Remove Cupduck “Virus” (Chrome/Firefox/IE)

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Cupduck is yet another adware application. This parasite is more annoying than dangerous. Yet, it should not be underestimated. This tool acts as an open door for many dangerous parasites online. It is also exposing you to numerous hazardous advertisements. You must be tired of being redirected without any apparent reason. Every time you try to follow a link, additional tabs open in your web browser. On top of that, pop-up windows appear at the most unexpected times. All those issues are due to the Cupduck utility running on your device. It is also the reason why your machine is performing so poorly. Cupduck is a real program. It runs on your CPU and uses a lot of RAM. The more ads you see, the slower your computer is. This tool may cause your computer to freeze and crash frequently. You may suffer data loss. Luckily, you can remove this tool easily. But only if you act promptly. However, if you decide to ignore this pest, hell will rise. The Cupduck utility acts as an open door for many dangerous parasites. There is no such thing as minor infection. Do yourself a favor and delete list app ASAP!

How did I get infected with?

To operate on your device, the Cupduck utility needs your approval. You provided it. There is no other way. You installed this app on your machine. Yet, you may not remember doing so. This is to be expected. After all, nobody will infect their PC on purpose. To get your approval, Cupduck used trickery. It arrived in a bundling. Developers tend to attach extra programs to the installation files of many free apps. When installing a program, opt for advanced/custom tab or button. Only under the advanced setup can you deny the installation of all additional tools that are about to be installed. Deselect all of them. If you truly needed such tools, you would have downloaded them by yourself. Other malware distribution methods include spam emails, corrupted links, and fake software updates. The key to a secure and infection-free computer is caution. Read the terms and conditions. This step can spare you tons of troubles. Also, keep your anti-virus software up to date. It is, after all, your last defense wall.

Why is this dangerous?

The Cupduck adware is responsible for the constant stream of commercials. You see ads everywhere. Every website you visit is heavy on ad banners. Pop-up windows and constant redirection interrupt your browsing sessions. Coupons and great deals are following you everywhere around the web. All those adverts are displayed by the adware. As useful most of them appear to be, none is to be trusted. Adware applications are often used by hackers for malware distribution. If you click on a corrupted link, you will be redirected to an infected website. This is all it takes for a virus to be downloaded on your computer. There is no way to tell which ads are corrupted and which are not. Avoiding them will not work, though. The adware will try to trick you into clicking on ads unintentionally. At the most unexpected times, it will open a pop-up window right under the cursor of your mouse. If you have the misfortune to click on a corrupted pop-up, a virus or other malware may be downloaded. You cannot ignore the adware. The longer it stays on board, the more aggressive the ads will become. Don’t tolerate this. Follow our guide or use a trustworthy anti-virus program. It is up to you. Remove this parasite for good!

How to Remove Cupduck virus

The Cupduck infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Cupduck infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Cupduck infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Cupduck in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Cupduck startup location

STEP 3: Delete Cupduck traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Cupduck in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Cupduck startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Cupduck virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean Cupduck traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Cupduck by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Cupduck

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Cupduck, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove Cupduck argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Cupduck Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.