TopPDFSearch browser hijacker (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge) - Improved Guide

What is TopPDFSearch browser hijacker?

TopPDFSearch browser hijacker – a PUP that fills search results with deceptive ads

The browser hijacker alters browser settings to promote a search engine of its choice

TopPDFSearch is a browser hijacker, although it might seem like a useful tool at first sight. It offers an on-page PDF and currency converters, cryptocurrency overviews, and a calculator. But if you type in a query into the search field, a new page opens with results from Searchlee will be shown. However, the search provider might depend on your geolocation.^[1]

The search results contain tons of various ads. It's not safe to click on any of them as they're generated by the article's culprit. Potentially unwanted program^[2] distributors don't care about the privacy and safety of their users, so they advertise whoever pays the most.

That's why TopPDFSearch ads might lead to dangerous sites with malware, tech support scams, push notification viruses, etc. Please refrain from clicking on them or trying to close them as the “Close” or “X” buttons might disfunction and open an affiliated portal anyways.

Furthermore, this type of software modifies every browser installed on your device by changing their default search engine, new tab, and homepage preferences. In this particular case, all settings are altered without the user's direct consent to promote portal.toppdfsearch.com.

Moreover, browser hijackers have data-tracking capabilities. Such PUPs usually collect non-identifiable information (IP addresses, geolocations, search inquiries, URLs of visited sites, etc.). Still, in some cases, they could gather personal details, such as emails, names, and so on.

Based on the aggregated information (aka your browsing habits), the PUP operators customize advertisements specifically for you, so they might seem irresistible. Sometimes, the information is shared with or sold to third parties to increase revenue.

Therefore we strongly recommend our readers remove TopPDFSearch browser hijacker, and the sooner, the better. This article contains comprehensive instructions to help you get rid of this intruder, whether it's installed as an app or a browser extension, and repair virus damage.

Search results provided by the browser hijacker contain lots of ads

Remove TopPDFSearch and protect yourself from such PUPs in the future

Potentially unwanted programs, including the article's culprit, usually end up on devices without their owners knowing about it. That happens when you download a software bundle from third-party vendors. They use this technique to increase their revenue.

Additional applications aren't disclosed, and as soon as you pick the Standard, Quick, or Recommended installation mode, all of them are automatically installed. Even some legitimate software vendors and developers are using this deceptive technique. Therefore you need to be careful when installing any new apps.

One way to evade TopPDFSearch and PUPs like is to choose the Custom or Advanced installation mode and go through the whole process step-by-step, deselecting all unreliable, suspicious, unwanted apps from installing on your device. Another way is to have a proper anti-malware tool like the Malwarebytes that will block you from installing such software.

In this day and age, reliable security software is essential as cybercriminals are getting more and more aggressive, and their vile creations are getting more devastating. Such apps will protect your device from various malware that's lurking on the internet and waiting for users with insufficient cybersecurity levels.

You can easily remove TopPDFSearch if it's installed as an app with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or the aforementioned security tool. This kind of software ensures that all cyber threats with all components are properly eliminated. We don't recommend manual removal as key entries might get overlooked. But if you're eager to do it yourself, at least use our illustrated instructions.

Follow these steps to remove suspicious applications from computers running 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 the uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

There was a time when Apple devices were not susceptible to any cyber infections. But those days are long gone. Practically every Apple device can get infected with PUPs or malware. Therefore, if you see any symptoms of TopPDFSearch virus on your Mac, use these instructions to get rid of it:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. 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:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.

Please note that residual infection files could cause various system issues, including infection renewal. That's why, after you successfully remove TopPDFSearch manually, we still recommend scanning the device with a trustworthy anti-malware tool to make sure no files were overlooked.

Eliminate all suspicious extensions from your browsers and clean up your PC

The browser hijacker might not be that easy to remove and might hide as a browser extension. Then you will need to get your hands dirty because there are no tools capable of helping you out. And if some app is claiming otherwise, it's probably a PUP itself.

Since you came to us for help, we'll be more than happy to assist you. This chapter contains comprehensive instructions to clean the two most popular browsers in the world. Please stick to the step-by-step guides, and you'll be able to restore your default browser settings. Follow these steps to remove TopPDFSearch extension from your Chrome browser:

• Open the browser, 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.

As well as Apple devices, their default browser can also get infected with potentially unwanted programs. The removal is fairly simple, but we still recommend using our illustrated instructions, so the whole process goes without any hiccups and is finished within a few minutes. Manual questionable extension removal guide for Safari:

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

By completing all these steps, TopPDFSearch browser hijacker will be safely removed. The only thing to take care of is the overall health of your device. A messy registry, tons of tracking cookies, and other system irregularities might result in various system failures.

You can avoid them by performing system diagnostics with the time-tested FortectIntego repair software. Cybersecurity analysts^[3] highly recommend it as it automatically detects and fixes all system-related issues, so your device runs smoothly. It also eliminates all tracking cookies stored by mischievous domains, so your privacy is safe.

In the future, if any potentially unwanted program slips by the defenses of your anti-malware software, please remember to not push on any of the displayed ads. Immediately update your safety tool's virus definitions database with the latest signatures and perform a full system scan.