CouponXplorer Toolbar
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is hp.myway.com?
Developed by Mindspark Interactive Network (a.k.a. IAC Applications), CouponXplorer is a deceptive application that supposedly grants access to various printable shopping coupons.
Initially, CouponXplorer may seem legitimate and useful, however, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) typically infiltrates systems without permission. Furthermore, it is classed as a browser hijacker - a form of software that modifies web browser options without users’ permission.
Following infiltration, CouponXplorer hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage browser options to hp.myway.com. These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that CouponXplorer continues to reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are forced to visit hp.myway.com when they attempt to search via the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab.
This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. In addition, although CouponXplorer is not confirmed to record data, most browser hijackers do. Furthermore, potentially unwanted programs often collect various user-system information that contains personal details. PUP developers later sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Some browser hijackers are also known to run various unwanted processes (e.g., to mine cryptocurrencies) in the background.
The presence of these programs results in a significant reduction in overall system performance. In any case, we strongly advise you to uninstall the CouponXplorer browser hijacker immediately.
| Name | CouponXplorer browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
CouponXplorer is identical to ProPDFConverter, StudyHQ, MyVideoTab, and dozens of other browser-hijacking applications developed by Mindspark Interactive Network. Note that these applications offer different functions, however, all have identical behavior.
Claims to provide "valuable functionality" are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. The only purpose of CouponXplorer and other browser hijackers is to generate revenue for the developers. These programs deliver no real value for regular users.
How did CouponXplorer install on my computer?
CouponXplorer is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, as mentioned above, it typically infiltrates systems without permission.
Developers proliferate CouponXplorer using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" together with intrusive advertisements (coupons, banners, pop-ups, etc.) "Bundling" is stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software/apps.
Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes, whilst intrusive advertisements redirect users to malicious websites and/or execute scripts that download/install malware (or PUPS).
Many users rush download/installation processes, skip steps, and click various ads without considering the possible consequences. In doing so, they expose their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. The key to safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when browsing the Internet, and when downloading/installing software. Criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design.
Therefore, most look legitimate, however, intrusive ads redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites. Therefore, if you encounter redirects to such websites, uninstall all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Carefully analyze each download/installation step and cancel all additionally-included programs.
Note that criminals monetize third party downloaders/installers using the "bundling" method (they promote dubious apps). Therefore, these tools should never be used.
CouponXplorer browser hijacker installer set-up:
Website promoting CouponXplorer browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is hp.myway.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall CouponXplorer application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove CouponXplorer browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove hp.myway.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove hp.myway.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
CouponXplorer browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "CouponXplorer Internet Explorer..."), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the hp.myway.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
CouponXplorer browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://hp.myway.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "hp.myway".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the couponxplorer browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "CouponXplorer" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for "CouponXplorer" below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click “Disable”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "Ask Web Search", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the couponxplorer browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "CouponXplorer", as well as all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, disable "CouponXplorer" extension (Home page setting) and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "couponxplorer"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with couponxplorer browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the couponxplorer browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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