PDF Converter HD Search - How to remove

PDF Converter HD Search is a browser hijacker that spreads thanks to malicious ads and, once installed, hijacks browser settings to make sure that you use the websites that are partners of PDF Converter HD Search. This extension is related to a PDF files converter, but it’s completely unnecessary for that and only serves as an excuse to get access to your browser.

This browser hijacker uses sites like install.notify-service.com, so you know it’s willing to play dirty to get into as many computers as possible. Shady ad-networks including Adcash, Propeller Ads, and PopCash are employed to explode the growth of PDF Converter HD Search and now there are over 30 thousand users on Chrome using this add-on. Users might be given wrong impressions by these ads, such as that they must install the add-on to access certain websites or content, which forces many people to install it even though they don’t want to and, possibly, when they don’t even realize that they’re installing a plugin (that would explain the total lack of reviews from the tens of thousands of users of PDF Converter HD Search).

This is fine with PDF Converter HD Search. After all, the extension is basically adware. It hijacks your address bar to automatically redirect your search queries to Yahoo – not straight to Yahoo, but through an affiliate link, which guarantees that PDF Converter HD Search will get some ad revenue from your web searching. The extension also gets access to your browsing history. So, the ad-on generates money from displaying ads in your search result, and in exchange for that, you get to have it hijack your address bar.

In many cases, PDF Converter HD Search is installed illegitimately and should be removed after it’s discovered:

Symptoms of PDF Converter HD Search	Search queries return results in search.yahoo.com Using the address bar, you can go to PDFConverterHD.com
Installation methods	Adware viruses Ads on shady websites Redirects, pop-up ads in your browser
Possible harm of using PDF Converter HD Search	Private browsing data exposed PDF files uploaded on online servers Aggressive ads and phishing sites can steal private information
Removal	Delete adware manually or with an antivirus program (SpyHunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for Mac OS) Uninstall PDF Converter HD Search and related extensions and restore browser settings

Features of PDF Converter HD Search

PDF Converter HD Search does give you easy access to a site that can perform online document conversions. The whole functionality of the PDF Converter HD Search add-on comes from an external website that can convert PDF files by uploading them on there and downloading the edited version. It works on its own and does not require a browser extension to access. All that the add-on does is:

• Spy on you.
• Monetize your web search.

There are privacy concerns that you should know about if PDF Converter HD Search has been installed in your browser. For example, this extension can get access to your browsing history. It also gets access to everything you search for. This data is useful for advertisers. Then there is the fact that, in order to convert your  PDF documents, you need to upload them on some website, which means that there is a chance for them to be exposed to third parties, even if PDF Converter HD has the best intentions to keep them private.

This extension isn’t real malware, even though some argue that adware programs should be considered as seriously as any malware. And PDF Converter HD Search is adware – it makes money from ads, it forces you to see them by hijacking your browser settings, and it exists as a browser extension that’s completely unnecessary for using the service. Plus, it uses shady distribution methods. That makes PDF Converter HD Search suspicious: if the creators of this add-on were willing to work with unethical advertisement networks to promote their plugin, why would they not also make money from unsafe ads? Bad-quality ads promote content like:

• Unregulated medical products.
• Fake lottery scams and get-rich-quick schemes.
• Malware and tech support scams.
• Adult content and gambling sites that don’t even try to verify your age.

This type of content could result in some users losing money, and there’s no limit to what PDF Converter HD Search can do on its own site, as explained by the permission “Read and change your data on all pdfconverterhd.com sites and pdfconverterhd.com”.

How to remove PDF Converter HD Search

This sort of extension that doesn’t care about users’ experience or consent should not be allowed access to your browser. After all, the browser might have data like your passwords or payment methods saved, so every browser extension should be trusted to act responsibly with its access.

There are a lot of browser hijackers made by the same developers from the Download Valley – extensions like Moviegoat or IncognitoSearches. Avoid installing browser plugins unless you know you want it and don’t believe websites that tell you that you need to install an add-on to access some content. If that sort of pop-up opens often for you, check if your computer has an adware infection that might be manipulating your browser. You can use an anti-malware program like Combo Cleaner for Mac OS or SpyHunter for Windows.

PDF Converter HD Search can be manually removed and, in most cases, that’ll be enough to get rid of it. In some cases, it might mysteriously come back – scan your computer with an antivirus tool, then, and remove whatever malware might be found.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove PDF Converter HD Search using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search from macOS

Delete PDF Converter HD Search from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search, 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 PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search. Click on the trash bin icon next to PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search, 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 PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search, 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 PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search. Click on the "Remove" icon next to PDF Converter HD Search 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 PDF Converter HD Search from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the PDF Converter HD Search. 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 PDF Converter HD Search, 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.