Search.hconvert2pdfnow.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.hconvert2pdfnow.com?
According to the developers, Convert 2 PDF Now allows conversion of PDF files to other formats. Initially, Convert 2 PDF Now may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app is likely to infiltrate systems without permission.
Furthermore, Convert 2 PDF Now records various user-system information and modifies Internet browser options without users' consent. For these reasons, Convert 2 PDF Now is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
Following successful infiltration, Convert 2 PDF Now hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily modifying the default search engine, new tab URL, and homepage options by assigning them to search.hconvert2pdfnow.com. These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them.
Convert 2 PDF Now continues to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, it becomes impossible to return browsers to their previous states and users are encouraged to visit search.hconvert2pdfnow.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar.
Convert 2 PDF Now app is essentially used to build search.hconvert2pdfnow.com website traffic at the cost of users' Internet browsing experience. In addition, Convert 2 PDF Now continually gathers various information (mostly relating to Internet browsing habits).
Collected data is likely to include personal details. Convert 2 PDF Now's developers share this information with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing personal details. This behavior might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.
| Name | Convert 2 PDF Now browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Convert 2 PDF Now is identical to Easy Interests Access, Easy Television Access, Easy Email Access, and many other apps. In fact, all browser-hijacking applications are very similar. All claim to provide "useful features", however, these programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Claims to enable useful functionality are merely attempts to trick users to install. In fact, most browser-hijacking apps deliver no real value for regular users. These programs promote suspicious websites (mostly fake Internet search engines), gather information, and, in some cases, run unwanted processes.
In doing so, PUPs pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety. Furthermore, fake search engines often feed users with various intrusive advertisements and/or false search results.
These ads and results typically lead to malicious sites. The ads might execute scripts that download and install malware (or other PUPs). Therefore, using a fake search engine is also very risky.
How did search.hconvert2pdfnow.com install on my computer?
This browser hijacker has an official download website, however, due to lack of knowledge and careless behavior by many users, Convert 2 PDF Now often infiltrates systems without permission. Be aware that developers proliferate Convert 2 PDF Now by employing a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" and the aforementioned intrusive advertisements.
"Bundling" is stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs together with regular (usually free) software. Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps.
Therefore, they hide "bundled" apps within the "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download or installation processes. Skipping these procedure steps and clicking various advertisements, thus exposes systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, be very careful when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet in general. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings, closely analyze each download/installation step, and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.
Bear in mind that criminals monetize third party downloaders and installers using an identical "bundling" method (they promote dubious software). Such tools should never be used.
Note the appearance of Intrusive ads: cyber criminals invest a great deal of time and resources into designing rogue ads, and many seem legitimate, however, they are distinguishable for their redirects - most lead to survey, gambling, adult dating, and other dubious websites. If you encounter them, uninstall suspicious applications and browser plug-ins.
Website promoting Convert 2 PDF Now browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.hconvert2pdfnow.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Convert 2 PDF Now application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hconvert2pdfnow.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Convert 2 PDF Now browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hconvert2pdfnow.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hconvert2pdfnow.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Convert 2 PDF Now browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "Convert 2 PDF Now"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.hconvert2pdfnow.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Convert 2 PDF Now browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.hconvert2pdfnow.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convert 2 pdf now browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Convert 2 PDF Now" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hconvert2pdfnow.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "search.hconvert2pdfnow.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convert 2 pdf now browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "Convert 2 PDF Now", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove Converter and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "search.hconvert2pdfnow.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with convert 2 pdf now browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the convert 2 pdf now browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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Outstanding!
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