How to uninstall the PDF To Pro unwanted app

What is PDF To Pro?

PDF To Pro is a browser hijacker, which promotes hpdftopro.com (a fake search engine) by changing certain browser settings. Apps of this type are designed to modify settings and collect data. Generally, users download and install browser hijackers inadvertently and, for this reason, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

PDF To Pro is distributed with another PUA called Hide My History.

Generally, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. After installation, PDF To Pro sets them to hpdftopro.com.

Therefore, users who have PDF To Pro installed on their browsers arrive at hpdftopro.com when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

To stop hpdftopro.com from being opened on these occasions, PDF To Pro must be uninstalled, since most browser hijackers do not allow removal of the fake search engine from browser settings as long as they are installed. Note that hpdftopro.com is classified as a fake search engine, since it does not generate unique results.

I.e., it simply redirects users to search.yahoo.com (displays results generated by Yahoo). Furthermore, apps such as PDF To Pro often gather browsing-related information. Commonly, they collect details such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, and other data relating to users' browsing habits.

Some browser hijackers are capable of accessing personal, sensitive data as well. In any case, it is not safe to have these apps installed on browsers and/or computers. Developers can misuse collected information to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

People who have browsers hijacked by apps such as PDF To Pro might experience issues relating to browsing safety, online privacy, or even become victims of identity theft. Therefore, PDF To Pro and other apps (such as Hide My History) should never be trusted, downloaded, or installed.

Threat Summary:

Name	PDF To Pro
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	PDF To Pro
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly provides quick access to various file conversion pages.
Promoted URL	hpdftopro.com
Serving IP Address (hpdftopro.com)	34.199.106.67
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	PDF To Pro is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My History.
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are many browser hijackers on the internet. Some examples are Maps N' Direction Hub, My Horoscope Tab and File Converter Live.

Typically, they promote fake search engines by changing browser settings. They also function as information tracking tools. In any case, most are useless and can cause serious problems. If an app of this type is already installed on the browser and/or computer, uninstall it immediately.

How did PDF To Pro install on my computer?

Typically, potentially unwanted applications are distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other, mainly free, software. This distribution method is known as "bundling". In most cases, offers to download or install included PUAs can be declined through "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings, however, many people fail to even check the settings.

Leave default settings unchanged allow additional PUAs to be downloaded and installed together with the required software. Sometimes unwanted downloads/installations can be caused by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

All software should be downloaded from official websites and via direct links. It is not safe to use Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers, or other channels to download or install software - commonly, they are used to distribute PUAs or even malicious apps.

Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings of the installation setup and decline offers to download or install additionally included, unwanted apps. Do not click advertisements that are shown on untrusted pages, since they can open other web pages of this kind or even cause download/installations of unwanted software.

Remove any suspicious extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed on the browser, and software of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with PDF To Pro, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Notification stating that PDF To Pro can read and change certain data:

Website promoting PDF To Pro browser hijacker:

Instant automatic 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 malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner 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. 7 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 PDF To Pro?
• STEP 1. Uninstall PDF To Pro application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hpdftopro.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove PDF To Pro browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove hpdftopro.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove hpdftopro.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

PDF To Pro 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, "PDF To Pro"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the hpdftopro.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

PDF To Pro 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://hpdftopro.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 "PDF To Pro".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hpdftopro.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 "PDF To Pro" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My History"), 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 "PDF To Pro" or "Hide My History", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://hpdftopro.com or hxxps://hidemyhistory.co) 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://hpdftopro.com" and "hxxp://hidemyhistory.co", 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 hpdftopro.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 "PDF To Pro", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My History").

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 "PDF To Pro" or "Hide My History", remove hxxp://hpdftopro.com or hxxp://hidemyhistory.co 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 hpdftopro.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 hpdftopro.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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