Remove FreePDFCombiner Toolbar Hijacker

Easy Steps To Delete FreePDFCombiner Toolbar

FreePDFCombiner Toolbar is promoted as a useful application that allows users to convert files to and from several file formats (DOC, PDF, TXT, and so on) directly from the browser. At the first glance, it may look like a helpful tool, however, it is indeed a potentially unwanted program that should not be trusted. It’s a browsing hijacking application which once installed onto the Windows computers, sets the homepage, new tab page and search engine to hp.my.way.com. It usually gets into the targeted devices by stealth without users’ consent and then starts performing malicious activities in the background.

Depth Analysis of FreePDFCombiner Toolbar:

FreePDFCombiner Toolbar forces victims to use a deceptive search engine that only produces manipulated results, having no relation with queries. Your search results are mixed with commercial contents and sponsored links right at the top which redirect people to affiliated sites where several third-party products and services are promoted. With each redirection, its developers earn commission for the promotion. This perilous hijacker can compromise all the most used internet browsers such as Chrome, Safari, MS Edge, Firefox etc. and make changes to their default settings.

FreePDFCombiner Toolbar can record data regarding victims’ browsing activities such as most visited websites, links they click, search queries they type, their IP addresses, geolocations etc. The gathered information is later on sold to third-parties and can be utilized for advertising purposes. And therefore, during the presence of this nasty threat in your computer, you are flooded with thousands of intrusive ads and pop-ups all over the day which interrupts your web sessions badly. These ads might be attractive-looking but can be very risky for your system’s security.

Ads by FreePDFCombiner Toolbar might contain spiteful links and when you click on them, might be redirected to potentially infectious sites that are filled with malicious contents. At some web domains, you are presented with fake security alerts, error messages, update notifications etc. and then tricked into installing dubious application. This notorious malware can also steal your personal and confidential data relating to credit card and banking details and expose them to cyber hackers for evil motives. Those details could be misused by the scammers for fraudulent transactions or purchases that might lead to huge financial loss for you. And hence, you must perform FreePDFCombiner Toolbar removal from the computer immediately.

Threat Specification

Name: FreePDFCombiner Toolbar

Type: Browser hijacker, Potentially unwanted program, Redirect virus

Short Description: Redirects users to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Search engine, home page, new tab page altered, tons of annoying adverts, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, 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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar:

Freeware installations can lead to severe issues with your computer when you don’t pay enough attention to required details like particularly reliable sources and installation settings that can affect the secureness of the process and protect the device from any infection. For instance, when you rely on official providers or even developers of the application you want to install, you can be sure that the software bundling method is not utilized. However, when you use torrent sites, pirating services and free app download pages, you risk getting unwanted programs installed along with main software.

Always select Advanced or Custom options during the installation process, even if you have chosen a reliable source. This is how you can see all the added components, files and opt-out anything that raises questions or looks suspicious. Avoid using peer-to-peer sharing services and torrent sites to keep the system virus-free. In case your PC is already infected with this hijacker, you must remove FreePDFCombiner Toolbar from the machine as early as possible.

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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar:

Remove the related items of FreePDFCombiner Toolbar 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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar 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 (FreePDFCombiner Toolbar) 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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar 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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar 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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar 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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar 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 FreePDFCombiner Toolbar (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.