IT security researchers have confirmed that the PDF Mac Master is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) from Adware family. Adware and PUPs are unwanted software that usually gets installed alongside free software, codecs and shareware. Aside from causing browser redirections, PUPs and adware also can display a large amount of advertisements, slow down the Apple Mac and continually collect a wide variety of privacy data.
The PDF Mac Master and other PUPs can attack your MAC OS’s internet browsers such as the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari. Maybe you approve the idea that annoying pop up advertisements from it is just a small problem. But these undesired PDF Mac Master advertisements eat machine resources and slow down your MAC’s performance.
Adware can install a component that enables its author to track which web sites you visit, which products you look at upon those pages. They are then able to choose the type of advertisements they show you. So, if you had adware on your computer, there is a good chance you have another that is gathering and sharing your data with third parties, without your knowledge.
Therefore, potentially unwanted programs and adware are quite dangerous. So, we advise you get rid of it from your Apple Mac as soon as possible. Follow the guidance presented below to remove PDF Mac Master from your Apple Mac and from the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Safari browsers.
How to remove PDF Mac Master (Step-by-step removal guide)
There are a few solutions that can be used to remove PDF Mac Master. But, not all potentially unwanted programs like this adware can be completely uninstalled using only manual ways. Most commonly you are not able to delete any potentially unwanted program utilizing standard Mac OS options. In order to uninstall PDF Mac Master you need complete a few manual steps and run reliable removal tools. Most IT security professionals states that MalwareBytes Anti-Malware tool is a right choice. The free program is able to search for and get rid of PDF Mac Master potentially unwanted program from your MAC and return your internet browser settings to defaults.
To remove PDF Mac Master, complete the steps below:
- How to manually get rid of PDF Mac Master
- How to delete PDF Mac Master with free programs
- How to stay safe online
- How can you prevent the PDF Mac Master
- To sum up
How to manually get rid of PDF Mac Master
These steps to remove PDF Mac Master without any software are presented below. Be sure to carry out the step-by-step guidance completely to fully delete this PDF Mac Master and other PUPs.
Uninstall PDF Mac Master using the Finder
First method for manual PUP removal is to go into the Finder, then Applications. Take a look at the list of software on your machine and see if there are any suspicious and unknown programs. If you see any, you need to remove them. Of course, before doing so, you can do an World Wide Web search to find details on the program. If it is a potentially unwanted program, PUP or malware, you will likely find information that says so.
Make sure you have closed all internet browsers and other applications. Next, remove any unwanted and suspicious apps from Apple Mac using the Finder.
Open Finder and click “Applications”.
Look around the entire list of software installed on your MAC OS. Most probably, one of them is the PDF Mac Master and other unwanted applications. Select the dubious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and remove it.
Drag the suspicious program from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Most important, don’t forget, choose Finder -> Empty Trash.
Remove PDF Mac Master from Safari
If you find that Safari browser settings having been changed by PDF Mac Master PUP and other unwanted programs, then you may restore your settings, via the reset browser procedure.
Click Safari menu and select “Preferences”.
It will open the Safari Preferences window. Next, click the “Extensions” tab. Look for unknown and suspicious extensions on left panel, select it, then click the “Uninstall” button. Most important to remove all unknown extensions from Safari.
Once complete, click “General” tab. Change the “Default Search Engine” to Google.
Find the “Homepage” and type into textfield “https://www.google.com”.
Remove PDF Mac Master potentially unwanted program from Google Chrome
If you are getting PDF Mac Master potentially unwanted program, then you can try to remove its unwanted changed to browser settings by resetting Google Chrome to its default values. It will also clear cookies, content and site data, temporary and cached data. It’ll keep your personal information such as browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and web form auto-fill data.
- First start the Google Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed plugins. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and press the “Reset” button.
- The Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is done, your internet browser’s start page, newtab page and default search engine will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Remove PDF Mac Master from Firefox by resetting internet browser settings
If Firefox settings are hijacked by the potentially unwanted program, your browser shows undesired popup advertisements, then ‘Reset Mozilla Firefox’ could solve these problems. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed, deleted or cleared.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as shown on the image below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button like below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Mozilla Firefox web browser settings to their original state.
How to delete PDF Mac Master with free programs
After completing the manual removal steps above all unwanted programs, malicious web-browser’s extensions and PDF Mac Master PUP should be removed. If the problem with PDF Mac Master adware is still remained, then we suggest to scan your machine for any remaining malicious components. Use recommended free potentially unwanted program removal applications below.
How to remove PDF Mac Master with MalwareBytes AntiMalware
We recommend using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) that are completely clean your machine of the PUP. The free tool is an advanced malicious software removal program designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It is able to help you remove annoying PDF Mac Master, potentially unwanted apps, malicious software, hijackers, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your MAC system for free.
Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes Free on your computer by clicking on the link below.
20842 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: September 10, 2020
When the downloading process is finished, close all applications and windows on your MAC system. Run the saved file. Follow the prompts.
The MalwareBytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) program will scan through the whole computer for the PDF Mac Master potentially unwanted program and other PUPs. A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your Apple Mac. While the tool is checking, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.
Once MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) has finished scanning your computer, a list of all threats found is produced. Once you have selected what you wish to delete from your MAC system click “Remove Selected Items” button. The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will remove PDF Mac Master and other PUPs and add items to the Quarantine.
How to stay safe online
The AdGuard is a very good ad blocker program for the Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of undesired ads, popunders, pop ups, intrusive new tab pages, and even full page advertisements and web-page overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block unwanted web-sites automatically or by using a custom filter rule.
- AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link.
AdGuard for Mac download
3677 downloads
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: January 17, 2018
- After downloading is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your MAC system, AdGuard will launch automatically and block unwanted popup advertisements, as well as other malicious or misleading web sites.
How can you prevent the PDF Mac Master
Many of the free software out there install undesired browser toolbars, hijacker infections and PUPs like the PDF Mac Master along with them without your knowledge. One has to be attentive while installing freeware in order to avoid accidentally installing bundled programs. It is important that you pay attention to the EULA (End User License Agreements) and select the Custom, Manual or Advanced setup option as it will typically disclose what bundled programs will also be installed.
To sum up
Now your machine should be free of the PDF Mac Master and other PUPs. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-ups and intrusive malicious web sites) and MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your Apple Mac for new malicious software, browser hijackers and ad supported software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Mac OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, harmful apps and ad-supported software are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to get rid of PDF Mac Master potentially unwanted program from your Apple Mac, then ask for help here.
