How to remove GoCouponSearch browser hijacker

Easy guide to delete GoCouponSearch virus

Users love to customize their browsers using various themes and extensions. Browser extensions are something that are particularly used for implementing some additional features or making the existing one more appealing. They can be used as security measures as they can detect and warn about malicious sites that can be used as phishing or include any malicious code.

But, there exist malicious add-ons as well. People may download a fake version of a reputable app or install it along with some other software. Such extensions are commonly detected and removed by security software and so as long as users use them, they are relatively safe from them. But, some extensions such as GoCouponSearch fall into the grey area.

To be more precise, it is a browser hijacker – a kind of software product that is not considered as inherently malicious but there are plenty of reasons you would not want to install it on first place. Usually, people install this kind of apps during the installation of a software bundle or when they trust on any fake a.

Once after the installation, the hijacker would alter the browsers’ homepage and new tab page section and add gocouponseearch.com site in place of them. It creates a completely different browsing environment. For example, the searchers are no longer performed by the default provider but rather by with Yahoo, Bing or other legit web search engine. It includes various sponsored content at the top.

A broader picture- how the hijacker virus operates

You don’t need to look far into the functionality of the GoCouponSearch app is its name is enough. Expect that it is completely fictional and has nothing to do with coupons or discounts. This is a mere trick from the developers behind it to make users install the app.

In reality, it belongs to browser hijacker family. It would change the browser’s settings to push ads to the users. The homepage hosts a few tools such as currency converter, calculator and similar. This allows the app to avoid a bad reputation as well as detection from the installed security software.

Speaking of which, we would recommend you perform a full system scan using some reputable antivirus tool to make sure that no suspicious apps run on the background. It is important to clear the browsers’ cookies and caches after the removal to stop it from continuing to track you.

Tips to secure system in future

Many potentially unwanted apps are presented as tools to find incredibly good discounts and coupons, all while saving users so much money. Unfortunately, vast majority of apps are presented much as scam as they have just to show ads for products and services that are paid for.

Quite often, such apps can’t be trusted as some of the products and links might lead to scam pages. This, you may be tricked into spending money on some useless products and services. To avoid any browser hijacker and adware in future, you should always read review first before installing an app.

Likewise, be way of installation process of freeware; third party sources often bundle several components into a standalone installer, which are cleverly hidden through pre-ticked boxes, fine print text, and recommended settings and similar.

You should read the installation instructions carefully and decline all the offers on the way. Pick Custom/Advanced settings would allow you to stay in control of what is being installed as well. Employ a reputable antivirus tool for better protection.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove GoCouponSearch :

Remove the related items of GoCouponSearch using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing GoCouponSearch issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (GoCouponSearch ) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to GoCouponSearch removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to GoCouponSearch still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove GoCouponSearch plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in GoCouponSearch removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete GoCouponSearch (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.