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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Apr 2021

How to remove CoolWebSearch.winproc32

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Olivia Morelli · Ransomware analyst

CoolWebSearch.winproc32 is the potentially unwanted program that changes browser settings on purpose

CoolWebSearch.winproc32

CoolWebSearch.winproc32 is the program that alters the search bar, homepage, new tab, and default page settings to redirect users via other sites. This particular PUP has the winproc32.exe file that some of the reports state can be malicious. This program is categorized as a browser hijacker because it reroutes all the activities related to online browsing through the 4-counter.com site and other suspicious pages deceptively promoted as useful search engines. Threats like this can hijack the machine and alter various parts of the system, including dynamic libraries and settings related to the startup and registry. 

Name CoolWebSearch
Type Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program[1]
Distribution Software bundle packages, deceptive ads, fake updates promotions
Symptoms Unknown extension or application is installed on the system; homepage and new tab address are set to something else; a customized search engine is appended to the homepage; search results are filled with sponsored links and ads
Risks Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy risks due to information gathering practices, financial losses
Removal You can uninstall potentially unwanted programs by following the manual guide below or by scanning the computer with powerful anti-malware
Optional steps Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings. To revert these changes, perform a full system scan with FortectIntego

Potentially unwanted programs might directly affect the online traffic redirecting and advertisements that continuously go to your screen, but the computer is performing poorly the longer intruder has run on the device.[2]

CoolWebSearch.winproc32 removal might seem to be difficult if you only see the process name running in the background via Task Manager or receive those redirects without seeing the program installed on the system directly. It is possible to get rid of these silent and annoying programs with anti-malware tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes.

Experts[3] always state that these intruders that affect browsing online are controlled by the PUP running in the back. However, it is not the easiest task to find the applications that found the way on the computer. This is the reason why automatic methods with antivirus tools are more recommended,

But you can rely on the guide below that shows how to tackle the damage related to the program and get rid of any traces left behind in the system or additional installs of program associated with the CoolWebSearch.winproc32. You can notice that one of your browsers gets these pop-ups and redirects, receives changes, but the PUP runs on the machine, so a full system scan is a must.

CoolWebSearch version has numerous different programs associated with online traffic redirects, so don't be surprised when te Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, other browsers get add-ons and tools out of nowhere. Avoid clicking any of those pop-ups or banners to keep yourself away from malicious sites.

Hijacker

Developers of the shady search engine rely on deceiving the user

People who encounter these intruders like adware, browser hijackers, other threats based on browsing hijacking, redirecting can be caught out of nowhere. It is because PUPs tend to spread around without any indications of the infection. The most common way to distribute these intruders – software bundling.

These deceiving methods like freeware packages, false promotional content, updates, malicious download sites, and torrent services lead to the installation of the PUP itself. People skip through important steps of the installation and allow the additional intruder without knowing.

Always go for Advanced or Custom installation options and do not skip any steps, analyze the list of included programs to control what gets installed and what is not. Make sure to choose reliable sources for the apps only.

The procedure of system cleaning includes proper system scan using AV tools

You can always remove CoolWebSearch.winproc32 from the machine if you trigger the thorough system scan with anti-malware tools. Such a program properly checks the machine and finds any threats hidden in the system, so your device gets cleaned. Manual PUP removal is not the easiest. 

CoolWebSearch.winproc32 is nothing but a PUP, but the virus detection engines help find all pieces and files that control the activities of this hijacker. Do not forget about possible damage and go through the steps below to repair any issues with web browsing.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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