PDFConverterSearchPro ads: what it is and how to remove it
PDFConverterSearchPro is a browser-based plugin that makes modifications to the browser in order to promote affiliated sites. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) does that by rerouting all your search inquiries through a fake search engine, enabling it to inject ads into search results.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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PDFConverterSearchPro ads: summary
| Distribution | Fake Flash Player updates, software bundles, deceptive ads |
|---|---|
| Damage | Financial losses, privacy issues, other PUP installations, malware infections |
| name | PDFConverterSearchPro |
| Type | Browser hijacker, redirect virus, PUP |
| Altered browser settings | Startpage, new tab, and default search engine |
| Promote fake search site | feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| IP address | 104.21.48.105 |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | All searches going through a strange page, ads in search results, slower browsing speed, slower device, redirects to questionable sites |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Name | PDFConverterSearchPro |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 17 March 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is PDFConverterSearchPro ads dangerous?
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
PDFConverterSearchPro – a PUP that will redirect your searches through a search engine of its choice
PDFConverterSearchPro is a browser-based plugin that makes modifications to the browser in order to promote affiliated sites.
This potentially unwanted program (PUP) does that by rerouting all your search inquiries through a fake search engine, enabling it to inject ads into search results.
PDFConverterSearchPro redirect also allows it to collect non-personal information, such as IP addresses, browser/device info, geolocations, used apps, browsing history, etc. When this browser intruder is installed as an app or an extension, all your searches will go through feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com until altered results from Searchlee, Yahoo, or other sources are shown.
This PUP is able to do that by changing certain settings on your browsers, such as the default search engine, new tab, and homepage. If you see any symptoms that you have this browser hijacker on your device, you came to the right place to find out how to get rid of it and learn more about similar threats.
PDFConverterSearchPro browser hijacker and potentially unwanted programs alike can be falsely advertised as helpful tools that will increase your browsing speed, make searches easier and precise, boost your device performance, and so on. In fact, they might do the exact opposite.
First of all, redirects caused by this PUP automatically slow down the browsing speed. Then PDFConverterSearchPro ads, shown in altered search results, could severely diminish the browsing experience. If any of them are clicked purposely or accidentally, they might lead to hazardous affiliated sites.
These pages could have explicit, risky, or even malicious content, such as gambling, porn, malware, fake updates, various scams, etc. And what's worse, PDFConverterSearchPro virus could redirect you to any of the sponsored sites without you pushing any buttons.
Potentially unwanted program developers get revenue from affiliated sites for generating traffic to them. Since all they care about is money, not your safety, users could be exposed to various cyber threats. Therefore, you should make PDFConverterSearchPro removal today's priority.
To find out if it's installed as an extension or an app, you must complete a scan with a trustworthy anti-malware tool. If PDFConverterSearchPro is detected, eliminate it along with any allocated files.
Afterward, use our free guides at the bottom of the page to remove PDFConverterSearchPro from your browser (if it was installed as a browser extension).
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on PDFConverterSearchPro
- Get rid of this PUP by scanning your device with a reliable anti-malware tool.
- To remove tracking cookies left by shady sites and restore any Registry or other key system settings/files, use the all-in-one system tune-up tool
How PDFConverterSearchPro ads got into your browser
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
For a limited time, browser hijackers can be downloaded from official marketplaces like the Google Chrome Web Store, but they tend to be distributed in a more stealthy manner.
One of the most popular ways to get a browser intruder on your device is rushing through the installation of new software.
To distribute their worthless but risky creations, PUP developers are using a method called software bundling. These packs of apps are usually downloaded from third-party software vendors, but some legitimate program creators were also spotted offering them.
Thus the only way to not get a PUP infection traveling within a bundle is to stay attentive when installing any software. First off, read the EULA as all apps are listed there. Then pick the Advanced/Custom installation mode and remove ticks from each preselected app that you don't want to have on your device.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com
How to remove PDFConverterSearchPro ads
How to stop the PDFConverterSearchPro redirects
Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.
Step 1: Check the browser's extensions
Redirects to
feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.comon sites that normally behave mean something in the browser is sending you there. In Chrome openchrome://extensions, in Edge edge://extensions, in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially new tab, search, coupon, PDF or video downloader add-ons. The extension pages look the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue
If
feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.comstill opens after the extensions are gone, put the browser's settings back to their defaults. In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while site permissions, the start page and the search engine are reset.
Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program installed in Windows 11 or Windows 10, so uninstall anything you do not recognise in Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
If you only saw the notifications and clicked nothing, you can stop before this step. If a notification led you to download or run something, delete that file, then scan Windows.
In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan, then choose Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and Scan now. The offline scan restarts the PC and takes about 15 minutes on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Guidelines to remove PDFConverterSearchPro virus from your device and browser
PDFConverterSearchPro virus could be falsely advertised as a handy tool that will improve some aspect of browsing or computer performance, but that is just not true.
Browser hijackers can only cause more harm than good by showing deceptive ads, collecting browsing-related data, and causing sudden redirects to dubious sites.
PDFConverterSearchPro removal consists of three parts. First, you must perform a full system scan with reliable anti-malware software capable of detecting the latest infections. When the scan is finished, follow the security tools recommendations on how to proceed further.
Then you have to remove PDFConverterSearchPro from your browser if it was installed as an extension. And lastly, perform system diagnostics with compatible optimizers to restore any altered Registry values and eliminate tracking cookies.
Questions about PDFConverterSearchPro ads
How do I stop feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com from opening?
Find and remove whatever opens it. Start with the browser's extensions page and remove anything you do not remember adding. Next, open the notification settings and take away permission from sites you do not recognise.
Then check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for programs added around the day the redirects began, and uninstall those. Restart the browser and test a few links after each step.
If feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com still appears, reset the browser, which restores the default search engine, start page and permissions without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords. Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program in Windows, and a full scan is the next step.
Is it safe that my browser was redirected to feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com?
Landing on feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com does not infect the PC by itself. A browser does not run programs from a page without your action. The danger is in the pages that come next:
- some ask you to allow notifications
- some show fake virus warnings
- some offer downloads
- ask for card details
If you only saw those pages and closed them, nothing more is needed than removing whatever caused the redirect. If you allowed notifications, remove that permission.
If you downloaded a file, delete it unopened, or uninstall it if you ran it. If you typed a password or card number on one of the pages, change the password and call your bank.
Why does PDFConverterSearchPro show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. PDFConverterSearchPro is an ad redirect domain, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of redirects through ad pages.
They are chosen by ad networks that accept almost any advertiser, which is why so many look like warnings or prizes. The ads are not a sign that your PC is broken or infected with something worse; they are a sign that something on it, or in the browser, has permission to advertise. Removing that permission or program stops them.
Is feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com safe to visit?
No. The site feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com exists to push visitors towards ads, and the pages it leads to include fake virus warnings, fake updates, prize scams and notification prompts. Visiting it once does not infect an up-to-date PC, but anything you click or download there is a gamble.
Do not enter personal details, do not allow notifications and do not call phone numbers it shows. If it opens by itself, close the tab and check the browser's extensions and notification permissions. Blocking the single domain helps little, because the operators register new names regularly.
Do I have to clean every browser?
Yes, if you use more than one. We saw PDFConverterSearchPro in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and each browser keeps its own extensions, notification permissions and settings. Chrome and Edge share the same extension format, so one installer can add the same adware to both, while Firefox has its own add-ons.
Check every browser on the PC, including ones you rarely open. If you sync a browser with an account, clean it while signed in, so that the removal reaches your other computers rather than the adware returning from them.
How do I know the ads come from PDFConverterSearchPro?
Look for redirects to feed.pdfconvertersearchpro.com. That is the trace PDFConverterSearchPro leaves, and it shows up as redirects through ad pages. Ads that appear on every site, including ones that never carried ads before, point to something on your PC or in the browser rather than to the sites themselves.
A quick test is a private window, where extensions are off by default: if the ads disappear there, an extension is responsible. If they appear even with the browser closed, the source is a notification permission or a program in Windows.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
Why didn't my antivirus catch PDFConverterSearchPro?
Many security products do not block adware or notification sites by default, because users often agreed to them, even through a misleading prompt. Notification spam installs nothing at all, so there is no file to detect.
In Windows 11 you can make Microsoft Defender block potentially unwanted apps: open Windows Security > App & browser control > Reputation-based protection settings and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking. If notifications caused the pop-ups, no scanner will report them; the fix is in the browser's site settings.
Will Fortect remove PDFConverterSearchPro?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For PDFConverterSearchPro, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Potentially unwanted program (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)