverterSearchNet hijacker is also really unsafe for web browser utilization. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Pdfconvertersearchnet.com, and likewise modifies your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Apart from visual changes done by PdfConverterSearchNet hijacker, you may observe that several of your search questions are redirecting to the uncertain sites, filled with links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can have web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you attempt to open Google search page by force.

However all these actions are far more annoying than truly damaging. The greatest danger, specifically for individuals who have a great deal of confidential information in their web browsers, is embedded in data gathering functions. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and other activities are easily gathered by PdfConverterSearchNet hijacker.

How to remove PdfConverterSearchNet 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 generally very easy to deal with. Most of the times, they have an independent app that can be seen in the list of installed applications. Because of the specific distribution way of PdfConverterSearchNet hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got PdfConverterSearchNet in the package with a free program, your computer may be contaminated with a lot more severe malwaretrojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you utilize anti-malware tools to deal with the PdfConverterSearchNet PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of discovering and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, serious malware, that might be present on your personal computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all unwanted programs 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 scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can see the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To set the action for each spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious program. By default, all malware will be removed 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 is not able to 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 choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing PdfConverterSearchNet 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 PdfConverterSearchNet?

Name: PdfConverterSearchNet

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