Seeing PDFSearchio redirect in your browsers? PDFSearchio is a suspicious domain as it can redirect and even trigger malicious actions in your browsers. PDFSearchio can push advertisements and redirects, but can also land you on a page with a malicious script hidden inside.
PDFSearchio Redirect Virus
PDFSearchio is a domain connected with redirecting URLs of websites. The landing pages may contain spam, advertisements and some sort of malicious scripts. You could end up on scam pages stating that you have malware or an outdated program requiring an update. Also, one more click could end up redirecting you, while your browser goes through loops, where a pay-per-click scheme is active. The PDFSearchio redirect might acquire personal information and even modify settings on your browser or PC.
PDFSearchio Browser Redirect
Redirects such as PDFSearchio take over primary browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge and others.
PDFSearchio Summary
| Name | PDFSearchio |
| Type | Redirect, Adware, Malicious Domain |
| Short Description | Each browser application on your computer could get affected. The redirect can land you on dozens of unknown web pages and you might see a lot of advertisements. |
| Symptoms | You will see a lot of redirects, scams, advertisements and even malicious content such as scareware trying to force you to buy a product you don’t actually need. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss PDFSearchio. |
PDFSearchio Redirect – Why is it in My Browser Programs?
The PDFSearchio redirect is a recently discovered Internet infection which is available in both a redirect and a browser hijacker form. The criminals have created this threat with the intent of manipulating the victims into thinking that they are accessing legitimate companies and services, as well as related data files. The most widely used distribution method is to spread dangerous browser plugins which are made compatible with the most popular web browsers. They can be uploaded to the same repositories and download portals which are used to list all of the popular ones which we all know.
The relevant virus code can also be inserted in file carriers — a common variant is the creation of macro-infected documents which can be placed in all popular file formats: presentations, databases, spreadsheets and text files. When they are opened by the victims a prompt will be shown to the victims and ask them to enable the built-in code. This will trigger the virus installation. The other alternative is to insert this installation code in software setup bundles. They are of commonly installed applications and are made by inserting the code into the original installers.
All virus related files can then be uploaded to places which are commonly used to download data from: file-sharing networks like BitTorrent which are used to spread both legitimate and pirate data. Using fake or stolen identities the hackers can also spread them via links and attachments in emails and on online communities like forums, chat rooms and social media.
Upon visiting the site for the first time the site redirect page will likely lead to the installation of tracking cookies which will monitor the users behavior and report it back to the hackers. When the browser hijackers are the cause of the infections the plugins will change important settings of the applications in order to show the hacker-controlled page as much as possible. Values that are modified include the home page, search engine and new tabs page.
There are several dangerous consequences of interacting with such redirect pages, the most common ones are the following:
- Phishing Scams Display — Many of the redirect portals are designed to lead the visitors to hacker-controlled landing pages and forms that will ask them for sensitive login details and personal information. Any data that is entered will be automatically sent to the hackers who can abuse it for crimes such as identity theft and financial abuse.
- Intrusive Advertising — In order to gain income the criminals can serve intrusive ads across all popular forms: banners, text links, pop-ups and multimedia. Whenever a user interacts with them the hackers will receive a small income commission.
- Malware Delivery — In most cases the redirect portals are specially designed to deploy common web-based threats. In this case the criminals can focus on cryptocurrency miners which are scripts designed to download and run performance-intensive tasks on the local computers. For every completed one the hackers will receive a reward. When these infections are active on a given system the users will encounter severe performance issues making it very hard to use the machines in a normal way. Malware which can be delivered in other cases also include file encrypting ransomware — they are designed to locate and encrypt users files with a strong cipher and then extort the victims for a blackmail payment fee.
Any local components which can be related by viruses deployed by the PDFSearchio Redirect can also be programmed to steal users data or alternatively generate an unique ID which will be used to differentiate between the contaminated hosts.
The behavior can change at any time, for this reason we recommend that any detected strains are removed as soon as possible.
Remove PDFSearchio Redirect
Read on how to remove PDFSearchio manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the hijacker redirect and its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program can keep your computer safe in the future.
Martin Beltov
Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.
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How to Remove PDFSearchio from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for PDFSearchio with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall PDFSearchio and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
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 4: Clean Any registries, Created by PDFSearchio on Your PC.
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 PDFSearchio 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.
Video Removal Guide for PDFSearchio (Windows).
Get rid of PDFSearchio from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall PDFSearchio and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to PDFSearchio. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- 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 PDFSearchio 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 PDFSearchio files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as PDFSearchio, 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.
Video Removal Guide for PDFSearchio (Mac)
Remove PDFSearchio 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.
Erase PDFSearchio 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.
Uninstall PDFSearchio 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.
Remove PDFSearchio 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 PDFSearchio will be removed.
Eliminate PDFSearchio 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.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
PDFSearchio-FAQ
What Is PDFSearchio?
The PDFSearchio threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of PDFSearchio?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like PDFSearchio?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does PDFSearchio Work?
Once installed, PDFSearchio can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
PDFSearchio can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is PDFSearchio Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the PDFSearchio Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this PDFSearchio how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on PDFSearchio?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the PDFSearchio threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.