Removal instructions for Coupon Alert

[Metallica]

What is Coupon Alert?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Coupon Alert is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Coupon Alert?

You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:

and this warning during install:

How did Coupon Alert get on my computer?

Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was bundled with other software.

How do I remove Coupon Alert?

Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup-version.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  • Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
  • Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Scan Now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
• When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
• Restart your computer when prompted to do so.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Coupon Alert?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Coupon Alert completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Coupon Alert adware. �It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

You will see these signs in a HijackThis log:

O23 - Service: CouponAlert - Rational Thought Solutions - C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe

Possible signs in FRST logs:

 (Rational Thought Solutions) C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe R2 CouponAlert; C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe [2731504 2015-05-01] (Rational Thought Solutions) () C:\ProgramData\CouponAlertCouponAlert (HKLM\...\CouponAlert) (Version: 3.0.54 - Rational Thought Solutions) <==== ATTENTION

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)---------------------------------------------------    Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert       Adds the file CouponAlert.ico"="5/1/2015 9:10 AM, 318 bytes, A       Adds the file CouponAlertService.exe"="5/1/2015 9:10 AM, 2731504 bytes, A       Adds the file CouponAlertService.exe.config"="5/1/2015 9:10 AM, 288 bytes, A       Adds the file info.dat"="5/1/2015 9:10 AM, 80 bytes, A       Adds the file uninstall.exe"="5/1/2015 9:10 AM, 544752 bytes, A       Adds the file uninstall.exe.config"="5/1/2015 9:10 AM, 168 bytes, ARegistry details [View: All details] (Selection)------------------------------------------------    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}]       "id"="REG_SZ", "f58d59528f574230bb92640f4346d74d"       "p"="REG_SZ", "195409"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{15c557be-79cc-f480-db11-a4d4a2cb4e6b}]       "id"="REG_SZ", "f58d59528f574230bb92640f4346d74d"       "lpvcc"="REG_SZ", "3.0.54"       "p"="REG_SZ", "195409"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{79e231b2-c706-f38f-ebcf-2be72bb1078a}]       "ik"="REG_SZ", "{ec073276-5e07-2396-29ac-f3345933c3d1}"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{8c90711c-56d7-fd77-e429-19c40f1ae7a6}]       "id"="REG_SZ", "f58d59528f574230bb92640f4346d74d"       "ip"="REG_SZ", "195409"       "p"="REG_SZ", "195409"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{9C4EFBD5-1ADF-41E6-BE26-AF44326E30E4}]       "(Default)"="REG_DWORD", 1       "v"="REG_DWORD", 1       "vs"="REG_SZ", "1"    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{A2970C7C-8392-4E6F-8B51-B763CF38E13C}]    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\CouponAlertService_RASAPI32]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\CouponAlertService_RASMANCS]       "ConsoleTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "EnableConsoleTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "EnableFileTracing"="REG_DWORD", 0       "FileDirectory"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, "%windir%\tracing"       "FileTracingMask"="REG_DWORD", -65536       "MaxFileSize"="REG_DWORD", 1048576    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\CouponAlert]       "DisplayIcon"="REG_SZ", "C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlert.ico"       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "CouponAlert"       "DisplayVersion"="REG_SZ", "3.0.54"       "EstimatedSize"="REG_DWORD", 5000       "HelpLink"="REG_SZ", "http://www.cheapcouponalert.com/about.html"       "InstallDate"="REG_SZ", "5/1/2015"       "Publisher"="REG_SZ", "Rational Thought Solutions"       "UninstallString"="REG_SZ", ""C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\uninstall.exe""    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\CouponAlert]       "DependOnService"="REG_MULTI_SZ, "Winmgmt CryptSvc "       "DisplayName"="REG_SZ", "CouponAlert"       "ErrorControl"="REG_DWORD", 1       "FailureActions"="REG_BINARY, <.....................       "ImagePath"="REG_EXPAND_SZ, ""C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe""       "ObjectName"="REG_SZ", "LocalSystem"       "Start"="REG_DWORD", 2       "Type"="REG_DWORD", 16

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarewww.malwarebytes.orgScan Date: 5/1/2015Scan Time: 9:17:46 AMLogfile: mbamCouponAlert.txtAdministrator: YesVersion: 2.01.0.1004Malware Database: v2015.05.01.01Rootkit Database: v2015.04.21.01License: FreeMalware Protection: DisabledMalicious Website Protection: DisabledSelf-protection: DisabledOS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1CPU: x86File System: NTFSUser: MalwarebytesScan Type: Threat ScanResult: CompletedObjects Scanned: 287429Time Elapsed: 4 min, 3 secMemory: EnabledStartup: EnabledFilesystem: EnabledArchives: EnabledRootkits: DisabledHeuristics: EnabledPUP: EnabledPUM: EnabledProcesses: 1PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe, 2392, Delete-on-Reboot, [393c4e402d5d1d199e26bd6daa5818e8]Modules: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Keys: 3PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, HKLM\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\CouponAlert, Quarantined, [393c4e402d5d1d199e26bd6daa5818e8], PUP.Optional.WebSteroids.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{051E9166-B275-4683-907B-372FAE22BC7C}, Quarantined, [6a0b503e701a32048d0da4aabd46ff01], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, HKLM\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL\CouponAlert, Quarantined, [d79ec4cacdbd290d2d9730fa6a9833cd], Registry Values: 0(No malicious items detected)Registry Data: 0(No malicious items detected)Folders: 2PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert, Delete-on-Reboot, [8ee7cdc1afdb4fe7e22576e36b9ab54b], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\CouponAlert, Quarantined, [92e3682695f5e25448996d5650b3ec14], Files: 10PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe, Delete-on-Reboot, [393c4e402d5d1d199e26bd6daa5818e8], PUP.Optional.ZombieInvasion.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlert.dll, Quarantined, [abcac2cc9eec40f6082f788216eff010], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlert.exe, Quarantined, [4a2bdfafdfabe94dcdf7a08aaa587a86], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\uninstall.exe, Quarantined, [d79ec4cacdbd290d2d9730fa6a9833cd], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\CouponAlert.exe, Quarantined, [97de226c8cfe6acc1aaae24857ab13ed], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\info.dat, Delete-on-Reboot, [8ee7cdc1afdb4fe7e22576e36b9ab54b], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlert.exe.config, Quarantined, [8ee7cdc1afdb4fe7e22576e36b9ab54b], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlert.ico, Quarantined, [8ee7cdc1afdb4fe7e22576e36b9ab54b], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe.config, Quarantined, [8ee7cdc1afdb4fe7e22576e36b9ab54b], PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\uninstall.exe.config, Quarantined, [8ee7cdc1afdb4fe7e22576e36b9ab54b], Physical Sectors: 0(No malicious items detected)(end)

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.

We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.