PDF Converter Power is a browser extension that makes money from showing you ads
PDF Converter Power is the name of a newly found browser extension that acts as adware.[1] It can cause an increased amount of commercial content, like pop-ups, banners, and redirects. Crooks may use rogue advertising networks that place ads leading to dangerous websites.
As a result, people can end up on scam pages that try to trick them into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),[2] and malware. On the opposite side, it is promoted as a useful tool that can help convert PDF files with few clicks.
There are many similar bogus browser plugins. We previously wrote about add-ons, like Style Flex, Extra Search, and Pick Tail. The promised functionality of these apps is questionable. Often they do not work or are non-existent. There are no benefits to keeping them installed on your machine. Additionally, they can cause privacy and security issues.
| NAME | PDF Converter Power |
| TYPE | Browser hijacker; adware |
| SYMPTOMS | The extension starts generating intrusive advertisements and may change the main settings |
| DISTRIBUTION | Shady websites; deceptive ads, freeware installations |
| DANGERS | The ads may lead to dangerous websites controlled by crooks who try to take advantage of less IT-savvy users |
| ELIMINATION | Remove the extension through browser settings |
| FURTHER STEPS | Use FortectIntego to clear your browsers and fix any remaining damage |
Distribution methods
PDF Converter Power adware was found to be distributed through the chrome web store. Although we always recommend our users to only use the official web stores, some bogus apps manage to slip through the extensive review process. That is why you should always do your research.
Read the reviews, look at the ratings and the number of users. Choose those apps that have plenty of positive feedback and thousands of users. It is also a good idea to read the descriptions fully as crooks often make spelling and grammar mistakes.
Another common way that fraudsters spread their plugins is through their own created “official” websites. There, they boast about all the handy functions that actually do not work and try to convince people to download the extension themselves. It is important to stay away from claims that seem too good to be true.
Protect your privacy
Websites, web-based applications, and programs can use cookies[3] to track your activity. These small data files can store information like your IP address, geolocation, websites you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase online. This raises many user privacy and security concerns as this data can be sold to advertising networks or other third parties.
We recommend having a maintenance tool like FortectIntego that can clear your browsers automatically. It can eliminate cookies and cache, and stop the tracking process. This powerful software can also fix various system errors, corrupted files, and registry issues which is especially helpful after a virus infection.
Remove PDF Converter Power adware
PDF Converter Power adware is most likely attached as an extension to your browser that causes push notification spam, banners, surveys, redirects, and other commercial content. You should go to your browser settings and look at the extension list. We recommend removing plugins one by one to see if you notice any changes.
Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Safari
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Freeware installations
Adware is also often spread through freeware[4] distribution platforms. They secretly include additional programs in the installers. Most people skip through the installation process so they do not notice the additional files. We know it might get costly to purchase software licenses but you may save in the long run by keeping your system running smoothly.
You should also always choose the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use to find out how your data will be used. The most important part is to check the file list and untick the boxes next to any unrelated applications.
Scan your system with anti-malware tools
If you completed all the previous steps but you still experience unwanted symptoms, you should check your system for other PUAs. We suggest using SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes anti-malware tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes.
Manual removal of potentially unwanted programs can sometimes result in the renewal of the infection as users often fail to eliminate all the related files and entries. Besides, crooks often disguise them as “handy” tools so it can be difficult to identify them. If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:
Windows 10/8:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Mac:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Was this guide helpful?
Be the first to comment