Removal instructions for Coupon Alert

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

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\CouponAlert

CouponAlert (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, A

Registry 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-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 5/1/2015
Scan Time: 9:17:46 AM
Logfile: mbamCouponAlert.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.01.0.1004
Malware Database: v2015.05.01.01
Rootkit Database: v2015.04.21.01
License: Free
Malware Protection: Disabled
Malicious Website Protection: Disabled
Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x86
File System: NTFS
User: Malwarebytes

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 287429
Time Elapsed: 4 min, 3 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 1
PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert\CouponAlertService.exe, 2392, Delete-on-Reboot, [393c4e402d5d1d199e26bd6daa5818e8]

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 3
PUP.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: 2
PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\ProgramData\CouponAlert, Delete-on-Reboot, [8ee7cdc1afdb4fe7e22576e36b9ab54b], 
PUP.Optional.CouponAlert.A, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\CouponAlert, Quarantined, [92e3682695f5e25448996d5650b3ec14], 

Files: 10
PUP.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.

#1
Metallica

Posted 01 May 2015 - 01:52 AM

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