Trackingclick.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is trackingclick.com?
trackingclick.com is a rogue website identical to rosetheet.com, thepopularlinks.com, contentplaces.com, and many others. This website redirects to a number of other suspicious sites. Users often visit trackingclick.com inadvertently - they are redirected by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that infiltrate systems without consent.
Research also shows that most PUPs deliver intrusive online advertisements, record user-system information, and stealthily run various background processes.
Following infiltration, potentially unwanted programs randomly open new browser tabs/windows and redirect users to trackingclick.com, which, in turn, causes a number (usually 2-3) of consecutive redirects to other suspicious sites. Therefore, redirects caused by trackingclick.com can result in high-risk computer infections.
In addition, PUPs deliver various 'malvertising' ads (for example, banners, pop-ups, coupons, etc.) These are displayed via tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, most conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.
In addition, malvertising ads often lead to malicious websites or even execute scripts designed to download and install malware (or other PUPs). Therefore, clicking them can result in various computer infections. Another downside is information tracking.
Potentially unwanted programs commonly record user-system information (such as keystrokes, URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, Internet Protocol addresses, geo-locations, etc.) that might contain personal details. Developers sell this information to third parties to generate revenue.
Some PUPs are known to perform background tasks, without users' permission, thus misusing system resources and significantly diminishing computer performance.
These actions are performed only to generate revenue. Potentially unwanted programs pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety and, therefore, we strongly advise you to eliminate all of these rogue programs immediately.
Name | trackingclick.net pop-up |
Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
Symptoms | Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
Damage | Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are hundreds of rogue applications, all of which are virtually identical. By offering various "useful features", PUPs attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, they are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Claims to enable various functionality are often false - most PUPs deliver no significant value for regular users.
A very small percentage provide the functionality promised, however, most cause unwanted redirects (thereby promoting deceptive websites, which are often fake search engines), deliver malvertising ads (via the "Pay Per Click" advertising model), gather information, and misuse computer resources.
How did adware install on my computer?
Research shows that some PUPs have official download websites, however, these programs are often proliferated using deceptive ads, together with a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, PUPs often infiltrate systems without permission, or users install them inadvertently without their consent.
Bundling is stealth installation of third party programs together with regular (usually free) software. Developers hide details of bundled program installation (usually within the "Custom/Advanced" options). Users often rush/skip this section and click various ads, thus exposing their systems to risk of various infections and compromising their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. Therefore, be cautious when browsing the Internet and especially when downloading/installing software. Cyber criminals invest a great deal of time and money in designing malicious ads.
Therefore, most appear genuine - determining if they originate from the visited (legitimate) website is virtually impossible. If you have clicked ads leading to suspicious websites (such as surveys, pornography, adult dating, gambling, etc.), immediately check the list of installed apps/browser plug-ins and remove any suspicious entries.
Furthermore, carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes (especially the "Custom/Advanced" settings) and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.
Third party downloaders/installers often bundle additional software. Therefore, avoid using these tools - download your software from official sources only using a direct download link. The key to computer safety is caution.
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is trackingclick.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Adware removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window, look for any potentially unwanted programs, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes trackingclick.com redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove adware from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the trackingclick.net pop-up, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the trackingclick.net pop-up, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with trackingclick.net pop-up removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the trackingclick.net pop-up, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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