PDFConverterSearchPro Hijacker - How to remove

PDFConverterSearchPro, if installed as an extension, takes control over your internet browsing. It hijacks your web search settings and opens Searchlee.com and other iffy websites. It also logs your browsing data and it may show pop-up ads on your screen. Its goal is to show you ads and sponsored webpages.

In short about PDFConverterSearchPro:

Classification	Browser hijacker, adware.
How PDFConverterSearchPro affects browsers	It changes search settings, it reads browsing history and other data, it shows pop-up ads.
How it gets installed	It’s advertised deceptively online, it’s bundled with other programs and extensions.
How to stop search redirects by Pdfconvertersearchpro.com	Check your computer for malicious items with antivirus tools (Spyhunter for PC, Combo Cleaner for Mac, others), uninstall PDFConverterSearchPro and other suspicious extensions, if needed, change the settings in your browser.

What is PDFConverterSearchPro?

It is a malicious extension

If your browser started opening unfamiliar pages (Searchlee.com, Mybrowser-search.com, and others) to deliver your search results, you might have got a hijacker infection.

PDFConverterSearchPro is a possible culprit. This is a browser extension that’s closely related to the website Pdfconvertersearchpro.com. Its function is to, well, hijack your internet search. PDFConverterSearchPro changes your default search engine settings to Easysearchconverter.com, which allows it to control what results you see. It also tracks your browsing activities, including what you search for.

On top of all that, PDFConverterSearchPro might get access to your browser notifications. It can use them to show you little pop-up ads.

It may be installed without permission

If PDFConverterSearchPro is installed on your browser, you likely didn’t do that on purpose. This malicious extension uses deceptive advertisements to trick people into installing it. Various workflow tricks (malicious redirects, fake loading bars, fake captchas) and clever window layouts can trick even the most careful users to install extensions unwittingly. Deceptive installation tactics are a real problem that browser developers are very aware of (Taking Action on Deceptive Installation Tactics).

It is pretty much impossible for anyone to install PDFConverterSearchPro on purpose. This extension is not discoverable online and the only way to find it is to be presented with a pop-up ad for it.

Sites that display pop-up ads for PDFConverterSearchPro and other browser hijackers tend to be pirating websites and similar controversial sites. It’s best to only visit such websites armed with an ad blocker, otherwise, you might get overwhelmed by the aggressive ads.

Another way that unwanted extensions (and other programs) infect computers is by being included in the installers of unrelated programs. This is called bundling and it’s why programs like Format Factory get flagged by antivirus tools.

How to get rid of PDFConverterSearchPro

Remove search hijackers

Luckily, PDFConverterSearchPro is as easy to remove as any other extension. You can click on the Puzzle button if you’re using Google Chrome or go into your settings and open the Extensions/Plug-ins page. There, you’ll be able to see all of your add-ons. More detailed instructions for each browser can be found below.

While removing PDFConverterSearchPro, take the chance to do some browser hygiene and remove or disable other potentially unwanted extensions.

Only allow extensions that you trust to remain installed. This is important because add-ons such as PDFConverterSearchPro have access to some of your data. Permissions range from just your browsing history to all of the data on your web pages – including your passwords. Browser extensions are much more dangerous than most people realize..

Protect your device from malware

Besides removing PDFConverterSearchPro, consider scanning your computer with an anti-malware program, such as Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter for Windows, and others. If the scan finds some suspicious or potentially unwanted programs, consider removing them. Potentially unwanted programs are characterized by being installed without people’s permission, often with the help of deceptive design.

If needed, stop notification spam

In case Pdfconvertersearchpro.com or another site is still showing ads on your screen, open your notification settings. You can stop notification spam in your browser settings.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Restore browser settings

TopHow To remove PDFConverterSearchPro Hijacker from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

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

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser 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.

How to remove PDFConverterSearchPro Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

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

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
• Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.

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

• Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
• Press the Restore settings to their default values option.

• 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.

How To remove PDFConverterSearchPro Hijacker from Firefox:Top

• 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 PDFConverterSearchPro Hijacker 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.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to PDFConverterSearchPro 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.
  
• ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on theReset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.