DocToPdf Search Hijacker - How to remove

DocToPdf, a browser hijacker, lets you convert various files to and from the PDF format right in your browser. This hijacker can be downloaded from Mydocsconverter.com and it has been over 4000 times, at least. DocToPdf is called a hijacker because it takes over the user’s search engine and reads their browsing history – features used by many extensions to show ads to the user.

DocToPdf is a bit problematic and should probably be removed:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker.
How DocToPdf spreads	Advertised on suspicious websites, promoted by notification spammers.
Problems and issues	DocToPdf spies on you and controls your search, is related to another browser hijacker, isn’t ideal for converting documents.
How to remove DocToPdf	Uninstall suspicious browser extensions and programs, use anti-malware tools (Combo Cleaner for Mac OS, SpyHunter for Windows) to find suspicious software on your computer.

What is DocToPdf and how does it spread?

As a browser extension, DocToPdf changes how your browser works. DocToPdf helps you convert documents to PDF files in your browser, but it also changes your search settings so that web search results appear in Yahoo.com. This is the problem – it’s unrelated to DocToPdf’s main function and is abused to show ads to the user. Which allows DocToPdf to make money.

There are a lot of similar dubious browser add-ons, like AnyDocToPdf, ProDocToPdf, or FromDocToPdf. But DocToPdf is different. For one, it’s not a Newtab – it doesn’t replace your new tab page. It seems to be made by a different company – ironSource Ltd, an advertising business (hardly a surprise that yet another browser hijacker is released by an advertising company). Another difference is that DocToPdf is almost exclusive to the USA.

Looking at web analytics, it doesn’t look like many people find DocToPdf on their own. It does look like DocToPdf is advertised on sites like Flvto.biz, ConvertMyVid, SeachMulty.com – adware sites that already have shown some deceptive and predatory behavior to spread and show ads. DocToPdf is not in good company.

Is DocToPdf useful?

DocToPdf really does help you convert files. However, it also changes your search settings and reads your browsing history. Is this price worth paying for DocToPdf’s free functions?

No, not really. DocToPdf can convert files to PDF. However, documents and most files can be easily converted to PDF using their editing programs. Chances are, if you have a program that can read your file, the same program can export it to PDF. This makes DocToPdf quite redundant. Sure, DocToPdf can also convert PDF files to other documents, which is a more valuable feature, but most of the time, the results will be messy. Converting PDF files to doc files often requires custom settings to get any good results, which is why specialized programs have been developed for that. Trusting some server behind DocToPdf to do a good job with default settings is a gamble.

Additionally, DocToPdf hijacks your search settings. This means that, every time you use your browser’s default search bar, Yahoo will return the results. This happens because DocToPdf’s creators make money off of search result ads (ads mixed in with web search results) and taking control over your search engine makes it possible for DocToPdf to manipulate your results. In reality, DocToPdf set Pdfsrch.com as your default search engine, not Yahoo. This site has control over your search queries and results. It can read them and change them.

To know what to advertise to you, DocToPdf also reads your browsing history. Like many other advertising-related extensions.

So, DocToPdf controls your search results and spies on your browsing history. Does that improve your browser and your browsing experience? Not really. But it does hurt your privacy and takes control away from you.

How to remove DocToPdf form your browser

The only way to get control over your browser back is to remove DocToPdf. There are other, better and safer ways to convert your documents and PDF files besides DocToPdf – like various desktop applications.

If you decide to get rid of DocToPdf, you can disable or remove it by simply going to your browser settings. And it’s a good idea to use an anti-malware tool, such as Combo Cleaner (Mac), SpyHunter (PC), or another trusted program. Anti-malware programs can detect unwanted software and warn you about it. If there are suspicious programs besides DocToPdf on your computer, it’s a good idea to get rid of them before they cause more problems.

For example, if there are other browser hijackers besides DocToPdf on your computer, your search may still be hijacked by another application, so it’s important to review all the installed extensions and programs.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove DocToPdf using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like DocToPdf Search Hijacker install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to DocToPdf . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make DocToPdf Search Hijacker easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove DocToPdf from macOS

Delete DocToPdf Search Hijacker from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the DocToPdf app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to DocToPdf Search Hijacker and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to DocToPdf, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving DocToPdf Search Hijacker from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to DocToPdf. Click on the trash bin icon next to DocToPdf Search Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to DocToPdf, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving DocToPdf Search Hijacker from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything DocToPdf related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to DocToPdf Search Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove DocToPdf Search Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to DocToPdf. Click on the "Remove" icon next to DocToPdf Search Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving DocToPdf from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the DocToPdf Search Hijacker. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
  
• Restart Safari.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to DocToPdf, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.