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  • Severity: Medium
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  • Verified · Apr 2019

How to remove PDFSpark

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Gabriel E. Hall · Passionate web researcher

PDFSpark is a Mac PDF converter that installs other programs and collects user-related information without any approval

PDFSpark

PDFSpark is the potentially unwanted application that claims to offer opening, converting, and annotating PDF files on Mac OS. Users can get this program on purpose because of the promotional content and alleged features. Once this tool gets installed, it pushes its victim into downloading similar programs and delivers commercial content promoting various services or software. Additionally, you can find unknown browser extensions, search engines, and similar components added to Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browser. In some cases, PDFSpark can appear on the system out of nowhere as well because software bundling is the main distribution technique for this type of PUPs.[1] 

Name PDFSpark
Category Mac virus
Type System tools
Promoted as Useful program capable of converting files
Symptoms Displays ads, changes system settings, causes installation of questionable content
Distribution Software bundles, an official site
Affected system MacOS
Main risks Being introduced to a malicious website or programs, the loss of personally identifiable information
Removal To remove PDFSpark completely, clean the system using anti-malware program. Fix your system further by using FortectIntego

When users install PDFSpark willingly, during the installation, other unwanted applications get bundled alongside the installer. However, typically users install these types of applications unintentionally and without knowledge. It mostly happens when they visit deceptive sites or get their program from questionable sources like p2p services.[2]

PDFSpark categorizes as a potentially unwanted program for this reason and based on the intrusive behavior. Having a program like this indicates that other adware-type infections also have been installed. PUPs are not always noticeable right away because symptoms may differ from program to program.

Adware programs like PDFSpark virus focus on generating views and revenue for the publisher or sponsor, so various commercial content in the form of pop-up ads, banners or redirects fill up your screen. Browser-hijackers are mostly focusing on redirecting your online searches to their websites and filling up the results with advertisements. 

Unfortunately, all potentially unwanted programs including PDFSpark can access various information about the user:

  • IP address;
  • online browsing preferences;
  • search queries;
  • most visited sites;
  • location;
  • details about the software, equipment used.

This information gets tracked and collected due to the relation between PDFSpark and advertisers. Commercial content creators later use this data to make advertisements more geared towards viewers and their online habits. Personalized ads make sure that the promoted content is purchased and pages get more views to monetize.

PDFSpark application

This intrusive and unwanted behavior should encourage you to employ professional anti-malware tools for PDFSpark removal immediately. We offer this method when dealing with stealthily installed programs because this way you can find and eliminate them all from the machine.

To remove PDFSpark, other programs installed without your permission and clean the system entirely, you need a reputable tool. Get the anti-malware program from a reliable source and perform a thorough system scan. We can recommend using FortectIntego because this tool can also repair the possible damage and improve the performance of your device.

Be aware of the software bundles and silent infiltration

Unwanted programs appear out of nowhere on the computer because deceptive techniques get used to spreading them around. Software bundles, fraudulent websites, questionable freeware providers and promotional advertisements deliver these PUAs without users' knowledge.

When installing any programs, you need to pay close attention to the process of installation because freeware often gets packed with questionable programs like system tools, fake optimizers or browser hijackers and adware. This method is widely used and works in PUP developers' favor because users tend to skip through important steps.

Experts[3] recommend choosing Advanced or Custom options during the installation because it allows seeing and de-selecting additional programs from the download list. This way you can avoid any suspicious and unwanted installation.

Terminate PDFSpark and clean the system with an antivirus program

To remove PDFSpark from your device, you need to find all related files and delete them from the machine. Unfortunately, this may take time and not work at all since various other alterations ensure the persistence of this program.

Get the professional anti-malware for PDFSpark removal and scan the machine fully. This way all changed registry keys or added programs and files can get eliminated. Also, anti-malware tools delete all programs installed without your permission or corrupted and malicious files.

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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