WhiteCoupon ads deliver notifications and can redirect you to questionable sites
WhiteCoupon virus is one of the adware[1] programs that are based on JustPlugIt engine. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) is capable of possessing all the most popular web browsers (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari), so it instantly starts implementing marketing campaigns using each of them. Once installed, it starts pushing tons of annoying pop-up and banner advertisements and such activity clearly slows down[2] the computer.
| Name | WhiteCoupon ads |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware, potentially unwanted program |
| Features | Advertisements, pop-ups, redirects appear out of nowhere |
| Distribution | Freeware installations, deceptive pages, insecure applications and platforms |
| Removal | The guide below shows tips for the PUP termination |
| Repair | Your device can get affected more significantly, so rely on FortectIntego and fix the damage |
This suspicious program came to our notice not only because of its suspicious activity on the computer system that it gets installed on but also because of suspicious techniques that are used for its distribution. WhiteCoupon adware typically arrives in a form of a browser's plug-in alongside freeware and shareware programs. Despite the fact that software bundling[3] is considered to be legitimate, security experts are striving to ban it and claim that it's a dodgy way to promote programs.
Using this technique, the adware may infiltrate computers without being noticed and won't even require the user's authorization to use the computer's resources, track one's activities, display sponsored advertisements, and so on. Due to its suspicious activities, some security researchers started calling this program as WhiteCoupon malware.
If you wonder why it is risky to keep adware such as this app on computers, then you have to keep in mind that they are sponsored by third parties and seek to make people visit their websites. This adware will send you dozens of sponsored ads ('Ads by WhiteCoupon', 'WhiteCoupon Ads', 'Powered by WhiteCoupon', etc.) that are filled with hyperlinks.
Unfortunately, no one checks the content of promoted websites, which means that the chances to end up on a malicious website[4] are equal to land on a safe domain. Keeping in mind the risk of WhiteCoupon redirects and useless services that the program deceptively offers, you should not even consider keeping it on your computer. As soon as you notice it on your PC, perform a full system check with MalwarebytesMalwarebytes or SpyHunterCombo Cleaner software.
If you are not yet convinced to remove this suspicious program from your computer, you should realize that it employs tracking cookies to monitor your activities online. The described PUP might use tracking technologies to find out your interests and spy on your browsing and search activities. Based on such data, it designs catchy-looking ads that might be used as bait to lure you into pre-determined websites.
You can prevent installing spyware by paying attention
Most of the users cannot explain how and when the infiltration happened and usually they claim that they have certainly NOT downloaded this PUP manually. This can easily be explained. Security experts have found out that this adware usually spreads via software packages as a component of popular free software, for instance, download managers or media players.
This suggests that despite the reputation of the website and the reliability of the application that you are going to install, it's very important to pay a considerable amount of attention to its installation process anyway. Reading EULA and Privacy Policy is always recommended.
On top of that, it is strongly recommended to select the Advanced or Custom installation option and deselect all add-ons, plug-ins, toolbars, or extensions that are bundled with your download. Typically, users end up installing these additions if they decide to rely on pre-selected installation options, for instance, Default or Standard one. Do not choose these settings!
WhiteCoupon removal guidelines
If you can see WhiteCoupon ads in Chrome and other web browsers, it is a clear sign that your web browser has been compromised by the redirect virus. You shouldn't let this ad-supported software stay in your computer system any longer, so organize your time and dedicate some of it to the proper removal.
Besides, bear in mind that the described adware may have attacked your machine together with other adware, for instance, BlackLister, Freemium, Surf Canyon, or others. That's why in order to clean your computer completely, we recommend using reputable anti-malware software[5]. In case you give a preference to the manual removal option, you should follow these instructions:
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.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
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.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
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.
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.
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.
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