by Berta Bilbao | April 12, 2017 | 0 Comments browser hijacker, redirect

This article will help you remove SearchCounn.com absolutely. Follow the browser hijacker removal instructions at the bottom of the article.

SearchCounn.com is the URL address as well as the new tab page for a browser hijacker redirect that is called Coupon Unity. The owner company is named Polarity Technologies, although it could be traced back to SaferBrowser. The undesired software modifies the new tab window, start page, and search engine for all browser programs that you use. Once it is on your computer, you will witness a toolbar on the main page of all browsers. An add-on related to this hijacker could install, too.

Threat Summary

Name	SearchCounn.com
Type	Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description	The hijacker can change the start page, search engine and new tab on every browser application you own.
Symptoms	The homepage, search engine and new tab of all your browsers will be changed to SearchCounn.com. You will be redirected and could see advertising content.
Distribution Method	Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss SearchCounn.com.

SearchCounn.com – Methods of Delivery

SearchCounn.com has more than one method for delivering itself to a computer system which can be efficient. Installation setups by third-party applications are mainly responsible for delivering this browser hijacker. Without a notification, freeware and bundled packages could spread the hijacker to your PC. Installation setups such as these might be built to install additional contents by default. To prevent that from becoming a reality is doable if you find Custom or Advanced options inside the setup’s menu. There you should be able to see a deselect option.

SearchCounn.com could be delivered through a browser extension. Add-ons and plug-ins associated with the hijacker might be put all around the Internet and be used as another way of delivery. Social media networks and file-sharing services can also be used for delivering installation setups that contain the hijacker program. The browser hijacker redirect can appear from redirect links and advertisements found on suspicious websites. Browsers that can get affected are: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.

SearchCounn.com – In-Depth Overview

SearchCounn.com is the Web address of a browser hijacker. A menu which is placed in the middle of the main page has links pointing to such websites and to advertisements. The default search engine for your browsers is going to load the page SearchCounn.com, after the hijacker has affected them. You can see the start page of this hijacker from the below image:

If your computer system is affected by this hijacker, you will see redirects to the search engine that comes with it and changes other browser settings such as your start page, new tab, themes etc. The developer of the hijacker is Polarity Technologies, if the things mentioned on the web pages and the Privacy Policy of the hijacker redirect are true. In the past, the company’s name was SaferBrowser. Lots of programs with browser hijacking capabilities have been developed in the past by the company in question.

Add-ons and extensions which are related to this hijacker could be in your browser applications and modify the new tab window, homepage, and the default search settings. That can be seen through redirects which are spawned to your pages when you are casually browsing the Internet. Many, different kinds of data can be collected from you and sent to servers related to the SearchCounn.com site owners. Third party partners and affiliates might also receive that data.

The extension could do the following:

Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
Manage your apps, extensions, and themes

SearchCounn.com filters whatever searches go through it so you should be wary of what you provide as information. Some of the sponsored content could appear as targeted advertisements, and also get displayed after you make a search or if you are casually browsing the Internet. That advertising content can be of a few types and presented as in-text links, pop-ups, pop-unders, and similar advertisements.

The screenshot shown above reveals the redirect for the search results of the SearchCounn.com page and its function. The redirect link is hosted on a sub-domain of the hijacker and only appears in the nick of time. Each one of your search queries will be filtered, and all of the data which is gathered from those is going to a sub-domain and will be stored there. Next, you will see the search results page of a reputable search engine – or at least it will look like it. On the screenshot displayed below you can see an example of a fake Yahoo’s search results page:

Be careful with what information you tend to give out inside search bars, especially if that information contains personal data and similar things, as your credentials to a website, account details among other things. Continue reading to find out what information is being obtained from you.

SearchCounn.com – Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policy of SearchCounn.com states that personally and non-personally identifying information will get collected by the hijacker. The company Polarity Technologies is given as the owner of the hijacker, although we see that it uses its old names in searches – SaferBrowser and could now be a subsidiary/partner of it. Another proof of such similarity between the aforementioned companies is the Privacy Policy, which bears a lot of resemblances to its past variants. Information that is collected about you and your browsing habits can be disclosed to third party businesses and partners of Polarity Technologies.

The policy states that the following information is obtained:

Email address
IP address
Home address (mailing address)
Search queries and all data you type in searches
Search data and specifics of searches
URLs and clicks
Browser type
Your name
Your geographic location
Your ISP (Internet Search Provider)
Communications preferences
Operating System (and other related data)

You can view the Privacy Policy page from the below image:

By reading the privacy policy to its end reveals a statement of how using any application or service connected to the SearchCounn.com website is thought to be your approval for data collection. The Polarity Technologies company obtains information about you and your online activity. The website also uses browser cookies, and more tracking technologies, like Web beacons, to gather more information about you and your browsing habits.

Remove SearchCounn.com Efficiently

To remove SearchCounn.com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions given below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the browser hijacker entirely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software helps keep your computer secure in the future.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.

Guide 1: How to Remove SearchCounn.com from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of SearchCounn.com on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove SearchCounn.com in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase SearchCounn.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall SearchCounn.com from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove SearchCounn.com from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate SearchCounn.com from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable SearchCounn.com Push Notifications in Your Browsers.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

How to Remove SearchCounn.com from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove SearchCounn.com

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall SearchCounn.com 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by SearchCounn.com 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 SearchCounn.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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.

Step 4: Scan for SearchCounn.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of SearchCounn.com from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall SearchCounn.com and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to SearchCounn.com:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to SearchCounn.com. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to SearchCounn.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 SearchCounn.com 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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as SearchCounn.com. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 SearchCounn.com files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as SearchCounn.com, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for SearchCounn.com:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove SearchCounn.com 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Erase SearchCounn.com 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Uninstall SearchCounn.com 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove SearchCounn.com 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 SearchCounn.com will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate SearchCounn.com 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.