CostMin is a browser add-on that provides the users with special deals, discounts and coupons, helping them to save money while visiting online-shopping sites, such as Amazon, Walmart, Ebay, etc. The application is compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer and is usually installed bundled with other free of charge applications downloaded on the Web, for example, PDF creators and download managers. CostMin is categorized as adware, whose removal is recommended by security experts because the add-on may collect certain information and share it with third parties.
What Does CostMin Do?
Like many other shopping-assistant applications CostMin monitors your browsing activities in order to supply you with deals and offers according to your search queries. Once installed the add-on will present you with a “Show Similar” option on diverse product images, which may show various pop-up ads if clicked on, every time you browse different websites like Best Buy or Expedia. CostMin may also display numerous advertising banners, and thus interfere with your Internet surfing experience.
CostMin’s Symptoms:
- Displays various pop-up ads and banners
- Uses cookies, beacons and other tracking technologies
- May collect and store information regarding your browsing habits, as well as personally identifiable information
It is important to notice that third parties associated with CostMin may send advertisements directly to your browser via the CostMin plug-in or official website. Those third parties may also use cookies or other tracking technology. CostMin does not assume liability for their Privacy Policies and the content of their ads. You may get exposed to various security threats if you choose to click on any of the suggested links. Although CostMin does not affect your computer in any harmful way, you might want to remove it from your computer.
CostMin – Technical Info
The installer that delivers CostMin to your computer is known as SoftwareBundler: Win32/CostMin, which is usually found in the %TEMP% folder with one of the following file names: 18be6784_.exe, 294823_.exe, pl2352030c.fyt or pl3a3c6f9c.fyt. According to the Microsoft database CostMin creates the following folders and files upon installation:
- %ALLUSERPROFILE% \CostMin
- %APPDATA% \Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\????????.default\extensions\51d15c58d6f18@51d15c58d6f51.com
- %APPDATA% \Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\????????.default\extensions\ath-4txop@jxsqdueil.net
- %LOCALAPPDATA% \Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\epbobadpdjhmhnnokljfjbmjbjkkamic
- %ProgramFiles% \CostMin
- %USERPROFILE% \AppData\Loclet\{6F55A296-E5BC-A3C0-35AD-973ABC6AB009}
- C:\Users\All Users\CostMin
This information can be useful if you decide to remove CostMin from your computer manually. For automatic removal, we recommend the use of a proper anti-adware tool.
CostMin Removal Manual
To remove CostMin from your PC permanently follow the steps provided below.
Spy Hunter FREE scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the malware tool.
1. Remove/Uninstall CostMin in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall CostMin.
2. Remove CostMin from your browser
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select CostMin and click “Remove“
After CostMin is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select CostMin to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After CostMin has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on CostMin
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall CostMin. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the CostMin will be removed.
3. Remove CostMin automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
To clean your computer with the award-winning software Spy Hunter –
It is highly recommended to run a FREE scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.
- Guide 1: How to Remove CostMin from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of CostMin from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove CostMin from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase CostMin from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall CostMin from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove CostMin from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate CostMin from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove CostMin from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove CostMin
Step 2: Uninstall CostMin and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by CostMin on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by CostMin there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of CostMin from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall CostMin and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove CostMin via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove CostMin from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase CostMin from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall CostMin from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove CostMin from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the CostMin will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate CostMin from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
