What is PDF Converter by Safely?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that PDF Converter by Safely is a search hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" manipulate your browser(s), for example to change your startpage or searchscopes, so that the affected browser visits their site or one of their choice.
How do I know if my computer is affected by PDF Converter by Safely?
You may see these new browser extensions/add-ons:
and these warnings during install:
You will see this icon in the browser's menu-bar:
How did PDF Converter by Safely get on my computer?
Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. The Chrome extension was downloaded from the webstore:
after a redirect from their website:
How do I remove PDF Converter by Safely?
Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- Then click Finish.
- Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- No, Malwarebytes removes PDF Converter by Safely completely.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the PDF Converter by Safely hijacker. It would have blocked their website, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
FF Extension: (PDF Converter by Safely) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\Extensions\{f459049d-939d-432e-83c7-07ced47e629a}.xpi [2019-08-07] [UpdateUrl:hxxps://addons.search-safely.net/pcff/updates.json] CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxp://www.pdfsearchsafe.com/search/?category=web&s=g6ds&q={searchTerms} CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> PDF Converter CHR DefaultSuggestURL: Default -> hxxp://sug.pdfsearchsafe.com/search/index_sg.php?q={searchTerms} CHR Extension: (PDF Converter) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd [2019-08-07]Alterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0 Adds the file config.js"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 1557 bytes, A Adds the file manifest.json"="8/7/2019 9:20 AM, 2135 bytes, A Adds the file rate.js"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 2585 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\_metadata Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="8/7/2019 9:20 AM, 10702 bytes, A Adds the file verified_contents.json"="6/25/2019 4:02 PM, 5796 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\bg Adds the file background.html"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 200 bytes, A Adds the file background.js"="6/23/2019 3:58 PM, 2217 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img Adds the file close-icon.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 230 bytes, A Adds the file cog-icon.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 393 bytes, A Adds the file icon128.png"="8/7/2019 9:20 AM, 2270 bytes, A Adds the file icon16.png"="8/7/2019 9:20 AM, 518 bytes, A Adds the file icon48.png"="8/7/2019 9:20 AM, 1069 bytes, A Adds the file pdf_converter_presentation2.gif"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 117798 bytes, A Adds the file type-jpg.svg"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 3521 bytes, A Adds the file type-pjpg.svg"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 4369 bytes, A Adds the file type-png.svg"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 3250 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\rateshare Adds the file close.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 1920 bytes, A Adds the file rate.jpg"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 102155 bytes, A Adds the file rate1.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 12334 bytes, A Adds the file share.jpg"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 17633 bytes, A Adds the file share1.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 4466 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\inject Adds the file onInstallCallback.js"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 684 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery Adds the file jquery.cookie.js"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 4341 bytes, A Adds the file jquery.min.js"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 84249 bytes, A Adds the file jquery-ui.custom.min.js"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 228088 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css Adds the file jquery-ui.custom.css"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 20579 bytes, A Adds the file override-page.css"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 5513 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images Adds the file ui-bg_flat_55_999999_40x100.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 180 bytes, A Adds the file ui-bg_flat_75_aaaaaa_40x100.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 180 bytes, A Adds the file ui-bg_glass_45_0078ae_1x400.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 136 bytes, A Adds the file ui-bg_glass_55_f8da4e_1x400.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 131 bytes, A Adds the file ui-bg_glass_75_79c9ec_1x400.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 132 bytes, A Adds the file ui-bg_gloss-wave_50_38cfff_500x100.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 89 bytes, A Adds the file ui-bg_gloss-wave_75_2191c0_500x100.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 89 bytes, A Adds the file ui-bg_inset-hard_100_fcfdfd_1x100.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 88 bytes, A Adds the file ui-icons_056b93_256x240.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 5355 bytes, A Adds the file ui-icons_d8e7f3_256x240.png"="5/27/2019 11:10 AM, 4369 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\extensions Adds the file {f459049d-939d-432e-83c7-07ced47e629a}.xpi"="8/7/2019 9:30 AM, 468509 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings] "flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd"="REG_SZ", "106A231E5CEF9CC121B62F6BC36D05549DEC6BDC4558C0FB06A70114FD11A6CA"Malwarebytes log:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 8/7/19 Scan Time: 12:09 PM Log File: 6a1ba558-b8fb-11e9-b68b-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 3.8.3.2965 Components Version: 1.0.613 Update Package Version: 1.0.11896 License: Premium -System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username} -Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 236317 Threats Detected: 53 Threats Quarantined: 53 Time Elapsed: 10 min, 22 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 0 (No malicious items detected) Module: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Key: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Value: 1 PUP.Optional.Safely, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected) Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected) Folder: 10 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\rateshare, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\_metadata, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\inject, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\bg, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\FLIHLJIJBOJEKGGAAFJFJFNFIPAMDNDD, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 File: 42 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{PROFILE}.DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\{F459049D-939D-432E-83C7-07CED47E629A}.XPI, Quarantined, [349], [672276],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\FLIHLJIJBOJEKGGAAFJFJFNFIPAMDNDD\1.0.0_0\MANIFEST.JSON, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\bg\background.html, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\bg\background.js, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\rateshare\close.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\rateshare\rate.jpg, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\rateshare\rate1.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\rateshare\share.jpg, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\rateshare\share1.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\close-icon.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\cog-icon.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\icon128.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\icon16.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\icon48.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\pdf_converter_presentation2.gif, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\type-jpg.svg, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\type-pjpg.svg, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\img\type-png.svg, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\inject\onInstallCallback.js, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_flat_55_999999_40x100.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_flat_75_aaaaaa_40x100.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_glass_45_0078ae_1x400.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_glass_55_f8da4e_1x400.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_glass_75_79c9ec_1x400.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_gloss-wave_50_38cfff_500x100.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_gloss-wave_75_2191c0_500x100.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-bg_inset-hard_100_fcfdfd_1x100.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-icons_056b93_256x240.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\images\ui-icons_d8e7f3_256x240.png, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\jquery-ui.custom.css, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\css\override-page.css, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\jquery-ui.custom.min.js, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\jquery.cookie.js, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\jquery\jquery.min.js, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\_metadata\computed_hashes.json, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\_metadata\verified_contents.json, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\config.js, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\flihljijbojekggaafjfjfnfipamdndd\1.0.0_0\rate.js, Quarantined, [349], [717247],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [349], [717248],1.0.11896 PUP.Optional.Safely, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, [349], [717248],1.0.11896 Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention