How to remove YourCouponSearch browser hijacker

YourCouponSearch is a browser-hijacking application that provides alternative search results and inserts ads

YourCouponSearch is a browser extension that might be running on your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or another web browser. While it might look like your regular app, it is actually categorized as a browser hijacker, which takes over your search preferences and significantly changes the way you browse the web.

In this case, the app would swap the homepage to portal.yourcouponsearch.com, which would be shown every time the browser launched or a new tab is opened. These changes are not only cosmetic, as the provided search box and the URL bar would be hijacked by the potentially unwanted browser extension YourCouponSearch and would display results using different service providers:

• nearbyme.io
• searchlee.com
• Yahoo
• Bing.

Which one you have to deal with depends on your location and other browsing parameters. While some of these providers are fully legitimate, the search results are no longer the same – firstly, because a different provider generates results in an alternative way and because the hijacker inserts additional ads/sponsored links at the top.

Some of the shown ads and sponsored links might not be accurate or even secure, as browser hijackers are known to advertise other potentially unwanted software somewhat regularly. We recommend avoiding these ads and removing the unwanted browser extension to regain access to the default browser settings once and for all.

The always-growing family of YourCouponSearch

YourCouponSearch belongs to a broader family of potentially unwanted programs that are very similar to one another. First seen a few years ago, these apps were making rounds on third-party software distribution websites and were also spotted being advertised via misleading advertisements. Overall, the strain is relatively prevalent, with hundreds of variants released so far, and the production does not seem to stop.

We have just recently discussed previous versions of the hijacker – ConvertersCoolSearch, SocialCouponSearch, or CoolMapSearch. As evident, the names are relatively similar to one another, and it is not the only affinity that one can find when looking closer.

The titles of these apps are very intentional, as they imply some type of functionality. For example, UltraADSBlockSearch is implied to be an application capable of stopping apps. In other cases, users might believe that names with “coupons” in them might provide some types of discounts or price comparisons.

In reality, these functions are a mere illusion, as the app only provides basic search features along with a few widgets that are accessible from the side panel. None of these apps can perform any additional tasks besides changing the search provider, displaying ads in searches, and tracking users' online activities.

Remove the YourCouponSearch and clean your browsers

Before you proceed with the removal instructions below, we strongly advise you to scan your system with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes security software, especially if you don't remember installing the app intentionally. Visiting potentially dangerous websites that distribute illegal software or allow copyrighted video streaming, for example, significantly increases the chances of stealthy malware, such as keyloggers or rootkits.^[1]

If you have never health with uninstallation of browser extensions, proceed with the steps provided below:

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.

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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.

MS Edge

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

ME Edge (legacy)

• 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 on Uninstall at the bottom.

Safari

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

Once you are done with the extension removal, your job is not yet finished. Browser hijackers track various user data (IP address, unique device identifiers, search queries, visited websites, and similar) with the help of cookies, web beacons,^[2] pixels, and other tracking technologies, components of which reside in your browser's caches.

Thus, it is strongly recommended to remove web data after eliminating all the potentially unwanted applications. You can either rely on an automatic FortectIntego solution or perform the steps listed below.

Google 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.

Mozilla Firefox

• Click Menu and pick Options.
• Go to Privacy & Security section.
• Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
• Click on Clear Data…
• Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.

MS Edge

• Click on Menu and go to Settings.
• Select Privacy and services.
• Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
• Under Time range, pick All time.
• Select Clear now.

MS Edge (legacy)

• Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
• Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
• Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Safari

• Click Safari > Clear History…
• From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
• Confirm with Clear History.

You might install hijackers inadvertently

Potentially unwanted programs might be spread in software bundles,^[3] which makes it easier for its distributors to make people install them, even when they don't intend to do so initially. Third-party websites that host various freeware and shareware are more likely to offer potentially unwanted programs within a single software package.

While offering optional installs is a common practice in the industry, doing so deceptively is not. The regulations around this have been very vague in the past, although, thanks to independent security organizations and security vendors, the distributors are becoming more transparent in their intentions and monetization methods.

The progress is rather slow, and there are still plenty of websites that try to hide optional applications offered during the installation of software intentionally. Pre-ticked checkboxes, misleading button placements, fine print text, and similar tricks can often result in users missing the important part (especially when they rush) and allowing the unwanted apps in without realizing it.

Therefore, always pay close attention to the installation process of new applications and exclude software cracks and similar dangerous downloads from your visited websites list. Always read the instructions carefully and pick Advanced settings when such an option is provided, as it lets you stay in control of the installation process. Finally, never ignore the warnings from your security software or something as treacherous as Iios ransomware might end up on your PC.