PDFSearchz search hijacker is an example of a common unwanted program; such programs are spread massively nowadays. In this page you will see the comprehensive directions of PDFSearchz hijacker elimination in various ways: utilizing anti-malware tools and also hand-operated elimination technique.
About PDFSearchz hijacker origins
PDFSearchz installation popup
PDFSearchz search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to browse some certain info, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser much more secure, allow downloading of any video clip, and so on.
Nonetheless, the PDFSearchz plugin is rather useless because all such functions are currently embedded to your web browser and/or Windows. Such marketing mottos are targeted on low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even skilled users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular instances, this hijacker is spread along with free software.
Here is a details for the PDFSearchz hijacker
| Site | pdf-searchz.com |
| Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, New York City |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 172.67.142.46 |
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
| Similar behavior | PDFConverterSearch4Free, VideosSearches, HDMusicStreamSearch |
| Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is PDFSearchz hijacker?
Besides its impracticality, PDFSearchz hijacker is likewise considerably hazardous for web browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its particular – pdf-searchz.com, and also transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the mentioned symptom).
In addition to seeable alterations done by PDFSearchz hijacker, you may notice that a couple of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious web pages, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can consist of the web links for malware downloading. The possibility of redirecting rises if you attempt to open Google search page forcibly.
PDFSearchz hijacked the search engine
But all these activities are a lot more frustrating than truly hazardous. The major danger, primarily for individuals who have a lot of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in information gathering capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites and various other activities are easily gathered by PDFSearchz hijacker.
How to remove PDFSearchz 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 often quite easy to deal with. In many cases, they have an independent application that can be found in the list of installed programs. As a result of the certain distribution method of PDFSearchz hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got PDFSearchz in the package with a free program( s), your PC may be contaminated with far more major malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I ‘d advise you to use anti-malware tools to remove the PDFSearchz PUA and all other malware.
You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and eliminating a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. But significant malware, that may exist on your PC in the mentioned instance, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such circumstances, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and remove all unwanted programs on your PC 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 directories.
You can spectate the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with 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.
To set the action for every detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of detected malicious program. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.
Reset browser settings to original ones
To reset your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.
After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to original.
Deleteing PDFSearchz 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 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 WoodhamHow to Remove PDFSearchz?
Name: PDFSearchz
Description: PDFSearchz - 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 PDFSearchz?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with PDFSearchz (Pdf-searchz.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
