How to Remove Pdfconvertsearch.com Redirect

Can’t Remove Pdfconvertsearch.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Pdfconvertsearch.com Removal instructions!

Pdfconvertsearch.com is a pesky hijacker that takes over your favorite browsers. In fact, it pretends to be a perfectly harmless search engine. You’re supposed to receive accurate, fast results and enhance your online experience. It goes without saying that we wouldn’t be writing today’s article if that promise was real. The only reason Pdfconvertsearch.com has to be on board is to help hackers gain revenue. Forget about the bogus functionalities of this parasite and get rid of it as soon as possible. Hesitating would only make matters worse because hijackers become more problematic as time passes. Take action now and regain control over your hijacked browsers. Once Pdfconvertsearch.com slithers itself on board, it starts making modifications. Your default search engine as well as homepage both get altered. The parasite replaces them with its very own domain. You see, you’re now stuck with it. When you use any of your browsers, you’re forced to deal with the stubborn, malicious Pdfconvertsearch.com. In addition, this pest adds a browser extension or a plugin. That makes the mess even greater. You get redirected to some unknown, immensely unreliable websites. You come across sponsored search results that may have nothing to do with your queries. Also, the hijacker might start generating sponsored commercials as well. This program will quickly turn your browsing experience into a nightmare because there’s no getting rid of sponsored links. And, improving your online activities remains out of the picture. What hackers are interested in is redirecting you and boosting web traffic. That means you’re now practically a sponsor of greedy cyber criminals. Keeping their devious creation on board exposes you to further threats. It helps hackers make money through the pay-per-click mechanism too, though. Unless for some reason you want to support their illegal business, tackle the parasite right away. This pest might inject your browsers with corrupted pop-up ads which you must stay away from. Remember that the links displayed by a parasite could lead you to all kinds of dangerous websites. Hence, you might compromise your safety even further without even knowing it. Be careful and don’t let this program mess with your browsers. Such infections even pose a threat to your privacy by spying on your sensitive details. Long story short, the Pdfconvertsearch.com parasite must be immediately uninstalled.

How did I get infected with?

Not many people agree to download infections. That explains why most viruses use stealthy methods and lies to get spread online. The number one technique at the moment is called freeware or shareware bundling. It is pretty self-explanatory and simple but it works like a charm. All you have to do is download a bunch of programs off of the Internet without paying attention. If you’re unlucky, you end up installing various parasites that way. How could you spot a potential intruder that’s hiding in some harmless-looking bundle? By taking your time. Instead of rushing the installation process, opt for the Advanced option in the Setup Wizard. Check out the Terms and Conditions or EULA (End User License Agreement) too. This often seems unnecessary but bear in mind it takes one moment to download malware. Leave nothing to chance and be cautious online. Stay away from unverified websites as well as unverified program bundles. You may save yourself quite the hassle if you watch out for malware. Another rather popular tactic involves spam messages and fake email-attachments. Those might turn out to be filled with dangerous cyber viruses so be careful what you click open.

Why is this dangerous?

Pdfconvertsearch.com brings along an impressive pile of web links. That includes sponsored search results, fake product deals and even bogus software updates. Due to the parasite’s presence, your PC screen is flooded with random, unsafe unwanted links. Your browsers also start freezing or crashing. Your overall PC speed is significantly slowed down so you can’t even use the machine properly. Pdfconvertsearch.com’s another trick involves your private data. For example, IP addresses, browsing history and passwords/usernames. Now that you know your information is being spied on, are you feeling safe? Hackers have plenty of monetizing platforms and they could easily sell your details. This way, you may fall victim to financial scams or identity theft unless you take measures on the spot. Please follow our detailed manual removal guide down below.

How to Remove Pdfconvertsearch.com virus

The Pdfconvertsearch.com infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Pdfconvertsearch.com infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down Pdfconvertsearch.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Pdfconvertsearch.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Pdfconvertsearch.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Pdfconvertsearch.com related processes in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Pdfconvertsearch.com startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Pdfconvertsearch.com virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean Pdfconvertsearch.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Pdfconvertsearch.com by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Pdfconvertsearch.com

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Pdfconvertsearch.com, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove Pdfconvertsearch.com argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Pdfconvertsearch.com Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.