How to uninstall Office Tool Downloads
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Office Tool Downloads?
Office Tool Downloads is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) designed to provide access to email accounts, news, weather and shopping websites, and web pages offering file conversion services. In fact, Office Tool Downloads is a browser hijacker, which assigns certain browser settings to search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com (the address of a fake search engine).
Most apps of this type gather information relating to browsing activity. Note that Office Tool Downloads is distributed and installed together with another PUA called Hide My Searches.
Like most browser hijackers, Office Tool Downloads changes browser settings such as the address of the homepage, new tab and default search engine. In this case, it assigns them to search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com, which is opened when users open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar.
This is how most apps of this type promote bogus search engines. The websites are fake, since they do not generate unique results - users are simply provided with results of other (often legitimate) search engines. Note that search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com displays results generated by Yahoo by redirecting users to search.yahoo.com.
Browser hijackers prevent users from undoing or changing settings. Therefore, the only way to avoid having to visit search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com and is to uninstall Office Tool Downloads from the browser and remove it from the list of programs installed on the computer.
Browser hijackers can also lead to problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy or even identity theft. They record IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages (other browsing data), and sensitive, confidential details.
Developers sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. For these reasons, we recommend that you uninstall all PUAs immediately.
| Name | Office Tool Downloads |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), AVG (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Microsoft (PUA:Win32/OpenDownloadManager), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Office Tool Downloads |
| Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly provides quick access to email accounts, news, weather, shopping and other websites. |
| Promoted URL | search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com) | 18.235.4.134 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Symptoms | Manipulated internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the internet using their search engines. |
| Additional Information | Office Tool Downloads is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
The internet is full of browser hijackers and other PUAs. Most are advertised as useful tools, but they deliver no legitimate features. In most cases, PUAs are designed only to help the developers to generate revenue and simply cause problems. Some examples of other browser hijackers are Gamers Buddy, Online TV Streams and Maps & Driving Directions.
How did Office Tool Downloads install on my computer?
People often download and install browser hijackers (or other PUAs) through the set-ups of other software. PUAs are included into various download/installation set-ups. Related information can usually be found in settings such as "Custom", "Advanced" and so on.
Unfortunately, many people fail to check these settings and leave them unchanged, thereby allowing PUAs to be downloaded and installed with other, regular software. This marketing method is known as "bundling". Additionally, unwanted downloads and installations can be caused by clicking deceptive advertisements.
If clicked, some ads run scripts that lead to these unwanted downloads/installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Download software from official websites and via direct download links. Do not use third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule or other similar channels download/install files or programs. Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other options/settings of the download/installation setup.
Deselect any additional (potentially unwanted) applications included in the setup. Note that deceptive ads often redirect users to untrustworthy or even malicious websites, or they cause unwanted downloads/installations. Typically, ads of this type are displayed on dubious websites.
For example, those relating to adult dating, gambling, pornography, and so on. Do not trust or click these ads. Remove any unwanted, unknown, suspicious programs installed on the operating system, or apps (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) on the browser.
If your computer is already infected with Office Tool Downloads, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Office Tool Downloads browser hijacker:
Office Tool Downloads installer:
Office Tool Downloads browser hijacker asks permission to read and change data:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Office Tool Downloads?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Office Tool Downloads application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Office Tool Downloads browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Office Tool Downloads 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, "Office Tool Downloads"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Office Tool Downloads 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.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.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 "Office Tool Downloads".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com redirect, 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 "Office Tool Downloads" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Office Tool Downloads" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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 "hxxp://search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.com", 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 search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com redirect, 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 on "Extensions" and remove "Office Tool Downloads", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
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 disable "Office Tool Downloads" or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.com 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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com redirect 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 search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpro.com redirect, 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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