PDFConverterHQ Hijacker - How to remove

PDFConverterHQ by Mindspark is a browser add-on and a website that offers immediate access to file conversion and other functions. The extension looks nice at first glance with its various background choices, customizable widgets, and functional file conversion that does not require you to go to shady, ad-filled websites.

Unfortunately, PDFConverterHQ seems to just be created to promote the MyWay search engine. That’s why, after installing the add-on, you notice that the provided search bar forwards your queries to MyWay, ignoring your default search engine. Your address bar is also likely hijacked, making it cumbersome to use your favorite search engine.

Extensions that hijack one’s browser aren’t necessarily malware, despite being detected by most competent antivirus programs. PDFConverterHQ might frustrate you because so many ads are displayed in MyWay search results, but it doesn’t directly do much worse. Still, PDFConverterHQ has the ability to spam you with endless ads and inject promoted content into your viewed websites without anything looking out of place, so you should evaluate carefully if you’re comfortable with having it installed.

Is PDFConverterHQ malicious?

MyWay, like some other search engines, survives on advertisements displayed within or next to the search results (though it can display an excessive amount sometimes). That seems to be why so incredibly many extensions are being created that do little but force people to use MyWay and Ask, as well as why they collect people’s browsing data (including the exact search queries). PDFConverterHQ is not much different.

PDFConverterHQ uses some dishonest distribution, mostly in the form of ads that use dishonest thumbnails, open without a warning, and use adware viruses to reach more people. At least I found it as it was being pushed by adware. This PDFConverterHQ has in common with other hijackers, like Search.hyourfreepdfconverternowpop.com, 1 Click PDF, or ViewMyPDF. PDFConverterHQ not only uses ads to spread but also displays more ads to you — don’t underestimate how dangerous ads can be.

If not with ads, PDFConverterHQ might have been installed on your computer by another, unrelated program. This is sometimes done as promotion thanks to a practice called PPI (pay-per-install), where a wanted program carries some promoted add-ons and tries to install them together. Some distributors of free software take advantage of an opportunity to make some money and make it very difficult to refuse the optional offers, hiding them in the background and installing them without your consent.

At the end of the day, PDFConverterHQ is totally unnecessary because most of the simple conversions it offers can be done very easily by just using your installed programs. Both Windows and Mac have the ability to view pdf, doc, rtf, odt, and other files. It’s true that pdf and other read-only formats are difficult to edit, but they’re meant to be uneditable. Plus, an extension isn’t good for regular editing because you’re required to upload the files for PDFConverterHQ to be able to send them to be converted, and not all services delete your files for privacy. Downloading a reputable program for regular offline conversion would be safer, but still, most functions that the various online conversion websites offer can very easily be achieved without any additional software.

PDFConverterHQ it used to have much inferior functionality and has been updated to be more attractive than before. But it’s still a browser hijacker, no matter what it looks like on the surface.

How to uninstall PDFConverterHQ

If you really like PDFConverterHQ, you can continue using it without much change. Just be careful about banking and other important operations, maybe use a different browser for those.

If you do want to remove PDFConverterHQ, the instructions below describe the process for Chrome, Internet Explorer, and other affected browsers. But this might not be enough as some people describe unwanted software coming back ad being reinstalled after they removed and deleted it. In this case, a strong antivirus program (Spyhunter) is needed. Scan your computer and, if a suspicious PUP (potentially unwanted program) is found, try removing it. That might fix your problem. Take the chance to remove unused and untrustworthy programs and browser add-ons.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually remove PDFConverterHQ

How to remove PDFConverterHQ using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like PDFConverterHQ Hijacker install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to PDFConverterHQ . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make PDFConverterHQ Hijacker easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove PDFConverterHQ from macOS

Delete PDFConverterHQ Hijacker from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the PDFConverterHQ app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to PDFConverterHQ Hijacker and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to PDFConverterHQ, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving PDFConverterHQ Hijacker from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to PDFConverterHQ. Click on the trash bin icon next to PDFConverterHQ Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to PDFConverterHQ, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

TopRemoving PDFConverterHQ Hijacker from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything PDFConverterHQ related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to PDFConverterHQ Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove PDFConverterHQ Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to PDFConverterHQ. Click on the "Remove" icon next to PDFConverterHQ Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving PDFConverterHQ from Safari (Mac OS X)

• Click on the Safari menu.
• Choose Preferences.
  
• Click on the Extensions Tab.
• Click on the Uninstall button near the PDFConverterHQ Hijacker. Remove all other unknown or suspicious entries too. If you are not sure whether you need the extension or not, you can simply uncheck the Enable check-box to disable the extension temporarily.
  
• Restart Safari.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to PDFConverterHQ, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari.
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.