TrailerWatch Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is TrailerWatch?
TrailerWatch is a deceptive application that falsely claims to allow users to watch movie trailers directly from their desktops. These dubious claims often trick users to install, however, this application is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
TrailerWatch is designed to infiltrate systems without users’ permission. Furthermore, this PUP continually monitors users' web browsing activity and delivers intrusive online advertisements.
Following successful infiltration, TrailerWatch generates intrusive online advertisements using a ‘virtual layer’ (a tool that enables display of third party graphical content on any website). These third party advertisements often conceal the underlying content of visited websites, thereby significantly diminishing the browsing experience.
Furthermore, the advertisements often lead to malicious websites and, therefore, clicking them can lead to further adware or malware infections. Another downside of TrailerWatch is information tracking. This adware records IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar browsing-related data.
On initial inspection, this information may seem insignificant, however, it can include private details that are shared with third parties who misuse such data to generate revenue. Thus, the presence of an information-tracking application on your system might cause serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall this PUP immediately.
This PUP shares many similarities with applications such as TrailerTime, CaptureItPlus, and OneSoftPerDay. Although all of these applications claim to provide 'valuable functions', none deliver any real value. Adware-type programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than improving the web browsing experience, they simply collect personally identifiable information and continually generate intrusive online advertisements. Applications such as TrailerWatch are useless for users and should be removed.
How did TrailerWatch install on my computer?
TrailerWatch is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with regular software/apps. Users often skip download/installation procedure steps and, aware of this, developers intentionally conceal potentially unwanted programs within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings.
Therefore, users who rush these processes, and skip the aforementioned section, often install bogus programs inadvertently.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation be careful during the download and installation processes. Closely analyze each step of these procedures. Furthermore, all additionally-included programs listed for download/installation should be cancelled.
Deceptive free software installers distributing TrailerWatch adware:
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Quick menu:
- What is TrailerWatch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall TrailerWatch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove TrailerWatch adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove TrailerWatch ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by TrailerWatch' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove TrailerWatch ads from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
TrailerWatch 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 "TrailerWatch - TrailerWatch for Desktop", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes TrailerWatch ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove TrailerWatch adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, TrailerWatch did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your 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 ads by trailerwatch, 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 "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 ads by trailerwatch, 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 on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by trailerwatch 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 ads by trailerwatch, 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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