PDFConverterHQ is a browser hijacking browser plugin that sets homepage and new tab to MyWay
PDFConverterHQ is a browser plugin that is advertised as a tool that helps with PDF file conversion. However, the app is considered to be a browser hijacker[1] which changes the settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, or another browser and sets the homepage, new tab address and search engine to hxxps://hp.myway.com.
Designed by Ask Apps, or MindSpark Interactive, a notorious PUP producer, PDFConverterHQ can be downloaded on the official sources, such as the official site or Chrome web store. However, users mostly find their web browsers' settings altered after the installation of freeware, as the hijacker is usually distributed in software bundles.
Just as many other potentially unwanted programs of such kind, PDFConverterHQ tries to convince users about its usefulness by providing some specific functionality, i.e., PDF file conversion. However, this is a mere disguise by the program authors, as their main goal is to display affiliated content to users with the help of pop-ups, redirects, and sponsored search results.
| Name | PDFConverterHQ |
| Also known as | PUP.Optional.Mindspark |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Homepage change | hxxps://hp.myway.com |
| Developer | MindSpark Interactive or Ask Apps |
| Risks | Installation of other potentially unwanted software, loss of money, slow browser operation, etc. |
| Symptoms | Changed web browser settings, ads, sponsored links, redirects, etc. |
| Removal | To delete PDFConverterHQ, either use our instructions below or employ security software |
| Optimization | To ensure the system runs well after the infection, scan it with FortectIntego |
Browser hijackers are not considered to be malicious programs, and many security tools recognize such apps as “not malware,” so calling it ” PDFConverterHQ virus” would not be entirely correct. However, the principles of the browser hijacker remain: users are usually unaware of the following:
- they are presented alternative search results;
- ads that appear on various visited domains come from the hijacker, and not the original site;
- their browsing data is being tracked, harvested and compiled into aggregated information for targeted marketing purposes.
Therefore, while PDFConverterHQ hijack is not a significant threat to online security, it is still worth mentioning that the impact on the web browsing activities is there, and users should know what they are dealing with.
The alternative search results, sponsored links, and ads on all sites is the massive network of marketing firms, compiling the information about your web browsing and using it to earn money. However, you should ask yourself whether the functionality of PDF converting is really worth it?
We believe that there are much better tools available online, such as that do not hijack the search engine and show ads on all sites that you visit. Therefore, we advise you to remove PDFConverterHQ from your computer and rather use legitimate search engines, such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo. If you are concerned about privacy – DuckDuckGo is a good choice.
You can perform PDFConverterHQ removal with the help of our guidelines below, although you can also employ security software with an enabled PUP scanner. It will delete all the components of the hijacker in just a few seconds. Finally, you should also reset all the installed browsers and scan your device with FortectIntego for best results.
Browser hijackers are often bundled with freeware – here are tips to avoid them
Browser hijackers typically would not cause any problems for experienced computer users, as they are relatively easy to delete. However, the problems start when users do not realize that their browsers have been hijacked and they are viewing alternative search results which are filled with sponsored links. Such activity can later bring users to potentially dangerous domains, where other PUPs or even malware can get installed automatically.
Therefore, it is best staying away from potentially unwanted programs in the first place. The best way to do that is by being attentive during the installation process of new programs, as most of the PUPs are distributed within bundled software installers. The biggest mistake users make is rushing, as they skip through steps and do not read the installation instructions carefully.
Thus, take your time when establishing a new program, and always make sure you decline all the offers or deals, and pick Advanced or Custom settings so that you would be able to remove PDF converters, download managers, system optimizers, and other bloatware. Additionally, experts[2] recommend installing anti-malware software and keeping it updated for the overall security of the computer.
Uninstall PDFConverterHQ plugin and all the other PUPs
As we already mentioned, browser hijackers are usually not that dangerous, although some other potentially unwanted programs might be much more intrusive and evasive. Thus, you should try to remove PDFConverterHQ manually first, and then reset all the installed browsers on your device.
If not successful and your browsers are still experiencing suspicious behavior (pop-up ads, redirects, bookmarks added, etc.), there is a chance that you have many PUPs installed on your system. Therefore, we suggest you perform PDFConverterHQ removal with the help of anti-malware software that specializes in PUPs or at least has a feature which enables PUP scanner.
Adware, browser hijackers and other PUPs have been a cause of rising concerns in the past few years, as lengthy lawsuit battles prevented such-like apps being labeled as spyware.[3] Nevertheless, it is best to be safe than sorry and delete all the applications that tamper with your browser settings and record information about you, including PDFConverterHQ.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from 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 Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- 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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from 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 suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
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