EasyPDFCombine virus: uninstall Easy PDF Combine toolbar

Learn how to remove the app called EasyPDFCombine, which hijacks a browser and redirects web traffic while claiming to deliver a PDF files merging feature.

Some unscrupulous software developers prefer easy profit over ethical marketing work. While trying to engage as many people as possible with their service, the authors of the EasyPDFCombine application leverage questionable distribution techniques and a very controversial monetization methodology. Also referred to as Easy PDF Combine, this tool may appear useful because it purportedly allows people to merge several PDF documents into one. This type of functionality is certainly in demand with users, so no wonder some will fall for this catch and give this product a shot. In the upshot, though, the utility blatantly hijacks the web browser it’s running on. Every time a victim opens a new tab or launches their browser, they will end up on a wrong site instead of the preferred one for a particular setting. The unwanted page doesn’t display the URL, but when a search is run via the appropriate box it will return search.myway.com or int.search.myway.com.

The virus also adds a toolbar to the infected web browser. It is located in the top part of the page and includes the following items: a search field, the EasyPDFCombine button, Share Files, Convert Files, Language Tools, Weather forecast, Facebook, and a button to listen to the radio. A few of these features are accessible via large icons at the bottom as well. The toolbar in question is persistent in that the infected person will be unable to hide or uninstall it altogether. A search by any keyword or key phrase entered there will spawn yet another tab with results by the MyWay or Ask online service. Meaningful entries are going to be mingled with targeted ads.

How does the program know what sponsored information to serve? The answer becomes clear once you take a look at the permissions that EasyPDFCombine gets on the host system. It can read and change the browsing history as well as all data on visited websites, not to mention that it is allowed to manage downloads, extensions and the like. In other words, the offending add-on gets sufficient privileges to monitor the victim’s Internet activity. This isn’t a favorable turn of events for anyone infected. To top it off, the Easy PDF Combine toolbar skips user authorization when being installed. The trick is that its distributors use the software bundling hoax to help their brainchild reach computers. Some freeware download resources spread the infection as a component of compound product installations. As a result, users mainly fail to notice the extra app, moreover, it is part of the default installation option. The only way to opt out is to select the custom setup variant and then uncheck the unwelcome program. Once again, since the EasyPDFCombine malware may be hard to remove, the instruction below will come in handy.

Automated removal of EasyPDFCombine virus

Owing to an up-to-date database of malware signatures and intelligent behavioral detection, the recommended software can quickly locate the infection, eradicate it and remediate all harmful changes. So go ahead and do the following:

1. Download and install the antimalware tool. Open the solution and have it check your PC for PUPs and other types of malicious software by clicking the Start Computer Scan button

Download EasyPDFCombine remover

2. Rest assured the scan report will list all items that may harm your operating system. Select the detected entries and click Fix Threats to get the troubleshooting completed.

Use Control Panel to get rid of EasyPDFCombine toolbar

• Open up the Control Panel from your Start menu in Windows and select Uninstall a program

• To facilitate the process of locating the threat, sort the programs list by date to get the latest ones displayed at the very top. Look for EasyPDFCombine or other unfamiliar entries under the Name column. When the likely crapware is found, click Uninstall and follow further directions to get the removal done.

Restore web browser settings to their original defaults

In the circumstances of a complex browser hijack like this, executing a reset makes the most sense despite a few obvious downsides. Customizations such as saved passwords, bookmarked pages etc. will be gone, but so will all the changes made by the potentially unwanted program. The instructions below address the workflow for the web browsers most targeted by EasyPDFCombine New Tab virus.

Reset Google Chrome

• Open Chrome, expand the Customize and control Google Chrome menu and choose Settings

• Scroll down the settings screen and click Advanced down at the bottom

• Move on to the Reset and clean up sub-section and select the option that says Restore settings to their original defaults

• Finally, confirm the restoration by clicking Reset settings on the warning message

• Restart Chrome.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

• Open Firefox, type about:support in the URL area and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click on the Open menu icon in the top right-hand part of the browser window, then select the Help option and proceed to Troubleshooting Information

• On the Troubleshooting Information screen, spot the Refresh Firefox button and click on it

• Follow subsequent directions to reset Firefox to its original settings

• Restart the browser.

Reset Internet Explorer

• Select Internet options under IE’s Tools (Alt+X)

• Proceed by clicking on Advanced tab, then select Reset

• To confirm the intended changes, click Reset on the Reset Internet Explorer Settings screen after ascertaining that the Delete personal settings checkbox is enabled

• Reboot the machine to fully implement the fix.

Reset Safari

• Go to the Safari menu and select Preferences

• When on the Preferences screen, select the Privacy tab and hit the Remove All Website Data button if you are up to erasing all website data stored on your Mac. Otherwise, you can use a site-specific removal option described below

• A dialog will appear, asking you to validate your choice. Click the Remove Now button if you are sure. Be advised this will log you out of online services and undo personalized web browser settings such as saved passwords, etc.

• Safari also allows deleting data for specific sites rather than all sites in general. To use this option, click the Details button under Privacy tab

• Select the websites for which you would like to erase data and click the Remove button

• Click the Done button to confirm and exit. You can also select the Remove All option to remove all data stored by the listed websites.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup.

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