ViewMyPDF virus - How to remove

ViewMyPDF adware virus

Converting files is a part of most computer users’ routines, especially when it comes to the widespread pdf, doc and ppt formats. ViewMyPDF Chrome extension might seem at first like a true rescue for those who need to make a conversion but don’t want to get a costly and suspicious software for their computers, nor use the ad-infused websites. However, this ordinary looking browser enhancer can actually cause much more trouble than these other tools combined together.

Pdf is a popular file format that has been used in many other malware names for more attention, for example,   FreePDFCombiner,   Pdf2DocPro,   PdfConverter.pro,   Convertpdfsearch.com   or many others, and ViewMyPDF virus is not an exception. The deceitful self-advertising and tricky infection methods hide an adware threat, which openly admits to implant those who end up installing ViewMyPDF extension with additional unwanted advertisements, as well as making other changes in users’ browsers. In this post, we’ll analyze what makes ViewMyPDF virus dangerous, how it spreads and how to remove it.

How malicious is ViewMyPDF adware

Truthfully speaking, ViewMyPDF adware is not the most notorious type of malware. It does not lock your files like ransomware, give hackers a remote access to your PC nor mine cryptocurrency, but that does not mean that this app is safe and good to use. While ViewMyPDF extension really provides a page with conversion links to and from PDF file format, yet it is not any much more comfortable, easy or quick than simply searching for online converter yourself in your regular default search engine. Actually, when you press on the tiny icon at the end of the URL bar, it doesn’t take you to ViewMyPDF converter, but displays flash online games, that you can play instead, which is unnecessary and not mentioned before the setup.

ViewMyPDF adware tool PDFHERO

Another strange thing that you notice will be an increased amount of online promotions and Affiliate links during your regular browsing sessions. Whenever you’ll look up something in Chrome the top results will be ads and links to the products/companies, because of the marketing techniques that ViewMyPDF adware participates in. This virus will make changes in your browser so that it could also inject advertising hyperlinks in the text as well, redirecting you whenever clicked on.

Yet, ViewMyPDF virus creators cannot be blamed for being unuseful and malicious, because as they state in their Privacy Policy, the user agrees to everything the company provides, including malevolent behavior, automatically by installing and continuing to use the ViewMyPDF extension. Take a look for yourself:

While using our Extension, we may collect certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you (“Personal Data”). Personally identifiable information we collect includes: IP Address, Cookies, Usage Data and other similar information. Device ID, Operating System, Browser Type, Network Type and other similar information.

We may also collect information how the Extension is accessed and used (“Usage Data”). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol address (e.g. IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Extension that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data. We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Extension.

Company may use the collected data for various purposes: To provide and maintain our Extension, To serve tailored advertisements to you, To notify you about changes to our Extension, To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Extension when you choose to do so, To gather analysis or valuable information so that we can improve our Extension, To monitor the usage of our Extension, To detect and prevent fraud, To detect, prevent and address technical issues.

In their EULA, ViewMyPDF virus developers are also admitting to working with Third-parties like Google Analytics and Google AdWords, AppNexus remarketing service. This is enough information to realize that ViewMyPDF adware is indeed going to bring you unwanted and sometimes Malvertising ads, at the same time gathering personal data about you and sharing it with third-parties. This is why reading Privacy Policy is imperative before any new install. If you do want to stop ViewMyPDF virus from misusing your data and stuffing promotions into your browser, then you should look at the removal options we provided below.   

How did ViewMyPDF virus infect your PC

The main ViewMyPDF virus infection spreading vector is a website, which redirects users to Chrome’s Web store to get the extension. The design of the page makes it looks inviting, reliable and tempting to use. It promises a quick, easy and free file conversion to PDF file format straight in your browser with no additional software required for your PC. When the user clicks on the big green ‘Continue’ button it gets taken to the extension store and tries to get the victim select on the ‘Add to Chrome’ option. If that is done, crooks now have another browser compromised which will end up Generating online marketing revenue.

ViewMyPDF virus extension installation

So how does this ViewMYPDF extension website reach the victims? There are many methods, which are used to disseminate the virus. Usually, you will end up seeing viewmypdf.com, after visiting a site, which has ads that redirect to the official installation web page. However, in addition to that, the same extension can be Bundled in a Setup Assistant of another program, that you downloaded either from a third-party software distributing site or P2P network. Both of these sources are risky and not reputable, because of the tendency to Spread malware. ViewMyPDF adware will be premarked as an app to install together with the main program but can be opted-out if you select Custom installation mode during the setup. But no matter what way ViewMyPDF virus got in, it needs to be removed immediately.

How to get rid of ViewMyPDF adware

There are two ways you can stop ViewMyPDF adware from bothering you – either do it yourself manually or trust the issue for the malware removal tool. Both methods work just fine and it’s up to you which one you’d prefer, however, an automatic anti-spyware program gives you a few more advantages.

As you know now, ViewMyPDF virus is an advertising threat that works closely with third-parties, which are not regulated, therefore having an already vulnerable system and an application which enables malvertising greatly increases the risk of other malware infections. Other viruses can possibly be installed without your knowledge, therefore even after the ViewMyPDF adware complete removal, your PC will still be not safe to use. That is the reason why having a special security software is much more reliable than just uninstalling the Malicious extension on your own.

Some great trustworthy anti-malware products that we recommend are Spyhunter or Combo Cleaner (for Mac). Such software focuses on hunting down and removing already existing threats, no matter how secretive and sneaky they are. They also contain large malware databases, which contain information about all kinds of threats, therefore anti-spyware will be helpful taking care not only of ViewMyPDF extension but any other kind of virus too.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Download Spyhunter for Malware detection
(Win)

Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,

Download Combo Cleaner for Malware detection
(Mac)

Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,

How to remove ViewMyPDF virus from Chrome

Uninstalling ViewMyPDF extension should be a fairly easy task, especially if you notice it early. Below we have made the thorough step-by-step instructions on how to remove ViewMyPDF plugin from Chrome, which you can use as guidelines if you have never done it before. If for some reason even after the removal you’ll be experiencing troubles with your PC or keep seeing the extension and tons of ads, it would be best to run a scan with a spyware removal tool just to make sure that there is no other dangerous infection in your PC or leftovers from ViewMyPDF virus.

TopRemoving ViewMyPDF virus from Chrome

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

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

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

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

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

Removal guides in other languages

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *