Trace Sweeper Threat Level:

Trace Sweeper — or “TraceSweeper” or “Big Scam” — is another fake anti-spyware/fake privacy program. Like other fake anti-spyware/privacy software, Trace Sweeper pops up fake security alerts to try and scare you into buying Trace Sweeper for $39.95.

If Trace Sweeper is bothering you, the only security issue you have is Trace Sweeper.

Remove Trace Sweeper, if only because Trace Sweeper may make you want to throw your PC out the window.

Send all your hate e-mail to contact@trace-sweeper.com.

Do I Have Trace Sweeper?

You can search your computer manually, but it might take hours to find Trace Sweeper’s hidden files. To save time, I recommend you automatically scan your PC for Trace Sweeper and other spyware. Why not? It’s free.

Free Trace Sweeper Scan, with SpyHunter

You can easily detect Trace Sweeper with SpyHunter’s FREE spyware scanner. And if you’re really infected with Trace Sweeper, you can buy the full version of SpyHunter to remove Trace Sweeper and other spyware. Or you can use my instructions below and remove Trace Sweeper for free.

I’m a big fan of SpyHunter. Here’s why: SpyHunter offers live support on the phone, and if SpyHunter doesn’t automatically remove Trace Sweeper, you can get a custom fix for your computer.

Get Rid of Trace Sweeper Manually

Manual removal of any spyware can be difficult. When you manually remove Trace Sweeper, you have to fiddle with your registry and risk destroying your PC. It’s highly recommended you use an automatic spyware scanner to make sure you’re infected with Trace Sweeper. Also, I recommend you backup your system any time before editing your registry.

To remove Trace Sweeper manually, you need to delete Trace Sweeper files. Not sure how to delete Trace Sweeper files? Click here, and I’ll tell you. Otherwise, go ahead and…

Block Trace Sweeper sites:

Stop Trace Sweeper processes:

Remove Trace Sweeper registry values:

Note: In any files I mention above, “%System%” is a variable referring to your PC’s System folder. Maybe you renamed it, but by default your System folder is “C:\Windows\System32″ on Windows XP, “C:\Winnt\System32″ on Windows NT/2000,” or “C:\Windows\System” on Windows 95/98/Me.

“%Program_Files%”, “%ProgramFiles%”, or “%Profile%” is a variable referring to a folder in your PC where applications that aren’t a part of your PC’s operating system are installed by default. You may have changed this folder’s name or moved it, but if you didn’t touch it, find the folder as “C:\Program Files”. If you’re having trouble finding this folder, you can locate it by looking up registry value “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir”.

Also, “%UserProfile%” is a variable referring to your current user’s profile folder. If you’re using Windows NT/2000/XP, by default this is “C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER]” (e.g., “C:\Documents and Settings\JoeSmith”).

Trace Sweeper changed your homepage?

Click Windows Start menu > Control Panel > Internet Options. Next, under Home Page, select the General > Use Default. Type in the URL you want as your home page (e.g., “http://www.homepage.com”). Then select Apply > OK. You’ll want to open a fresh web page and make sure that your new default home page pops up.

Recommendation:

To save time and avoid risking destroying your computer, I highly recommend you use a spyware scanner, such as SpyHunter, to detect Trace Sweeper and other spyware, adware, trojans, viruses, keyloggers, and more that can be hidden in your PC. It’s also recommended before you manually remove Trace Sweeper you backup your system.

Free Trace Sweeper Scan, with SpyHunter

Automatically detect Trace Sweeper and other spyware on your PC with SpyHunter’s FREE spyware scan.

How to delete Trace Sweeper files in Windows XP and Vista:

1. Click your Windows Start menu, and from “Search,” click “For Files and Folders…“
2. A speech bubble will pop up asking you, “What do you want to search for?” Click “All files and folders.”
3. Type any file name in the search box, and select “Local Hard Drives.”
4. Click “Search.” Once the file is found, delete it.

How to stop Trace Sweeper processes:

1. Click the Start menu, select Run.
2. Type taskmgr.exe into the the Run command box, and click “OK.” You can also launch the Task Manager by pressing keys ALT + CTRL + DELETE or CTRL + Shift + ESC.
3. Click Processes tab, and find Trace Sweeper processes.
4. Once you’ve found the Trace Sweeper processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill Trace Sweeper.

How to remove Trace Sweeper registry keys:

Your Windows registry is the core of your Windows operating system, storing information about user settings, system preferences, and software, including which applications automatically launch at start up. Because of this, spyware, malware, and adware will often bury their own files into your Windows registry so that they automatically launch every time your start up your PC.

Because your registry is such a key piece of your Windows system, you should always backup your registry before you make any changes to it. Editing your registry can be intimidating if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or registry value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire Windows operating system. Make sure your backup your registry before editing it.

1. Select your Windows menu “Start,” and click “Run.” An “Open” field will appear. Type “regedit” and click “OK” to open up your Registry Editor.
2. Registry Editor will open as a window with two panes. The left side Registry Editor’s window lets you select various registry keys, and the right side displays the registry values of the registry key you select.
3. To find a registry key, such as any Trace Sweeper registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of Trace Sweeper’s registry keys.
4. As soon as Trace Sweeper registry key appears, you can delete the Trace Sweeper registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

Computer acting funny after you’ve edited your registry and deleted Trace Sweeper registry keys? Just restore your registry with your backup.

How to remove Trace Sweeper DLL files:

Like most any software, spyware, adware, and malware may also use DLL files. DLL is short for “dynamically linked library,” and Trace Sweeper DLL files, like other DLLs, carryout predetermined tasks. To manually delete Trace Sweeper DLL files, you’ll use Regsver32, a Windows tool designed to help you remove DLL and other files.

1. First you’ll locate Trace Sweeper DLL files you want to delete. Open your Windows Start menu, then click “Run.” Type “cmd” in Run, and click “OK.”
2. To change your current directory, type “cd” in the command box, press your “Space” key, and enter the full directory where the Trace Sweeper DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the Trace Sweeper DLL file is located in a particular directory, enter “dir” in the command box to display a directory’s contents. To go one directory back, enter “cd ..” in the command box and press “Enter.”
3. When you’ve located the Trace Sweeper DLL file you want to remove, type “regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 /u jl27script.dll”) and press your “Enter” key.

That’s it. If you want to restore Trace Sweeper DLL file you removed, enter “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Freeware or Shareware:
Did you download and install shareware or freeware? These low-cost or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like Trace Sweeper. Sometimes adware is attached to the free software to “pay” developers for the cost of creating the software, and more often spyware is secretly and maliciously attached to free software to harm your computer and steal your personal and financial information.

Peer-to-Peer Software:
Do you use a peer-to-peer (P2P) program or other application with a shared network? When you use these applications, you put your system at risk for unknowingly downloading an infected file, including applications like Trace Sweeper.

Questionable Websites: Did you visit a website that’s of questionable nature? When you visit malicious sites that are fishy and phishy, Trojans, spyware, and adware may be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer, sometimes including applications like Trace Sweeper.

It’s important to practice safer online habits to prevent being infected with Trace Sweeper . You may want to scan your computer for the latest version of Trace Sweeper and other security threats.

Slow computer performance: It only takes one or two spyware parasites like Trace Sweeper to cause your computer to slow dramatically. If your PC takes longer than usual to reboot or if your Internet connection is unusually slow, your computer may be infected with malware.

New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Malware like Trace Sweeper may change your Internet settings or redirect your default homepage to another web site. Malware may even add new desktop shortcuts on your PC.

Annoying popups on your PC: Malware may bombard your computer with popup ads, even when you’re not online. Malware may stop your regular Internet activity and track your surfing habits and gather personal information about you, putting your financial and personal information at risk.

Often when you’re infected with rogue anti-spyware like Trace Sweeper, you’ll see a false popup security alert like this:

Rogue Anti-Spyware Tactics

Typically, rogue anti-spyware has one or more of the qualities listed below, which is why rogue anti-spyware is considered anti-spyware software of questionable value.

» False positives/fake alerts: Rogue anti-spyware may produce a large number of false positives or use fake alerts, noting that your computer is infected with spyware parasites or other threats that do not really exist.

» Copycat looks: Rogue anti-spyware may copy the look and feel of other legitimate or rogue anti-spyware applications. Often, rogue anti-spyware applications may appear as close clones of other rogue anti-spyware software.

» High pressure marketing: Rogue anti-spyware may use scare tactics or other aggressive advertising and marketing tactics to try to trick you into buying the rogue anti-spyware application. Often, rogue anti-spyware may produce false positives and fake alerts about your computer being infected.

» Poor detection/scan reporting: Rogue anti-spyware may produce poor reports when it scans your PC. For example, rogue anti-spyware may say your computer is infected 11 parasites, but not specify which spyware parasites or what type of parasites. Rogue anti-spyware may also report that your PC is infected with SafeAndClean, but not tell you which related files, DLLS, etc. were found on your computer.

» Weak scanning/detection: Rogue anti-spyware may not only poorly report on computer infection, but rogue antispyware may also poorly scan your PC. Rogue anti-spyware may skip over important folders and files of your computer that should be scanned to detect spyware.

Trace Sweeper may use these tactics to trick or scare you into purchasing Trace Sweeper.

"Trace Sweeper" keywords: Rogue Anti Spyware

"Trace Sweeper" was posted on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 3:31 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.