What is PDFSearchio?
PDFSearchio is a potentially unwanted application that must have entered your system when you accessed some suspicious website. There are no direct official sources for this app at the moment, so if it’s there on your computer, you probably installed it accidentally when you were browsing the web. It is possible to remove PDFSearchio from your browser without too much difficulty, but you should also invest in a licensed security tool that would help you protect your computer from various intruders. Also, you should check whether you browsing habits do not expose you to potentially harmful content on a regular basis.
Where does PDFSearchio come from?
We have discussed multiple applications that supposedly help you search for PDF files or PDF file converters before. All of them come forth saying they can provide some useful function, but most of the time, users don’t even remember how or when they added those extensions so their browsers.
The same applies to PDFSearchio as well. Since the official distribution source is nowhere to be found, we can only assume that users come across some old pop-ups that are embedded in content-sharing websites. Those pop-ups launch a new window that says “404 Page not found.” This notification is obviously fake, but it is bold enough to catch user’s attention. It also comes with a button that says “continue.” Now, if users click that button, they are redirected to yet another page that automatically installs PDFSearchio on their browser.
So, as you can see, this extension doesn’t exactly enter your computer behind your back. It does ask for permission to be added. If you don’t realize that a new application is about to be added to your browser, that’s already on you. Unfortunately, users seldom realize that potentially unwanted programs are always just around the corner. And so, they end up with the likes of PDFSearchio on their systems without even meaning to.
To avoid potentially unwanted programs, you need to be aware of the fact that sites full of commercial ads and pop-ups might be part of a freeware distribution network. And if you encounter pop-ups, close them immediately by clicking the red X button or simply by using the Alt+F4 command on your keyboard. Also, regular system scans with licensed security applications would also be a good idea.
What does PDFSearchio do?
As you can probably tell from its name, the application should help you search for PDF documents or help you organize them better. However, aside from its main function, its side functions grab your attention a lot better. For instance, PDFSearchio is bound to read your browsing history, and it will change some of your browser settings.
Most of these modifications are authorized by you, even if you are not aware of it. Hence, it might seem that your browser was taken over by a browser hijacker, but the truth is that PDFSearchio performed all the modifications with your permission.
Of course, you don’t have to use the app if you don’t want to. And you can always restore your browser settings. The most important thing in this case is to avoid third-party content that might be delivered to you through PDFSearchio. Although this application only wants to make money by promoting commercial content, it cannot guarantee that it is 100% safe. Therefore, it could be easily exploited by cybercriminals to collect personally non-identifiable information or to expose you to potentially harmful content. To protect yourself from these undesirable instances, you need to terminate the application that you didn’t want to have in the first place.
How do I remove PDFSearchio?
Deleting PDFSearchio is actually very easy. You can remove it through the Chrome’s Extensions menu, but if you want to terminate every single thing associated with this app, you might as well restore your browser settings to default. After that, use a security tool to scan your computer and check whether you have more potentially unwanted programs installed. Remove everything that could pose threat to your system and your personal security.
Finally, don’t forget to stay away from websites that could be associated with freeware distribution. If you see that a page is full of random pop-ups, perhaps you should close it and pick a book instead.
Manual PDFSearchio Removal
- Open Chrome and press Alt+F.
- Click Settings on the drop-down menu.
- Scroll down and click Advanced.
- Press Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click Reset settings on the confirmation box.
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