How to remove PDFSearchTip browser plugin?

PDFSearchTip – What is it?

“PDFSearchTip” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some special details, for instance, about sporting activity events, make your web browser a lot more safe, allow downloading of any video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nonetheless, the “PDFSearchTip” plugin is rather ineffective since all such functions are already integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain cases, this hijacker is dispersed along with free tools.

PDFSearchTip Search Hijacker

How harmful is PDFSearchTip hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, PDFSearchTip hijacker is also pretty unsafe for browser utilization. It transforms your search engine to its specific – Pdfsearchtip.com, and also modifies your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the mentioned sign).

Besides visual modifications done by PDFSearchTip hijacker, you may observe that a couple of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unfamiliar web pages, full of web links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can have links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you attempt to open Google search page by force.

However all these actions are much more irritating than truly destructive. The greatest hazard, particularly for people who have a great deal of secret information in their browsers, is embedded in information collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and various other activities are simply gathered by PDFSearchTip hijacker.

How to remove PDFSearchTip search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are usually very easy to remove. Usually, they have an independent app that can be located in the list of installed applications. Due to the specific marketing way of PDFSearchTip hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and removed by hand. Nevertheless, if you got PDFSearchTip in the package with a free program, your PC may be contaminated with much more serious malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware tools to deal with the PDFSearchTip PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and removing a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, significant malware, that can be present on your PC in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware program by modifying the Group Policies. To keep away from such scenarios, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all malicious programs on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malware, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can see the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing PDFSearchTip hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender