How To Remove PDFSearchApps Hijacker

Simple Steps To Delete PDFSearchApps

PDFSearchApps is a nasty browser hijacker which silently gets installed onto the Windows computers without users’ knowledge and changes various default browser settings. Home page, search engine and new tab preferences are altered and all search queries are redirected through a newly assigned engine – pdfsearchapps.com. The new search tool is a deceptive search site due to the fact that it doesn’t provide any search results itself. It redirects all queries to search.yahoo.com. Considering its stealthy distribution and installation methods, this notorious hijacker has been categorized as a potentially unwanted program or PUP in short.

Depth Analysis of PDFSearchApps:

PUPs like PDFSearchApps are able to gather browsing and personal information including search queries, geolocations, IP addresses, visited domains and so on. The collected data might be shared with third-parties for monetary purposes that might lead to severe privacy issues. Your sensitive data relating to banking and credit card details could be misused by the scammers for fraudulent transactions or purchases that might result in huge financial loss for you. In addition, advertisers utilize your browsing preferences and interests for developing and showing customized advertisements in order to get as many clicks on them as possible and earn maximum revenues via pay-per-click scheme.

And this, PDFSearchApps constantly bombards your system screen with a number of annoying ads and pop-ups throughout the day which interrupts your web sessions badly. While using pdfsearchapps.com as the default search engine, you only receive inorganic results mixed with commercial contents and sponsored links right at the top. While clicking ads or links, you are redirected to affiliate sites that are trying to increase their popularity and gain more visits. This perilous hijacker makes commission for the developers according to the hits it gets on its adverts and with each redirection.

Ads by PDFSearchApps might also take you to potentially dangerous websites that are fully occupied with malicious contents and cause more hazards to your system. So, it’s better to stay away from these adverts as much as you can. To get automatically activated with each Windows startup and to remain persistent, this nasty hijacker makes vicious entries in registry editors and changes its settings. It might trigger many other perilous issues in the infected PCs such as frequent system crash, hard drive failure, boot errors, application malfunctioning and so on. And therefore, a quick PDFSearchApps removal is highly recommended.

Quick Glance

Name: PDFSearchApps  

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect virus, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Modifications to default browser’s settings, Redirects users to third-party sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online profits for the creators. 

Symptoms: Changed home page, search engine, new tab settings, constant appearance of intrusive adverts, redirects to unknown domains, fake pop-up messages, identity theft. Users are enforced to search the Internet using fake search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool.

Ways To Spread PDFSearchApps:

These browser hijackers and other PUPs like adware can be distributed in multiple ways. However, the most common method to spread to spread these unwanted programs is software bundling. When users download any product or software from unreliable sites, they might end up with a software bundle which means that additional components are offered with the carrier application. The bundles usually contain two or more PUPs and if people select Quick or Standard setup, then all the additional objects are automatically installed since all boxes are pre-selected.

How To Avoid PUP Intrusion?

It is highly important to be very careful while surfing the web to prevent hijacker or adware intrusions. Users should always opt for the Advanced or Custom configuration settings because here they can de-select all the pre-ticked boxes and evade unwanted threats from entering the systems. Furthermore, try to download software from legitimate sources, official sites and direct links only since they very hardly ever use software bundling. Third-party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, unofficial sites etc. should never be trusted. In case your device is already infected with this hijacker, you must remove PDFSearchApps from the machine without wasting any time.

Special Offer (For Windows)

PDFSearchApps can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful Spyhunter antimalware scanner to check if the program can help you getting rid of this virus.

Do make sure to read SpyHunter’s EULA, Threat Assessment Criteria, and Privacy Policy. Spyhunter free scanner downloaded just scans and detect present threats from computers and can remove them as well once, however it requires you to wiat for next 48 hours. If you intend to remove detected therats instantly, then you will have to buy its licenses version that will activate the software fully.

Special Offer (For Macintosh) If you are a Mac user and PDFSearchApps has affected it, then you can download free antimalware scanner for Mac here to check if the program works for you. 

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 PDFSearchApps:

Remove the related items of PDFSearchApps 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 PDFSearchApps 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.

Special Offer (For Windows)

PDFSearchApps can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful Spyhunter antimalware scanner to check if the program can help you getting rid of this virus.

Do make sure to read SpyHunter’s EULA, Threat Assessment Criteria, and Privacy Policy. Spyhunter free scanner downloaded just scans and detect present threats from computers and can remove them as well once, however it requires you to wiat for next 48 hours. If you intend to remove detected therats instantly, then you will have to buy its licenses version that will activate the software fully.

Special Offer (For Macintosh) If you are a Mac user and PDFSearchApps has affected it, then you can download free antimalware scanner for Mac here to check if the program works for you. 

How to Remove Adware (PDFSearchApps) 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 PDFSearchApps 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 PDFSearchApps 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 PDFSearchApps 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 PDFSearchApps 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 PDFSearchApps (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.

Special Offer (For Windows)

PDFSearchApps can be creepy computer infection that may regain its presence again and again as it keeps its files hidden on computers. To accomplish a hassle free removal of this malware, we suggest you take a try with a powerful Spyhunter antimalware scanner to check if the program can help you getting rid of this virus.

Do make sure to read SpyHunter’s EULA, Threat Assessment Criteria, and Privacy Policy. Spyhunter free scanner downloaded just scans and detect present threats from computers and can remove them as well once, however it requires you to wiat for next 48 hours. If you intend to remove detected therats instantly, then you will have to buy its licenses version that will activate the software fully.

Special Offer (For Macintosh) If you are a Mac user and PDFSearchApps has affected it, then you can download free antimalware scanner for Mac here to check if the program works for you. 

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