TheDocPDFConverter Hijacker - How to remove

TheDocPDFConverter is a search hijacker that poses as a file converter and advertises on sites for free games and other products. After TheDocPDFConverter is installed, it takes over your browser settings to force you to go to Yahoo.com and generate ad revenue. Although it’s not severe malware, TheDocPDFConverter is still harmful and should be removed from your browser as soon as possible.

TheDocPDFConverter is not a good browser extension to have installed:

Type of threat	Browser hijacker, adware.
Problems with TheDocPDFConverter	Takes over your search settings and doesn’t use your previous search engine, reads your browsing history, may get installed without your consent.
How hijackers infect systems	Bundled with free software installers, downloaded by misleading ads.
Removing TheDocPDFConverter	Uninstall unwanted browser extensions manually or remove suspicious ones automatically, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool (Combo Cleaner for Mac OS, Spyhunter for Windows, Malwarebytes, etc.)

TheDocPDFConverter is adware

TheDocPDFConverter is a browser extension. Web browser extensions are small programs that enhance or change how a browser works. And browsers are programs that we use to interact with websites. TheDocPDFConverter works on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox.

Browser extensions can be pretty useful, but they can also be malicious: extreme examples include crypto-jackers, password-stealers, and personal data harvesters. Luckily, TheDocPDFConverter is nowhere near that bad. But it’s still a hijacker that is potentially harmful.

TheDocPDFConverter really can convert files from one format to another, as much as an online tool can do it. But the converter is deliberately implemented in a way that allows it to take over your browser.

TheDocPDFConverter is adware. It forces your browser to open an ad-supported site that’s affiliated with the people who made the extension. Those sites are more lucrative because each new pair of eyes on the ads is worth a bit of money. So, each new TheDocPDFConverter user brings in some money.

To justify hijacking your search, TheDocPDFConverter opens when you type in certain words into your address bar. This nonsense justification is tucked in deep in TheDocPDFConverter’s unnecessarily long description and people who are installing this extension are unlikely to catch it. It’s not convenient for users and it’s not necessary for TheDocPDFConverter to work this way. Its developers were forced to implement this in order to take over your browser settings.

To find out that TheDocPDFConverter shows you ads, it’s not enough to read its description – you need to open its privacy policy. Most people don’t have the tie to waste reading terms of service and privacy policies of every program that they install.

TheDocPDFConverter uses Srchbar.com to redirect your search queries to Yahoo.com. This is the same site used by EasyConvert, another browser extension by the same company, ironSource. It’s common for browser hijackers to have many clones by the same developer, instead of a single product. Another conversion extension by ironSource is DocToPdf.

If TheDocPDFConverter was up-front about being ad-supported and stayed away from user settings, that would be fine. But instead, it replaces your default search engine, affecting you pretty much all the time.

How to avoid browser hijackers

It’s important to know how TheDocPDFConverter and other hijackers get installed to know how to avoid them. Because, most of the time, computers get infected with hijackers against the user’s will.

First, misleading ads can be used. Some reviewers of TheDocPDFConverter complained about it: about thinking that they were downloading an unrelated product, like a free game, but got TheDocPDFConverter instead. This is a case of aggressive ads tailored specifically to trick you. It includes sites like Creditcable.info that pretends to let you download your file and various Recommended extension and Flash SD App required sites. Sites tell you that you’ll be downloading the thing you wanted, but it turns out to be some adware infection instead.

Another possibility is being bundled with free programs. Browser extensions can be installed by installers that you download from software download sites. If TheDocPDFConverter showed up in your browser after you installed another program, it might have been bundled with it. Normally, you should see some warnings about the additional installs. But don’t feel bad if you don’t: sometimes, the warnings are very well hidden.

To avoid TheDocPDFConverter and similar hijackers, the best options may be:

• Scan every downloaded installer before you run it and every suspicious file before you open it. An antivirus program should see if your installer has a few browser hijackers inside.
• Block suspicious and malicious websites with an anti-malware program. Some security programs can block known malicious sites so that your browser won’t open them.

How to remove TheDocPDFConverter

TheDocPDFConverter can be removed by some anti-malware programs or uninstalled by you manually (by following the instructions below this article). It would be good to scan your whole computer for malware with a program like Combo Cleaner for Mac, SpyHunter for PC, Malwarebytes, etc.

And when you’re removing TheDocPDFConverter from your browser, check your other extensions and see if any of them need to be removed, too. Extensions by low-reputation developers and with unnecessary permissions should be carefully scrutinized.

Automatic Malware removal tools

TopRemoving TheDocPDFConverter 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 TheDocPDFConverter. Click on the trash bin icon next to TheDocPDFConverter 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 TheDocPDFConverter, 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.

How to remove TheDocPDFConverter 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 TheDocPDFConverter Hijacker. Click on the "Remove" icon next to TheDocPDFConverter 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 TheDocPDFConverter 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 TheDocPDFConverter 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 TheDocPDFConverter 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.