What is PDFConverter
PDFConverter is supposed to be a program that will help users to convert files of different formats to PDF and PDFs files back into those file formats for free. But according to security researchers, this program is adware. Adware is form of software which displays unwanted ads on a computer, redirects search results to advertising websites and collects user info for marketing purposes. Adware can display banner advertisements, full-screen advertisements, pop-ups, videos, or other varieties of online advertising. Maybe you approve the idea that the advertisements or pop-ups is just a small problem, but these intrusive ads eat PC resources and slow down your personal computer performance. Adware software can attack your PC’s browsers such as the Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Unwanted ads
Does PDFConverter adware steal your confidential data? Adware software has the ability to collect a wide variety of personal information (your ip address, what is a web-site you are viewing now, what you are looking for on the Web, which links you are clicking), which can later transfer to third parties. So, we suggest you get rid of adware as quickly as possible. This will also prevent the adware from tracking your online activities. A full PDFConverter removal can be easily carried out using manual or automatic way listed below.
How does PDFConverter get on your PC system
Adware software may be spread through the use of trojan horses and other forms of malicious software, but most commonly, adware come along with certain freeware. Many authors of freeware include additional software in their installation package. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the install of any adware: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, select only Manual, Custom or Advanced setup mode, disable all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new free applications.
Threat Summary
| Name | PDFConverter |
| Type | adware, potentially unwanted program (PUP), pop up advertisements, popups, popup virus |
| Detection names | Riskware/Agent, Adware ( 005790241 ), A Variant Of Win32/Agent.AR Potentially Unwanted, Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.AdSearch.gen, PUA.Agent!8.1B6B (CLOUD), W32.Adware.Gen, Generic PUA HA (PUA), Trojan.Win32.Generic!BT |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | PDFConverter removal guide |
How to remove PDFConverter adware (removal guidance)
In the step-by-step instructions below, we will try to cover the Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge and provide general help to remove PDFConverter adware. You may find some minor differences in your Windows install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: delete all suspicious and unknown software, reset internet browsers settings, fix web-browsers shortcuts, remove malicious scheduled tasks, run free malicious software removal utilities. Some of the steps will require you to reboot your device or close this website. So, read this instructions carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.
To remove PDFConverter, execute the steps below:
- How to get rid of PDFConverter adware without any software
- Automatic Removal of PDFConverter
- How to stay safe online
How to get rid of PDFConverter adware without any software
Looking for a solution to uninstall PDFConverter and get rid of any unwanted ads manually without downloading any tools? Then this section of the blog post is just for you. Below are some simple steps you can take. Performing these steps requires basic knowledge of web browser and MS Windows setup. If you doubt that you can follow them, it is better to use free utilities listed below that can help you get rid of adware software.
Uninstall adware through the Windows Control Panel
In order to delete PUPs such as this adware, open the Windows Control Panel and click on “Uninstall a program”. Check the list of installed programs. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware, browser hijacker or potentially unwanted applications. If yes, remove them off. Even if they are just a applications that you do not use, then uninstalling them off will increase your computer start up time and speed dramatically.
Make sure you have closed all web-browsers and other software. Next, uninstall any undesired and suspicious software from your Control panel.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Now, click the Windows button, type “Control panel” in search and press Enter. Select “Programs and Features”, then “Uninstall a program”.
Look around the entire list of software installed on your computer. Most likely, one of them is the PDFConverter adware. Choose the questionable application or the program that name is not familiar to you and remove it.
Windows Vista, 7
From the “Start” menu in Windows, choose “Control Panel”. Under the “Programs” icon, choose “Uninstall a program”.
Choose the questionable or any unknown software, then press “Uninstall/Change” button to delete this undesired application from your computer.
Windows XP
Click the “Start” button, select “Control Panel” option. Click on “Add/Remove Programs”.
Select an unwanted program, then click “Change/Remove” button. Follow the prompts.
Remove PDFConverter from IE
In order to restore browser settings changed by adware you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the Windows was installed on your PC system.
First, run the Internet Explorer, then click ‘gear’ icon 
. It will show the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the internet browser, then click the “Internet Options” like below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then click the “Reset” button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, press the “Reset” button as displayed on the screen below.
When the process is complete, press “Close” button. Close the IE and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web browser’s newtab, start page and search provider by default to default state.
Remove PDFConverter adware from Chrome
Resetting Chrome to default state is helpful in deleting the PDFConverter ads from your web-browser. This way is always effective to follow if you have difficulty in removing changes caused by adware software.
First open the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will open the Google Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the addon signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.
The browser will show the settings screen. Another method to show the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web-browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as shown on the image below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will display the confirmation dialog box as shown in the figure below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The browser will launch the task of cleaning. After it’s done, the browser’s settings including newtab page, home page and default search engine back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your computer.
Remove PDFConverter adware software from Mozilla Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox settings such as newtab, start page and default search engine have been modified by PDFConverter, then resetting it to the default state can help. It will keep your personal information like browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and web form auto-fill data.
First, open the Firefox. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will display the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as displayed in the following example.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Automatic Removal of PDFConverter adware
If the PDFConverter adware are still there, the situation is more serious. But do not worry. There are several utilities that are designed to search for and get rid of adware software from your web-browser and personal computer. If you are searching for a free solution to adware removal, then Zemana is a good option. Also you can get Hitman Pro and MalwareBytes Free. Both applications also available for free unlimited scanning and for removal of found malware, adware and PUPs.
How to remove PDFConverter with Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM)
Zemana AntiMalware is a program that is used for malware, adware software, browser hijackers and PUPs removal. The application is one of the most efficient antimalware tools. It helps in malicious software removal and and defends all other types of security threats. One of the biggest advantages of using Zemana is that is easy to use and is free. Also, it constantly keeps updating its virus/malware signatures DB. Let’s see how to install and check your personal computer with Zemana Anti Malware in order to remove PDFConverter adware from your PC.
- Visit the following page to download the latest version of Zemana Anti-Malware for Windows. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.
Zemana AntiMalware
164113 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your web browser will display the “Save as” dialog box. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- When the downloading process is done, please close all software and open windows on your personal computer. Next, launch a file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.
- This will open the “Setup wizard” of Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) onto your device. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the Zemana AntiMalware will launch and display the main window.
- Further, press the “Scan” button . Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) application will scan through the whole personal computer for the PDFConverter adware. A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your device. When a malicious software, adware software or potentially unwanted applications are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is finished.
- After finished, Zemana Anti Malware will show a scan report.
- When you’re ready, press the “Next” button. The utility will remove PDFConverter adware and move the selected items to the Quarantine. After disinfection is done, you may be prompted to reboot the computer.
- Close the Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) and continue with the next step.
Use HitmanPro to remove PDFConverter
Hitman Pro is a free utility which can detect and remove adware. It is not always easy to locate all the junk software that your PC might have picked up on the Web. HitmanPro will search for the adware software, hijackers and other malicious software you need to delete.
Please go to the following link to download the latest version of HitmanPro for Microsoft Windows. Save it to your Desktop.
When the downloading process is done, open the file location and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will start the Hitman Pro utility. If the User Account Control dialog box will ask you want to run the program, click Yes button to continue.
Next, click “Next” to start checking your personal computer for the PDFConverter adware. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the HitmanPro is checking, you may see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.
As the scanning ends, Hitman Pro will display a list of all threats detected by the scan as on the image below.
Review the report and then press “Next” button. It will open a prompt, click the “Activate free license” button. The Hitman Pro will remove PDFConverter and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine. When that process is done, the utility may ask you to reboot your personal computer.
How to delete PDFConverter with MalwareBytes Free
You can get rid of PDFConverter adware automatically with a help of MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM). We advise this free malicious software removal tool because it can easily delete hijackers, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
Installing the MalwareBytes Free is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Free from the link below.
326464 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When the downloading process is done, close all programs and windows on your device. Double-click the install file named MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up such as the one below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the Setup wizard which will help you set up MalwareBytes Free on your personal computer. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is done successfully, click “Get Started” button. MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.
Now press the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Free program will scan through the whole computer for the PDFConverter adware software. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your device. While the tool is checking, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.
Once MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) has finished scanning your PC, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will display a scan report. Make sure to check mark the items which are unsafe and then press “Quarantine” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will start to get rid of PDFConverter adware. When the cleaning procedure is done, you may be prompted to reboot the PC system.
We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes Free to delete adware, hijacker and other malicious software.
How to stay safe online
By installing an adblocker program like AdGuard, you’re able to block malicious webpages, stop autoplaying video ads and delete a large number of distracting and unwanted ads on web-sites.
- Please go to the following link to download AdGuard. Save it to your Desktop.
Adguard download
26659 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- Once the download is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the setup is finished, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you run your PC system, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted ads, block harmful and misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, that may be found on your desktop.
To sum up
Once you have complete the few simple steps outlined above, your PC should be free from PDFConverter and other unwanted software. The Edge, IE, Chrome and Mozilla Firefox will no longer redirect you to various intrusive web-sites and online ads. Unfortunately, if the instructions does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help here.
