What Is PDFConverterSearcher?
PDFConverterSearcher is the name of an application that has been created with the main idea to appear as if its a legitimate add-on for your browser, but may come packed full of adware components.
PDFConverterSearcher is one of those browser extensions that you do not remember adding to your computer. Other apps similar to it are FreePDFCombiner and PDFSearchHQ. It is created to seem like a genuine converter add-on for your browser, but in reality, this little program does more harm than good. Directly, PDFConverterSearcher is not dangerous to your computer, but it could become a risk with time. The main reason for that is the ads that are shown by this unwanted software. They may sometimes lead to sites that end up being scams or even virus sites. This is why it is recommended to read this article and learn how you can remove PDFConverterSearcher from your computer.
PDFConverterSearcher Summary
| Name | PDFConverterSearcher |
| Type | Browser Hijacker / Unwanted Software |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your machine. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Machine Has Been Affected by PDFConverterSearcher
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Malware Removal Tool
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss PDFConverterSearcher. |
PDFConverterSearcher – What Does It Do?
PDFConverterSearcher is the type of app that may be added as an extension to your web browser by being advertised as a “free extra” in the installer of another free program you may have recently downloaded. Such apps often are file converters, media players, torrent downloaders, and several other often downloaded freeware. In one of the install steps, there is a chance you may have missed an ad that may be advertising this add-on as a free offer to the current setup. It is easy to miss those steps, mainly because they are only visible in “Custom” install modes.
PDFConverterSearcher can also be advertised on websites, where it may seem like a legitimate add-on, used to help convert your files. But after adding it, the app may begin to show different ads that may randomly appear while you are browsing. Such ads can be:
- Banners.
- Pop-up ads.
- Redirects or transfers to other sites.
- Search ads.
- Push notification advertisements.
The ads that are displayed by PDFConverterSearcher could be dangerous in more than one way to your computer. They may track you with different cookies to see what you do online and even obtain what you type on your browser and lead you to risky sites. Such websites can be virus URLs, phishing pages designed to steal your logins and passwords, or even scam pages.
When we dug deeper into this app, we have found out that it may change the settings of your web browser to display its own site as a defualt search engine and home page:
This website is not known to be one of the safest sites as it does not even have encryption, which means it can track all you do online. When you search something through the site, you get redirected to another type of website that shows ads instead of objective search results.
Even Google Chrome has classified this site as unsafe:
These are the main reasons to consider removing this risky software from your computer as soon as possible.
Remove PDFConverterSearcher from Your Computer
If you want to remove PDFConverterSearcher fully from your computer, we strongly recommend that you follow the guide below. It is designed to help detect the program files of PDFConverterSearcher on your computer and remove them so that this software does not show ads. But for best removal, experts often recommend that you download and run a scan with an anti-malware program. Such software can detect hidden files such programs leave behind that make them hard to remove otherwise.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove PDFConverterSearcher from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of PDFConverterSearcher from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove PDFConverterSearcher from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase PDFConverterSearcher from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall PDFConverterSearcher from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove PDFConverterSearcher from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate PDFConverterSearcher from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove PDFConverterSearcher from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove PDFConverterSearcher
Step 2: Uninstall PDFConverterSearcher and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by PDFConverterSearcher on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by PDFConverterSearcher there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of PDFConverterSearcher from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall PDFConverterSearcher and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove PDFConverterSearcher via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove PDFConverterSearcher files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as PDFConverterSearcher, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove PDFConverterSearcher from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase PDFConverterSearcher from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall PDFConverterSearcher from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove PDFConverterSearcher from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the PDFConverterSearcher will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate PDFConverterSearcher from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
