What is PDFConverterSearch4Free?
PDFConverterSearch4Free is a potentially unwanted program that might look like useful at first. Nevertheless, this application shouldn’t be allowed to remain on your system unless you really wanted to have it. This program could expose you to a number of various threats, and if you don’t do anything about it, it could lead to a number of computer security issues. Hence, if you didn’t plan to keep this app, you should remove PDFConverterSearch4Free at once. For the manual removal instructions, scroll down to the bottom of this entry, and make sure you protect your system from other similar threats.
Where does PDFConverterSearch4Free come from?
This application has at least several official distribution channels. Just like all the other extensions from the same family, PDFConverterSearch4Free has its own homepage. The homepage is located at pdfconvertersearch4free.com. It is actually very unlikely that users would access this page directly, so we believe that not many people add this extension to their browsers willingly.
There’s also a page at the Chrome Web Store dedicated for this extension. At the time of writing, the page says there are 216 users who have added the extension to their browsers. Thus, the extension isn’t popular, and there aren’t any reviews. Nevertheless, since the extension can be found on the Chrome Web Store, it would be hard to say that the app is malicious. It’s just that there are more ways for this app to reach you, and some of those ways could be rather fishy.
For instance, PDFConverterSearch4Free could also reach you through third-party pop-ups. Whenever you access a website that displays third-party advertisements, you could end up getting exposed to freeware distribution tactics. If you constantly see pop-up windows that try to offer you some service or some application, that’s the first sign that the website you are on could be used for freeware distribution. Also, if you see a pop-up that offers you to add some extension to your browser, don’t forget that you can easily close that pop-up. Just don’t click the notification box that adds PDFConverterSearch4Free (or any other app for that matter) to your browser.
What does PDFConverterSearch4Free do?
Based on the description at the Chrome Web Store, “this extension changes your Chrome’s default search” and it has an optimized search engine that is powered by Yahoo. So, while the application offers you a product that “lets you browse the web and get easy access to search, images, videos, and news,” it doesn’t come with an original search engine. Instead, it changes your default search settings by setting feed.pdfconvertersearch4free.com as your default search provider. However, all of your search queries get redirected to Yahoo! Search, and the search results also get modified based on your likes and preferences.
Most of the users are not aware of that, but when they add PDFConverterSearch4Free to their browser, they also give this app permission to read their browsing history. It means that the app collects data on your browsing habits, and it can figure out the most commonly used search keywords and the websites you frequent. Although such information cannot expose you personally, it could still be used for online marketing campaigns.
What’s more, the modified search results provided by PDFConverterSearch4Free could be embedded with outgoing links that lead to unfamiliar and sometimes dangerous websites. And PDFConverterSearch4Free would not be able to review those links because they are not covered by its privacy policy. Hence, if you click these links and you land on a dangerous website, you are on your own. Due to such potential security issues, security specialists say that it’s for the best to remove PDFConverterSearch4Free from affected systems.
How do I remove PDFConverterSearch4Free?
It’s very easy to remove PDFConverterSearch4Free from your computer. You just need to restore your browser to default, and the application will be gone along with all the tracking cookies that logged your data. What’s more, you should get yourself a reliable antispyware tool that would terminate other unwanted applications. The point is that there are tons of programs that travel together, and there could be more suspicious apps added to your system. Hence, do everything in your power to make sure that similar extensions do not reach your computer again.
Manual PDFConverterSearch4Free Removal
- Open Chrome and press Alt+F.
- Select Settings and click Advanced at the bottom.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Press Reset settings to complete the process.
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