The PDFConverterSearchZone search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such applications are distributed enormously nowadays. In this article you will see the precise instructions of “PDFConverterSearchZone” hijacker removal in various tactics: using anti-malware programs and hand-operated removal process.
PDFConverterSearchZone – What is it?
“PDFConverterSearchZone” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some particular details, as an example, about sport events, make your browser much more secure, enable downloading of any video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nonetheless, the “PDFConverterSearchZone” plugin is pretty ineffective because all such functions are currently integrated to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific situations, this hijacker is dispersed along with free apps.
Here is a short info for the PDFConverterSearchZone hijacker
NAME | PDFConverterSearchZone |
Site | Pdfconvertersearchzone.com |
Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, San Francisco |
Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
IP Address | 172.67.222.106 |
Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
Similar behavior | Search, Listen, On |
Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is PDFConverterSearchZone hijacker?
Besides its uselessness, PDFConverterSearchZone hijacker is likewise quite unsafe for browser usage. It alters your search engine to its specific – Pdfconvertersearchzone.com, and also changes your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the specified symbol).
Apart from viewable modifications done by PDFConverterSearchZone hijacker, you might discover that a number of your search questions are redirecting to the suspicious sites, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you attempt to open Google search page forcibly.
But all these activities are more irritating than truly hazardous. The greatest danger, primarily for individuals who have a considerable amount of secret information in their web browsers, is installed in information collecting capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, as well as various other activities are simply gathered by PDFConverterSearchZone hijacker.
How to remove PDFConverterSearchZone 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 quite simple to remove. For the most part, they have a separate application that can be located in the list of installed apps. As a result of the certain marketing method of PDFConverterSearchZone hijacker, it can be easily tracked and erased by hand. However, if you got PDFConverterSearchZone in the package with a free applications, your PC might be contaminated with much more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware programs to remove the PDFConverterSearchZone PUA and all various other malware.
You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and removing various malware, including named hijacker. But significant malware, that may exist on your PC in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware program by modifying the Group Policies. To stay clear of such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and eliminate all unwanted programs 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 apps, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.
You can spectate the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.
To set the action for each detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious program. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.
Reset browser settings to original ones
To revert your browser settings, you need 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 action can be located in the Tools tab.
After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing PDFConverterSearchZone 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 :
- Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
- 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 :
- Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
- In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
If you use Google Chrome
- Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
- In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
- 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
- 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 :
- 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 WoodhamHow to Remove PDFConverterSearchZone?
Name: PDFConverterSearchZone
Description: PDFConverterSearchZone - 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 PDFConverterSearchZone?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with PDFConverterSearchZone (Pdfconvertersearchzone.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
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender