What is ClickPDFSearch?
According to cyber security specialists, ClickPDFSearch is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the category of browser hijackers. Browser hijacker is a kind of software that is created to change the web browser settings without the knowledge or permission of the computer user, and it usually redirects the affected system’s internet browser to certain advertisement-related websites. A browser hijacker initiates numerous popups, installs multiple toolbars on the web-browser, redirects web searches to its own website, alters the default internet browser search provider or home page and generates multiple pop-up advertisements. If your web-browser is affected by a browser hijacker you may need to complete manual steps or use a malware removal tool to revert changes made to your internet browsers.
Most often, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by setting their address as the default search provider. In this case, the hijacker installs feed.clickpdfsearch.com as a search engine. This means that users whose internet browser is affected with the browser hijacker are forced to visit clickpdfsearch.com each time they search in the Web, open a new window or tab. And since clickpdfsearch.com is not a real search provider and does not have the ability to find the information users need, this webpage redirects the user’s web-browser to the Yahoo search engine.
And finally, the ClickPDFSearch hijacker be able to gather your confidential information like what websites you’re opening, what you are looking for the Net and so on. This information, in the future, can be used for marketing purposes.
In order to get rid of browser hijacker from your personal computer, clean the infected web browsers and restore the IE, Firefox, Chrome and MS Edge settings to its default state, please use the ClickPDFSearch removal guide below.
How can a browser hijacker get on your device
Browser hijackers may be spread through the use of trojan horses and other forms of malware, but most commonly, browser hijackers such as ClickPDFSearch get on personal computers as a part of certain freeware. Many authors of free applications include bundled software in their setup file. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the installation of any browser hijackers like ClickPDFSearch: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation option, unset all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new freeware.
Threat Summary
Name | ClickPDFSearch |
Type | startpage hijacker, redirect virus, PUP, search provider hijacker, browser hijacker |
Asscoated domains | feed.clickpdfsearch.com, get.clickpdfsearch.com, install.clickpdfsearch.com, portal.clickpdfsearch.com |
Affected Browser Settings | new tab URL, search engine, start page |
Distribution | suspicious pop-up ads, fake software updaters, free programs setup packages |
Symptoms | Advertising banners appear on web pages that you are visiting. Webpage links redirect to web sites different from what you expected. Unwanted application installed without your consent. An unexpected web browser plugin appears in your web-browser. Your browser search provider has changed without your permission. |
Removal | ClickPDFSearch removal guide |
How to remove ClickPDFSearch from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
In order to remove ClickPDFSearch browser hijacker, start by closing any programs and pop ups that are open. If a pop-up won’t close, then close your browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and MS Edge). If a program won’t close then please restart your PC. Next, follow the steps below.
To remove ClickPDFSearch, execute the following steps:
- How to manually remove ClickPDFSearch
- Automatic Removal of ClickPDFSearch
- How to stop ClickPDFSearch redirect
How to manually remove ClickPDFSearch
Read this section to know how to manually delete the ClickPDFSearch hijacker. Even if the step-by-step tutorial does not work for you, there are several free malware removers below which can easily handle such browser hijackers.
Remove dubious applications using Windows Control Panel
First, go to Windows Control Panel and remove suspicious apps, all programs you do not remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to software you installed just before ClickPDFSearch browser hijacker appeared on your internet browser. If you do not know what a program does, look for the answer on the World Wide Web.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the Microsoft Windows logo, and then click Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown on the screen below.
When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as shown on the image below.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and choose the ‘Control Panel’ at right like the one below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Microsoft Windows 7 or Vista) as displayed on the screen below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and delete all questionable and unknown apps. We recommend to click ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed software by date. After you’ve found anything suspicious that may be the ClickPDFSearch hijacker or other potentially unwanted application (PUA), then choose this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious program blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to completely get rid of it from your device.
Delete ClickPDFSearch hijacker from Internet Explorer
The Internet Explorer reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked or you have unwanted extensions or toolbars on your web browser, which installed by a malicious software.
First, launch the IE, then press ‘gear’ icon . It will display the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the web-browser, then click the “Internet Options” as shown below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button as displayed below.
When the procedure is complete, click “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and restart your personal computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web-browser’s search provider, start page and newtab page to default state.
Remove ClickPDFSearch from Firefox by resetting web browser settings
This step will allow you remove ClickPDFSearch, third-party toolbars, disable harmful extensions and return your default home page, newtab and search provider settings.
Launch the Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the browser screen. Next, press the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will show the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown in the figure below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Mozilla Firefox will start a task to fix your problems that caused by the ClickPDFSearch hijacker. Once, it’s finished, click the “Finish” button.
Remove ClickPDFSearch from Chrome
The hijacker can alter your Chrome settings without your knowledge. You may see ClickPDFSearch as your search provider or startpage, additional extensions and toolbars. Reset Chrome web-browser will allow you to get rid of ClickPDFSearch and reset the unwanted changes caused by browser hijacker. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.
- First start the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and press “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this task is complete, your web-browser’s new tab, start page and search engine will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Automatic Removal of ClickPDFSearch
Many antivirus companies have created applications that help detect and remove browser hijacker, and thereby revert back all your typical internet browsers settings. Below is a a few of the free applications you may want to run. Your personal computer may have tons of PUPs, adware software and browser hijackers installed at the same time, so we recommend, if any unwanted or malicious program returns after rebooting the personal computer, then boot your computer into Safe Mode and run the anti malware utility again.
Run Zemana Free to remove ClickPDFSearch hijacker
Zemana is a free program for Microsoft Windows OS to scan for and delete PUPs, adware, malicious browser extensions, browser toolbars, and other undesired apps such as ClickPDFSearch browser hijacker.
Visit the following page to download the latest version of Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) for Windows. Save it on your Desktop.
162857 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After downloading is complete, close all windows on your computer. Further, launch the install file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as displayed in the following example, press the “Yes” button.
It will display the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana Anti-Malware on the computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is finished successfully, Zemana will automatically start and you can see its main window such as the one below.
Next, click the “Scan” button to find ClickPDFSearch hijacker. Depending on your computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the tool is scanning, you may see count of objects and files has already scanned.
When the scanning is complete, a list of all threats found is created. You may delete items (move to Quarantine) by simply press “Next” button.
The Zemana Free will start to get rid of ClickPDFSearch hijacker. Once the clean-up is done, you may be prompted to reboot your personal computer.
Run Hitman Pro to delete ClickPDFSearch from the computer
The Hitman Pro tool is free and easy to use. It can scan and remove ClickPDFSearch browser hijacker, malicious software, PUPs and adware from personal computer (MS Windows 10, 8, 7, XP) and thereby revert back web browsers default settings (startpage, newtab page and search provider). HitmanPro is powerful enough to locate and delete malicious registry entries and files that are hidden on the PC.
Download Hitman Pro from the following link.
After the downloading process is finished, open the file location and double-click the HitmanPro icon. It will start the HitmanPro 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 search for ClickPDFSearch hijacker. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your device.
Once Hitman Pro has finished scanning, it will show the Scan Results similar to the one below.
All detected items will be marked. You can remove them all by simply click “Next” button. It will open a dialog box, click the “Activate free license” button. The Hitman Pro will start to remove ClickPDFSearch browser hijacker. After the cleaning procedure is done, the utility may ask you to reboot your PC system.
Run MalwareBytes Free to remove ClickPDFSearch hijacker
Manual ClickPDFSearch hijacker removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the browser hijacker may be not fully removed. We suggest that run the MalwareBytes Anti Malware that are completely free your PC of browser hijacker. Moreover, this free application will help you to remove malware, PUPs, adware and toolbars that your computer can be infected too.
Download MalwareBytes Free on your device from the following link.
324544 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When the downloading process is complete, close all windows on your PC. Further, open the file called MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown on the screen below, click the “Yes” button.
It will display the Setup wizard that will allow you install MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) on the device. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is complete successfully, click “Get Started” button. Then MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you may see its main window as displayed on the screen below.
Next, click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware application will scan through the whole PC for the ClickPDFSearch browser hijacker. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.
After MalwareBytes completes the scan, a list of all items found is created. Once you have selected what you want to delete from your personal computer click “Quarantine” button.
The MalwareBytes will start to get rid of ClickPDFSearch hijacker. Once that process is done, you can be prompted to reboot your personal computer. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes to remove browser hijackers, adware software and other malicious software.
How to stop ClickPDFSearch redirect
It’s also critical to protect your internet browsers from malicious web pages and advertisements by using an ad-blocking program like AdGuard. Security experts says that it’ll greatly reduce the risk of malware, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.
- Visit the following page to download AdGuard. Save it directly to your Microsoft Windows Desktop.
Adguard download
26354 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- After downloading it, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- When the install is complete, click “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC, AdGuard will run automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block ClickPDFSearch, as well as other malicious or 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 named AdGuard, which can be found on your desktop.
To sum up
Now your personal computer should be clean of the ClickPDFSearch browser hijacker. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and unwanted harmful web-sites) and Zemana Free (to periodically scan your personal computer for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Microsoft Windows operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, harmful software and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove ClickPDFSearch from your web browser, then ask for help here.