Ads by DiscountExt. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
What is DiscountExt?
DiscountExt is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and an adware, which can enter your computer behind your back and then start initiating a whole range of unwanted operations. It may corrupt various settings on all the most popular web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari, thus decreasing their performance and getting the ability to block certain websites. Besides, it may install and activate cookies (tracking software) on each of them and may start monitoring your online activities. If you wonder what kind of information it collects, then be aware that it’s target is personally non-identifiable information, such as search terms, most frequently visited websites, data entered in them, clicks, email address, PC’s location, IP address and so on. Unfortunately, adware-type programs can be easily exploited by cyber criminals who may misuse cookies for their own purposes. That’s why it’s not recommended to keep adwares on the system. In addition to that, you should be careful with DiscountExt ads, which are usually marked as ‘Ads by DiscountExt’, ‘ DiscountExt Deals’, ‘Powered by DiscountExt’ and so on. These advertisements are created and displayed by suspicious advertisers, unknown third-parties, and others. Therefore, you can never be sure whether those ads will make you visit reliable websites or suspicious sites, such as fake online shops or the ones that are involved in the distribution of other PUPs.
All in all, DiscountExt is an adware and PUP, but NOT a virus. It cannot affect your PC operating system, but it may provide you with suspicious third-party content during your browsing. Besides, it may cause infiltration of other PUPs, increase security vulnerabilities, slow down the system, spy on you and so on. Therefore, it goes without saying that DiscountExt needs to be removed from the system. In order to get rid of it from Windows-based computers, we highly recommend using Reimage. In case your computer runs Mac OS X, you can rely on Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus.
How can DiscountExt hijack my computer?
DiscountExt can be downloaded from various download websites (softonic.com, soft32.com, download.com, etc.). Unfortunately, you may notice the presence of this app on your computer out of the blue. That’s because this dubious browser add-on is usually distributed in a bundle with other freewares and sharewares. If you want to keep your machine safe, you have to remember that hundreds or thousands of free programs that can be downloaded from the Internet are filled with ‘optional downloads’, such as browser add-ons, plug-ins, toolbars, and extensions. Consequently, if you install a freeware recklessly, you may start experiencing DiscountExt redirects, slowdowns, ads and similar issues out of nowhere. To prevent that, whenever you decide to install a freeware on your PC, you have to select Advanced or Custom installation option, double check every freeware and unmark all ‘additional components’ no matter how useful they may seem for you.
How to remove DiscountExt virus?
We highly recommend you to remove DiscountExt virus using a reputable anti-spyware. This way, you will get rid of all file leftovers, other suspicious apps, and even viruses. In case you don’t want to use additional software, then follow the guide that is given below:
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

To remove DiscountExt ads, follow these steps:
Delete DiscountExt from Windows systems
-
Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
-
If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
-
Uninstall DiscountExt and related programs
Here, look for DiscountExt or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
Erase DiscountExt from Mac OS X system
-
If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for DiscountExt or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Uninstall DiscountExt from Internet Explorer (IE)
-
Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for DiscountExt and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete DiscountExt removal.
Remove DiscountExt ads from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
-
Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
-
Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
-
Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
-
When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
-
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
-
Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, DiscountExt should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariEliminate DiscountExt from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
-
Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select DiscountExt and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete DiscountExt removal.
Get rid of DiscountExt from Google Chrome
-
Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select DiscountExt and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
-
Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
-
When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
-
Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
-
Click Reset to confirm this action and complete DiscountExt removal.
Delete DiscountExt from Safari
-
Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for DiscountExt or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete DiscountExt removal process.