Remove PDFFreeSearch Hijacker From PC

PDFFreeSearch: Complete Uninstall Guide

PDFFreeSearch is a redirect virus that can get attached to any browser without the users’ knowledge and start displaying ads and trigger page-reroutes. It doesn’t harm the PC but its ads and the alterations it makes in the browser could lead to security flaws. Browser hijackers like this are a special kind of programs that can sneak into the computer devices when users install some torrents or apps, automatic updates from software bundles. They integrate with the browsers present in the machine and generally introduce some changes to its settings which result in the aggressive generation of different ads, pop-ups, banners, and automatic page-reroutes.

PDFFreeSearch Carries Out Several Evil Deeds:

Hijackers like PDFFreeSearch usually have the ability to replace the startpage and the default search engine and then install some new objects that display specific commercial contents and affiliated links. The modifications take place as soon as the program becomes part of your device. But since the web users in general don’t desire or expect them, all these alterations in the browser may seem like the deed of some virus infection. Fortunately, the browser hijackers don’t have the spiteful capabilities of real viruses or threats such as Trojans or Ransomware.

PDFFreeSearch or other similar intruders are only interested in promoting certain products and services on your screen during your regular online browsing and are not able to damage your OS or messing with your data. These are mainly the tools that provide the advertising requirements of the online marketing industry. In other words, their motive is to endorse a variety of products, services, software, platforms and websites and to reroute victims to specific portals that sell them. This happens due to a continuous flow of advertisements on your screen and through the modifications that the hijacker imposes on your browser.

Applications such as PDFFreeSearch are typically the result of the collaboration between software developers and marketers who are in need of insistent online promotion. The advertisers pay the app creators to show their ads on the users’ screen as much as possible. The creators of the potentially unwanted programs typically earn income from the number of clicks that all those pop-up ads, banners, and redirect links get from you and other users. These contents may, however, take you to potentially insecure domains filled with vicious materials. So, stay away from them and perform PDFFreeSearch removal from the machine immediately.

Software Bundling Causes PUP Intrusion:

Browser hijackers and other unwanted applications are most often distribution with the help of software bundling technique along with other free programs. The term ‘bundling’ refers to a package of two or more programs that is presented as a single one. When users choose the Quick or Default installation setting, they end up installing all the bundled programs including the unwanted editions without even noticing.

Be very careful when downloading software from popular download sources, such as softonic.com, download.com, soft32.com, cnet.com, etc., because they tend to promote software packages. If possible, always choose to download apps from official sources such as App Store, Microsoft Store, and others. These stores have millions of applications with various features, so there is plenty to choose from. To prevent the intruder from causing more harms in the device, remove PDFFreeSearch from the system without wasting any time.

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 PDFFreeSearch :

Remove the related items of PDFFreeSearch 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 PDFFreeSearch 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 (PDFFreeSearch ) 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 PDFFreeSearch 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 PDFFreeSearch 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 PDFFreeSearch 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 PDFFreeSearch 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 PDFFreeSearch (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.