How to remove PDFConverterSearchMedia browser hijacker

Easy tips to delete PDFConverterSearchMedia hijacker virus

PDFConverterSearchMedia is a rogue piece of software categorized as a browser hijacker. This type of apps operates by modifying browsers’ settings to promote fake search engines. This particular app promotes illegitimate web searcher named PDFConverterSearchMedia.com. Additionally, most browser hijackers have dangereous data tracking capability. It is believed that it is not an exception to this. Since users often download/ install such apps inadvertently, these apps are also called PUAs or potentially unwanted applications.

Browser hijackers target browsers with large user bases. They alter browsers’ settings such as ne tab pages, search engine and the default homepages and replace them with the URLs that they promote. PDFConverterSearchMedia promotes PDFConverterSearchMedia.com in the same manner. These changes significantly diminish the browsing experience. Due to the alteration made, all queries entered and every opened tab on the infected browsers will redirect users to promoted URL/s.

 Since the addresses promoted by hijacker viruses are illegitimate search engines that seldom generate search results, they tend to redirect to some legit web searchers like Google, Bing and Yahoo. This applies to PDFConverterSearchMedia.com (the URL address promoted by PDFConverterSearchMedia) as well, yet it redirects to various search engines. The web searcher has been observed redirecting to genuine Yahoo. Alternatively, it is redirecting users to an illegitimate searchlee.om that can generate results, but these are often inaccurate and may endorse untrustworthy and malicious links.

Browser hijackers can undo any changes made to the browsers’ settings. Thus, restoring to the previous browses’ settings option is not possible without removing the software causing it. Another detail about browser hijacker type PUAs is that they can track and collect browsing based data. The data of their targets include IP addresses, search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations and etc. The gathered data is then sold to third parties/ potent crooks.

In summary, the presence of the unwanted applications can cause severe system infections, privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and etc. To avoid any such issues from happening in future, remove all suspicious applications and their components from the system right upon the detection. Below the post, you will find complete manual guide how to remove PUAs from systems. However, you can use some reputable antivirus tool if you want easy, instant and effective removal process, leaving no traces of the infections on the system behind.

How did PDFConverterSearchMedia enter my system?

PUAs are often distributed via the download/ installation setups of other programs. This deceptive marketing method of packing one app with unwanted and malicious additions is termed as software bundling. Rushed the download/ installation processes increase the risk of inadvertent installation of unwanted apps. Intrusive ads can be used to proliferate in PUAs as well. Once clicked on, these ads can execute certain scripts to make downloads/ installations without users’ consent.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

All downloads should have to be done using official websites and direct links. Untrustworthy downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloders/ installers are often used to spread dubious and/or bundled content. During download/ installation, read all terms, study possible options, use Custom/Advanced settings and opt out all additionally attached apps, tools, functions. Do not click on any ads appear on any shady pages, as well – they often open the pages of same kinds and sometimes can cause unwanted downloads/ installations by running certain scripts.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove PDFConverterSearchMedia:

Remove the related items of PDFConverterSearchMedia using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing PDFConverterSearchMedia issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (PDFConverterSearchMedia) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to PDFConverterSearchMedia removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to PDFConverterSearchMedia still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove PDFConverterSearchMedia plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in PDFConverterSearchMedia removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete PDFConverterSearchMedia (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.