YourCouponSearch browser hijacker (virus) - Free Instructions

YourCouponSearch browser hijacker Removal Guide

What is YourCouponSearch browser hijacker?

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

YourCouponSearchBrowser hijackers are among the most common potentially unwanted programs

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:

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.

Name YourCouponSearch
Type Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted application
Distribution Software bundles, fake updates, deceptive ads, malicious websites
Symptoms Search results are filled with sponsored links and ads; homepage and new tab address is set to portal.yourcouponsearch.com; ads encountered more often; searches are redirected through an alternative provider
Risks Installation of other potentially unwanted or malicious software, personal data disclosure to unknown parties, monetary losses
Uninstall You can remove potentially unwanted programs manually, although performing a full system scan with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or another security software can be much more effective
Optional steps After you eliminate the hijacker, you should also clean your web browsers to avoid tracking and other issues. You can use FortectIntego as a quick solution

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.

YourCouponSearch virusYourCouponSearch is a browser hijacker that inserts ads into your searches

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 SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes 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.Remove extensions from Chrome

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.Remove extensions from Firefox

MS Edge

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

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.Remove extensions from Edge

Safari

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

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.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

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.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

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.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

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.Clear Edge browsing data

Safari

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

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.

Offer
do it now!
Download
Fortect Happiness
Guarantee
Download
Intego Happiness
Guarantee
Compatible with Microsoft Windows Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

How to prevent from getting browser hijacker

Protect your privacy – employ a VPN

There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals. 

No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool

If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.

If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.

About the author
Alice Woods
Alice Woods - Likes to teach users about virus prevention

If this free guide helped you and you are satisfied with our service, please consider making a donation to keep this service alive. Even a smallest amount will be appreciated.

Contact Alice Woods
About the company Esolutions

References