Remove ThePDFConverterSearch Redirect — How to Fix Guide

ThePDFConverterSearch – What is it?

“ThePDFConverterSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some special details, for instance, about sport events, make your web browser far more safe, allow downloading of any kind of web video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “ThePDFConverterSearch” plugin is quite pointless due to the fact that all such features are currently integrated to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even qualified users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific situations, this hijacker is spread together with free apps.

ThePDFConverterSearch Search Hijacker

How harmful is ThePDFConverterSearch hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, ThePDFConverterSearch hijacker is also fairly hazardous for web browser utilization. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Thepdfconvertersearch.com, and likewise modifies your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the specified symbol).

In addition to aesthetic changes done by ThePDFConverterSearch hijacker, you may observe that several of your search inquiries are redirecting to the uncertain sites, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can include web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you try to open Google search page by force.

However all these activities are more irritating than truly hazardous. The main danger, specifically for individuals who have a lot of confidential information in their browsers, is embedded in information collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are simply collected by ThePDFConverterSearch hijacker.

How to remove ThePDFConverterSearch search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are generally very very easy to remove. For the most part, they have an independent application that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. Because of the specific marketing tactic of ThePDFConverterSearch hijacker, it can be simply tracked and removed by hand. Nevertheless, if you got ThePDFConverterSearch in the bundle with a free applications, your computer might be contaminated with a lot more harmful malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you utilize anti-malware programs to deal with the ThePDFConverterSearch PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and clearing away a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. But major malware, that might be present on your PC in the specified situation, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all unwanted programs on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can spectate the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for each spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing ThePDFConverterSearch hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender