How to remove BestPDFConverterSearch from a browser?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is BestPDFConverterSearch browser hijacker?
BestPDFConverterSearch is a browser hijacker designed to promote the bestpdfconvertersearch.com address, a fake search engine. Like most apps of this type, this browser hijacker promotes a fake search engine by altering a web browser's settings. It is uncommon for browser hijackers to be installed intentionally.
BestPDFConverterSearch browser hijacker in detail
Once a browser hijacker hijacks a browser, it opens a specific address when users open a new window, new tab or enter search queries in the address bar. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, BestPDFConverterSearch is designed to promote the bestpdfconvertersearch.com address.
BestPDFConverterSearch changes the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab to bestpdfconvertersearch.com. This fake search engine shows results generated by nearbyme.io and search.yahoo.com (Yahoo). Nearbyme.io should not be trusted - it may be designed to show unwanted ads and links to untrustworthy websites.
It is worth mentioning that bestpdfconvertersearch.com could show results by other (legitimate and untrustworthy) search engines as well. Instructions on how to remove this address from the web browser's settings are provided below (it cannot be done without the removal of the BestPDFConverterSearch application).
It is noteworthy that apps like BestPDFConverterSearch can be designed to collect IP addresses, entered search queries, geolocations, visited websites, and other information related to user's browsing activities. A browser hijacker can be designed to gather sensitive details too.
Apps designed to collect sensitive information usually target credit card details, usernames, passwords, autofill data, and other details that could be misused to hijack accounts, steal identities, make unauthorized transactions, purchases. Apps of this kind should never be installed on browsers or computers.
Name | BestPDFConverterSearch |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Browser Extension(s) | BestPDFConverterSearch |
Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
Promoted URL | bestpdfconvertersearch.com |
Detection Names (bestpdfconvertersearch.com) | Avira (Phishing), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
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. |
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. |
Browser hijackers in general
Browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing web browser's settings. In some cases, they do it without making any changes in settings. Either way, it is not safe to have apps of this type installed. Users rarely install them knowingly. For this reason, they are called potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
More examples of browser hijackers are BestADSBlock, FreeSearchMusic, and BestSearchPDF. The main difference between apps of this type is the address (a fake search engine) that they are designed to promote. As mentioned previously, a fake search engine cannot be removed from a web browser's settings until a browser hijacker is uninstalled.
How did BestPDFConverterSearch install on my computer?
Sometimes, users download or install PUAs by clicking ads designed to run specific scripts. Also, it can be caused while using some fake installer. Although, most browser hijackers get installed through downloaders and installers for free programs (when users complete downloads and installations without changing certain settings).
It is common for PUAs to be distributed by bundling them together with other programs. In such cases, optional downloads and installations can be deselected through "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual", or other settings, or by untucking checkboxes that downloaders and installers for free programs have in them.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to use reliable sources (official websites, direct links) for downloading files and programs. Third-party downloaders (and installers), unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), can be used to distribute potentially unwanted or even malicious applications.
Downloads and installations should not be finished without disabling enabled-by-default options. Usually, PUAs are distributed via downloaders, installers that have "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings, or some checkboxes. Those settings can be used to deselect unwanted applications.
Additionally, it is recommended not to click advertisements when they appear on shady web pages. Usually, those ads promote untrustworthy websites. Sometimes, they can cause unwanted downloads, installations. Any unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons installed on a browser or programs of this kind installed on the operating system should be removed.
If your computer is already infected with BestPDFConverterSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Bestpdfconvertersearch.com redirects top nearbyme.io (GIF):
Browser notification saying that BestPDFConverterSearch can
Examples of deceptive websites promoting BestPDFConverterSearch browser hijacker:
IMPORTANT NOTE! These deceptive sites ask to enable web browser notifications.
Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:
Google Chrome (PC):
- Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and select "Settings"
- Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
- Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and select "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)
Google Chrome (Android):
- Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and tap "Settings"
- Scroll down, tap on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
- In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and tap on them one-by-one
- Once the pop-up shows up, select either "Block" or "Remove" (if you tap "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)
Mozilla Firefox:
- Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
- Select "Settings" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
- Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
- In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and block them using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove Website" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove Website" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)
Microsoft Edge:
- Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window and select "Settings"
- Click on "Cookies and site permissions" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen and select "Notifications"
- Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL under "Allow" section and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)
Safari (Mac):
- Click "Safari" button on the left upper corner of the screen and select "Preferences..."
- Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
- Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option using the drop-down menu or either remove them by clicking "Remove" at the bottom of the window (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)
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Quick menu:
- What is BestPDFConverterSearch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall BestPDFConverterSearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove BestPDFConverterSearch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove bestpdfconvertersearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove bestpdfconvertersearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
BestPDFConverterSearch 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, "BestPDFConverterSearch"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the bestpdfconvertersearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
BestPDFConverterSearch browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 "BestPDFConverterSearch" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, 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 "BestPDFConverterSearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.bestpdfconvertersearch.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 "bestpdfconvertersearch.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 bestpdfconvertersearch.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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "BestPDFConverterSearch", 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 disable "BestPDFConverterSearch", remove hxxp://bestpdfconvertersearch.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 bestpdfconvertersearch.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 bestpdfconvertersearch.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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