Search.searchfacoupons.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Should you rely on Search.searchfacoupons.com search?
Browsing the Internet is fun, but it can turn bitter if you accidentally run into a program such as Search.searchfacoupons.com virus. It is a small piece of software meant to modify your browser’s settings and set a new URL as your default start page[1] and new tab page as well. The page that this suspicious browser redirect virus advertises presents a shady-looking search engine. If you attempted to search the web via Search.searchfacoupons.com engine, you would notice that it delivers not the real Yahoo search results, but somewhat that is defined as “SaferBrowser Yahoo results.[2]” At first, you might not notice anything suspicious, but sooner or later bad things will come up. First of all, many users are unsatisfied with the amount of ads that such shady search tools present among organic search results.
Questions about Search.searchfacoupons.com virus
What is even worse, is that clicking on these search results can immediately redirect you to highly dangerous Internet websites and you won’t be notified about their trustworthiness. Vague websites can host dangerous files and programs, so it is highly recommended to bypass offers to install something on your computer from websites that you enter without any willingness to do it. In the best scenario, you can end up with some potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)[3], and in the worst scenario you might end up installing severe malware[4] on the system. To keep yourself protected, we suggest you stay away from unknown search engines and use trustworthy search tools instead. Another reason to remove Search.searchfacoupons.com browser hijacker is the fact that it typically changes browser settings without user’s knowledge. You can complete Search.searchfacoupons.com removal task using an anti-spyware program like Reimage or manually. Now let us explain how such potentially unwanted programs are distributed.
Distribution methods
Search.searchfacoupons.com hijack[5] often happens unnoticed, and we hope that information provided in this paragraph will help you to solve this problem and prevent it from happening again. First of all, you need to learn how do potentially unwanted programs such as adware and browser hijackers spread. In the majority of cases, they infiltrate the victim’s computer with the help of another, usually more popular program, for example, a free game, download manager, or media player. You should be especially careful when installing programs from freeware sharing sites because they typically host a lot of bundled software packs that contain potentially unwanted programs/add-ons. However, you can learn to decompose such packs – it will help you to avoid installing unwanted pieces of software ever again. All you need to do is to select Advanced or Custom installation settings and modify them by deselecting all suggested extra items such as browser toolbars, apps, search tools and so on. Please take into account that Default or Standard installation settings commonly are not customizable, so by choosing them, you lose the possibility to drop off bundled pieces of software.
How can I safely remove Search.searchfacoupons.com hijacker from my browser and make it great again?
Although it might seem that Search.searchfacoupons.com virus is the most annoying computer pest that refuses to go away easily, believe us – you can remove Search.searchfacoupons.com hijacker manually and quickly. That is why we have prepared these easy-to-follow Search.searchfacoupons.com removal guidelines. However, it is highly recommended to perform a system scan with anti-malware software even a successful elimination of the infection. It helps to notice all hidden infections (if there are any).
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 Search.searchfacoupons.com virus, follow these steps:
Erase Search.searchfacoupons.com from Windows systems
To remove this browser hijacker, the first thing that you should do is to remove all programs associated with SaferBrowser software and/or published by identically named company.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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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 Search.searchfacoupons.com and related programs
Here, look for Search.searchfacoupons.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Search.searchfacoupons.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Search.searchfacoupons.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Search.searchfacoupons.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate Search.searchfacoupons.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
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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 Search.searchfacoupons.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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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.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Search.searchfacoupons.com removal.
Uninstall Search.searchfacoupons.com virus 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.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, Search.searchfacoupons.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariGet rid of Search.searchfacoupons.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.searchfacoupons.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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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 Search.searchfacoupons.com removal.
Delete Search.searchfacoupons.com from Google Chrome
If Chrome keeps redirecting you to Search.searchfacoupons.com, you should find Find Active Coupons extension and remove it. These instructions will help you to locate it.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.searchfacoupons.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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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.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Search.searchfacoupons.com removal.
Erase Search.searchfacoupons.com 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 Search.searchfacoupons.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Search.searchfacoupons.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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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 Search.searchfacoupons.com removal process.
About the author
References
- ^ Gabriel E. Hall. Information about browser hijacker and removal instructions. NoVirus. Comprehensive information about various computer infections.
- ^ Gabriel E. Hall. Safer Browser virus. How to Remove? (Uninstall Guide). 2-Spyware. Fighting against spyware.
- ^ Cat Ellis. Avoid and remove potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). TechRadar. The source for tech buying advice.
- ^ Sven Dietrich. Malware I. Google Books. Get this book in print▼ My library My History Books on Google Play Detection of Intrusions and Malware, and Vulnerability Assessment: 11th International Conference, DIMVA 2014, Egham, UK, July 10-11, 2014, Proceedings.
- ^ How to prevent and repair browser hijacking. AV-Comparatives. IT Security Tips.