How to stop redirects to search.doc2pdfsearch.com

What is search.doc2pdfsearch.com?

Practically identical to doctopdfsupreme.com, search.pricklybears.com, and many others, search.doc2pdfsearch.com is a fake search engine and promoted by the DOC2PDF Convert browser hijacker. These rogue applications modify browsers and restrict/deny access to settings.

Additionally, most browser hijackers have data tracking abilities, which are employed to record browsing-related information. Due to the dubious methods used to distribute DOC2PDF Convert, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Browser hijackers target popular browsers such as Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and others. They operate by assigning the addresses of their fake search engines as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab/window URL.

To elaborate on how this affects browsers: with DOC2PDF Convert installed, each search made via the URL bar and each new tab/window opened redirects to search.doc2pdfsearch.com. While these modifications may seem minor, they diminish the browsing experience.

Few bogus search engines can provide any results, and so they redirect to legitimate ones (e.g. Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.). This is the case with search.doc2pdfsearch.com, which causes a redirection chain beginning with search.genieosearch.com and ending in search.yahoo.com - the latter being a legitimate search engine.

Furthermore, any changes users attempt to make to recover their browsers are automatically reset, if indeed access to browser settings is allowed at all. Therefore, the browser hijacker must be removed to restore control over the affected browser. As mentioned, these hijacker apps can track data.

They monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This private data can then be shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) intent on misusing it for profit.

The presence of data-tracking software on systems can thus lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To ensure browser and system integrity, and user safety, remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	DOC2PDF Convert browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names (installer)	Avast (MacOS:Genieo-DL [Adw]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Application.MAC.Genieo.1), Arcabit (Trojan.Application.MAC.Genieo.1), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.OSX.Geonei.z), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (search.doc2pdfsearch.com)	34.194.40.175
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Browser hijackers are a common type of PUA. They are promoted as "useful" software with a wide variety of functions (e.g. DOC2PDF Convert is endorsed as a file format conversion tool). Fake search engines are also typically promoted with similar false promises, such as the ability to provide fast searches, accurate search results, faster downloads and so on.

In fact, the features of all unwanted content tend to be nonoperational. The only purpose of PUAs is to generate revenue for the developers at users' expense. Rather than delivering any value, PUAs hijack browsers and promote fake search engines, force-open untrusted and malicious sites, deliver intrusive ads (pop-ups, banners, coupons, etc) and gather sensitive data.

How did search.doc2pdfsearch.com install on my computer?

Some PUAs (e.g. DOC2PDF Convert) have "official" promotional web pages, from which they can be downloaded typically "free", however, they can also be downloaded/installed together with other products. "Bundling" is the term used to define this deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing normal software with unwanted or malicious additions.

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, using pre-set options, etc.) endangers systems with potential infiltration and infections via bundled content. Intrusive advertisements also proliferate these rogue applications. When clicked, they execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to research all products to verify their legitimacy, prior to download/installation or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels, as opposed to untrusted sources (e.g. free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders).

When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive advertisement may seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and so on).

If you encounter these ads/redirects, inspect the device and immediately remove all dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Deceptive application installer promoting search.doc2pdfsearch.com:

Appearance of DOC2PDF Convert browser hijacker application:

Website promoting search.doc2pdfsearch.com:

Appearance of search.doc2pdfsearch.com (GIF):

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is search.doc2pdfsearch.com?
• STEP 1. Remove search.doc2pdfsearch.com related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove search.doc2pdfsearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove search.doc2pdfsearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.doc2pdfsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

search.doc2pdfsearch.com redirect removal:

Remove search.doc2pdfsearch.com-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX","NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Remove browser hijacker-related files and folders

Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers

Remove Safari browser hijackers:

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.

Change your homepage:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.

Change your default search engine:

In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL 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 a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL 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 "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

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