UltraCouponSearch browser hijacker (virus) - Free Guide

What is UltraCouponSearch browser hijacker?

UltraCouponSearch forces users to browse only through selected channels

Browser hijackers raise user privacy and security risks

UltraCouponSearch is a browser hijacker which means it changes the main settings, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine. The homepage is set to portal.ultracouponsearch.com and the extension redirects users' search queries through feed.ultracouponsearch.com to one of these search engines:

• Yahoo
• Searchlee
• Bing
• Nearbyme

Even though Yahoo and Bing are well-known legitimate search engines, the other ones are not. Hijacker developers rarely create their own search engines, they attach already existing ones. Fake search engines can lead users to misinformation or even dangerous pages.

People can end up on scam pages that try to lure out personal information, trick them into downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),^[1] and even malware. Rogue browser extensions can also cause ad spam which can be very annoying.

UltraCouponSearch does not provide any useful functions when looking for coupons and it does not have any other benefits. There is no point in keeping it on your machine. We suggest you follow our guide fully if you want to keep your privacy and security.

Distribution methods

Useless browser extensions, like UltraCouponSearch, are often spread through fake downloader pages. That is why it is important to only visit websites that you know and trust. Do not click on random links and ads even if they seem to be promoting legitimate products or services.

Sometimes crooks even create “official” promotional websites for their applications where they boast about all the non-existent functions and try to convince people to download them. That is why it is best to only use official web stores whenever you are looking for new add-ons.

Apps that get listed there have to go through an extensive review process. However, you should still do your research – read the reviews, look at the ratings and the number of users. It is best to choose plugins that have plenty of positive feedback and thousands of users.

Official app stores are the safest places where users can download plugins

Software bundling

There is a possibility that a browser hijacker appeared in your system through software bundling if you did not download any extensions. Freeware^[2] distribution platforms often include additional programs in the installers to monetize their activity, and they do not disclose it clearly.

Once bundled software gets into the system it is difficult to identify because it is often disguised as a “handy” tool that most users would not even suspect. It could look like a system optimizer, antivirus software, photo, and video editing software, etc.

You should pay attention during the installation and always choose the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods. Read the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use to find out what the app will be able to do in your system. The most important step is to check the file list and untick the boxes next to any unrelated applications.

Start the removal via browser settings

You should first try to locate the extension responsible for the changes in your browser settings and move on to the next step:

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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

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 on Uninstall at the bottom.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
• Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

• 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 plugin and click Remove.

Safari

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

Clear cookies and cache

If you add an untrustworthy app to your browser, there could be a number of negative consequences besides unwanted ads and redirects. Plugins can track your browsing activities, like the websites you visit, links you click on, purchases you make with the help of cookies.^[3] This data can later be sold to advertising networks that use it to target you with ads even more.

It is essential to clear cookies and cache regularly and there is an automatic solution to that. FortectIntego is a great maintenance tool that can clear your browsers and optimize the machine. It will also fix any damage, like system errors, registry issues, and corrupted files which is especially helpful after virus infections.

Check your system for PUPs

If you removed the UltraCouponSearch browser hijacker from your extensions list but you still experience unpleasant symptoms like redirects to questionable pages and pop-ups, there might be a PUA hiding in your system. In that case, the symptoms will not disappear unless you completely remove the program from your machine.

That is why we suggest using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes professional security tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes. If you know which program is at fault, and want to remove it manually, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:

Windows 10/8:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till the uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

Windows 7/XP:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are a Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Mac:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.