How to remove Pdfsearchos.com

Delete Pdfsearchos.com from the system

The changing of the homepage, new tab page and default search engine of the installed browsers to Pdfsearchos.com site is a sign of browser hijacker intrusion on your device. However, you need nothing to worry about this as step by step malware removal guide is provided in the article below the post. Read it throughout and follow the guide carefully.

What is Pdfsearchos.com?

Pdfsearchos.com is a fake search engine. It is promoted by a browser hijacker application by modifying the settings of installed browsers and preventing users’ access to them. Such apps can track users’ browsing session. Since users install such apps unintentionally –these apps are also called potentially unwanted applications.

After the install, the browser hijackers hijack the installed browsers and change the homepage, new tab page and default search engine to the URL address of the site they promote. In this particular, all these options are set to Pdfsearchos.com site. As said earlier in the introduction, this site is a fake search engine. Typically, such searching tools are not able to display their own search results. They somehow manage to display results with the help of some legit searching tools. The said searching tool simply redirects the session to search.yahoo.com. However the redirection is harmless, but this occurs frequently that diminishes the web browser significantly.

The users are usually not able to return to the previous browser settings option. The reason is the browser hijacking apps inject some browser helper objects especially for the task to reassign the changes time to time and prevent users’ access to them. Therefore, the users are forced to visit Pdfsearchos.com site all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter search queries on the search URL bar. You must require removing the browsing app from the device if you want to stop the redirects and get rid of the browser misbehaviour.

A quick glance of Pdfsearchos.com

Type – Browser Hijacker

Symptoms -Default homepage, new tab page and search engine of the infected browser shown by a different domain name, users are repeatedly redirected to this domain (belongs to hackers) when open their browsing tab/Window and search queries on the search box

Distribution methods -software bundling, fake software updates/Flash Player installers, Deceptive pop-up ads

Damages – data tracking (possibly privacy issues), potentially unwanted apps intrusion, diminished browsing and possibly the system performances

Removal – To remove Pdfsearchos.com, use some reputable antivirus tool or follow step-by-step instruction provided below the article 

Harmful risks associated with the infection

The browser hijacker makes users mandate to visit Pdfsearchos.com with each query they entered and site they opened. This site redirects simply redirects to search.yahoo.com. This way, it allows the developers to attach various deals and links with the search results. Such materials could be some other unwanted apps or even malware or might end up them to take participate in some sort of surveys that lead them to pay for fake services or disclose their personal info. This also allows them to track users’ browsing session and collect the browsing related information that includes IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages and etc. Such data could be shared to potent crooks who misuse them to generate illicit revenue that can cost on privacy and can cause identity exposure. To prevent such issues, immediately remove Pdfsearchos.com from the device.

What makes PUPs intrusion possible?

Some of the PUPs have their official websites where they are promoted as some legit apps –users get tricked and end to installing them intentionally. However, most often, they do not have the idea when such apps install on their device. The silent intrusion of the PUPs is possible because there are various deceptive techniques used by the crooks. The most common of them is software bundling. In this method, stealth installation of unwanted apps takes place with some regular software. What the developers do is hide the bundled apps behind Custom/Advanced options or other similar option of the download/install setups. Users rush these setups and skip most of the installation steps- such careless approach and reckless behaviour lead them into the inadvertent installation of unwanted applications.

How to prevent PUPs intrusion?

In order to prevent the previous situation, you need to be cautious during web browsing session, especially during the software download/installation moment. You should use official websites and direct links for any software download. Avoid any untrustworthy downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders or installers that are deemed as untrustworthy. During installation, analyze each step using Custom/Advanced option and manually opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers. For betterment, use some reputable antivirus tool that provides adequate protection to the device.

Remove Pdfsearchos.com

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble during removal process. You can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove Pdfsearchos.com from the system.

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 Pdfsearchos.com:

Remove the related items of Pdfsearchos.com 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 Pdfsearchos.com 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 (Pdfsearchos.com) 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 Pdfsearchos.com 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 Pdfsearchos.com 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 Pdfsearchos.com 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 Pdfsearchos.com 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 Pdfsearchos.com (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.