Should I consider Search.searchcpn.com search engine dangerous?
If you accidentally got infected with Search.searchcpn.com virus, we assume that you are looking for ways to remove Search.searchcpn.com as soon as possible. This suspicious URL typically becomes browser’s homepage address right after installation of a couple of free programs. The potentially unwanted program[1] that is responsible for keeping that URL set as your homepage belongs to browser hijacker[2] category and acts suspiciously. Due to its activity on the compromised computer malware analysts have added “potentially unwanted program” (PUP) label on it. The reason why this program is considered potentially unwanted is that it does its best to push sponsored third-party content for the user. To do it, it pretends to provide a useful search engine while it actually just wants to convince the user to use it and see ads integrated into search results[3]. 
When using such search engine, you are facing the risk of clicking on dangerous search results and visiting strange internet pages that might be seeking to damage your computer or encroach on your privacy. The problem with such search engines is that they focus on revenue generation rather than being good service providers. They hardly ever endorse content shared on websites they advertise, and that is why we consider them untrustworthy. If you are looking for a search engine that would provide you with relevant search results rather than sponsored ones, better remove Search.searchcpn.com hijacker first and change your browser’s homepage using Search.searchcpn.com removal instructions provided below. You can use the same instructions to remove this browser hijacker from your system, or, if you wish, you can implement automatic Search.searchcpn.com removal using anti-malware software such as FortectIntego, SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.
How did I get infected with Search.searchcpn.com?
There are many ways how you can get infected with this browser hijacker. The best way to avoid Search.searchcpn.com hijack is to install computer programs carefully[4]. You have to be careful whenever you are trying to install a new program on your computer because the most of the free programs nowadays advertise and almost force computer users to install third-party applications alongside them. If you want to avoid installing unplanned and unneeded software, Custom/Advanced installation settings is the key to a PUP-free computer. Choosing these settings will allow you to see items bundled with your download and let you deselect the ones that you do not need. Once you do that, you can proceed with the installation without any worries. In this case, it seems that a freeware program that you recently installed provided a suggestion to install iCoupon Clipper browser extension or app, which changes browser’s settings and starts promoting Search.searchcpn.com search engine on your computer.
What’s the best way to remove Search.searchcpn.com from my computer?
Consider yourself lucky because the attack of a browser hijacker is not the worst thing that can happen to your PC[5]. There are many much more dangerous programs that can damage your PC system for good, but we believe that you should consider Search.searchcpn.com virus infection a lesson that warns you to be more careful when browsing the Internet. It goes without saying that you should install spyware and malware blocking software and remove Search.searchcpn.com hijacker immediately. For Search.searchcpn.com removal, use these instructions, but do not forget to check the system with automatic malware program afterward. In many cases, it helps to detect files and programs that you might miss when deleting spyware/malware from computer manually.
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.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

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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