How to remove YourCouponSearch browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of app is YourCouponSearch?
Our team has discovered an application called YourCouponSearch while examining shady websites. After installing this app, we noticed that it changed the web browser's settings. It hijacked a web browser to promote yourcouponsearch.com - a fake search engine. Browser hijackers and fake search engines cannot be trusted.
YourCouponSearch in detail
It was found that to promote yourcouponsearch.com, YourCouponSearch sets this address as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Moreover, this app does not allow users to replace yourcouponsearch.com with any other address. YourCouponSearch keeps its settings unchangeable as long as it is present.
We have tried using yourcouponsearch.com and learned that it shows results generated by nearbyme.io (a questionable search engine) or search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine). It may show results generated by other search engines too. Thus, yourcouponsearch.com should never be used as a tool to browse the Internet.
Name | YourCouponSearch |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Browser Extension(s) | YourCouponSearch |
Supposed Functionality | Coupon finder |
Promoted URL | yourcouponsearch.com |
Detection Names (yourcouponsearch.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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 browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Browser hijackers in general
Browser hijackers can be designed to track browsing activities (collect browsing-related data). The same applies to fake search engines. A big part of apps of this type is promoted and distributed using questionable methods. Thus, they often get downloaded/installed unintentionally. Examples of browser hijackers are Tail DS, CleanHistory, MyZen Tab.
How did YourCouponSearch install on my computer?
Browser hijackers can have official download sites. However, they also are distributed using shady advertisements and deceptive websites. It is also common for them to be bundled with other software. In such cases, they get downloaded or installed when software is downloaded or installed without changing "Custom, "Manual", "Advanced", or similar settings (or unticking checkboxes).
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Do not click advertisements that appear on questionable websites or download apps and files from such pages. Use legitimate sources (such as official pages and platforms) for downloading software (or files). Deselect unwanted apps before downloading or installing software (check downloaders and installers for settings mentioning additional downloads and installations).
If your computer is already infected with YourCouponSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Yourcouponsearch.com redirects to nearbyme.io (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is YourCouponSearch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall YourCouponSearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove YourCouponSearch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove yourcouponsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove yourcouponsearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
YourCouponSearch 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, "YourCouponSearch"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the yourcouponsearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
YourCouponSearch browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 "YourCouponSearch" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "YourCouponSearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.yourcouponsearch.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
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 "yourcouponsearch.com", 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 yourcouponsearch.com redirect, 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "YourCouponSearch", 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 "YourCouponSearch", remove hxxp://yourcouponsearch.com 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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with yourcouponsearch.com redirect 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 yourcouponsearch.com redirect, 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit yourcouponsearch.com website?
The more users end up on yourcouponsearch.com, the higher amount of revenue its developers generate. Their profit is directly dependent on the website traffic.
Is visiting yourcouponsearch.com a threat to my privacy?
Using fake search engines becomes a threat to privacy when they collect information. Yourcouponsearch.com may have the ability to gather data.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
In most cases, browsers get hijacked through browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, installers for other software, deceptive advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove YourCouponSearch browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove browser hijackers from web browsers and the operating system. When multiple browser hijackers are present, they can reinstall one another. In such cases, it is difficult to remove all apps of this type manually. Thus, it is recommended to remove them using apps like Combo Cleaner.
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