Cleantraf.xyz e-mail scam: how to spot it and what to do
Cleantraf.xyz is one of the websites you should stay away from, as it holds plenty of malicious content. Most users visit the site by accident, usually after clicking a link somewhere else or being taken by a malicious script.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Cleantraf.xyz e-mail scam: summary
| Distribution | Redirects from other malicious websites, adware |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of PUPs or malware, sensitive information disclosure, financial losses |
| Name | Cleantraf.xyz |
| Type | Scam, fraud, phishing, redirect |
| Operation | Claims that the subscription for security software has expired and that it needs to be immediately renewed to remove the allegedly found threats. Asks to download potentially malicious software and enable push notifications |
| Symptoms | A phishing e-mail asking you to sign in |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 7 more facts
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Arrives as | |
| Pretends to be | A well-known company |
| Claim | Your account needs urgent attention |
| Asks for | Your password |
| First seen | 9 August 2022 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What the Cleantraf.xyz e-mail scam e-mail looks like
WARNING
Your Windows 10 is infected with Viruses and other malicious applications. Viruses must be removed and system damage repaired.
It is necessary to run the Virus removal procedure immediately, please proceed.
**If you leave this site your computer will remain damaged and vulnerable**
How to tell the Cleantraf.xyz e-mail scam e-mail is fake
From our report of Aug 2022 · not reviewed since
- They are then rather surprised by what they see - a security scan from McAfee.
- can help you when dealing with leftover adware files, for example, you can get rid of various browser trackers and fix system damage automatically
- Once redirected, users are then immediately presented with what looks like pop-up windows from McAfee antivirus.
- Neither Microsoft nor McAfee has anything to do with the website or promoted messages - it is the work of scammers.
Is Cleantraf.xyz e-mail scam dangerous? What the senders want
From our report of Aug 2022 · not reviewed since
Cleantraf.xyz ads are misleading: don't give into the scam scheme
Cleantraf.xyz is one of the websites you should stay away from, as it holds plenty of malicious content.
Most users visit the site by accident, usually after clicking a link somewhere else or being taken by a malicious script.
Just a few moments later, people are presented with scan results that claim that several viruses have been doing and that the security software license has expired. Those who proceeds are sent to the software purchase page, where they would be asked to enter their personal information and install the software.
Just to be clear: everything on Cleantraf.xyz is fake, and it is a mere online scam that tries to sell software using phishing messages. Instead, employ legitimate tools to check your device for adware or other infections.
From our report of Aug 2022 · not reviewed since
The website wants to show push notifications
Upon entry, users who do not have the push notification feature disabled would be asked if they would like to receive notifications from Cleantraf.xyz.
While it is unlikely for many people to agree to this, the "Allow" button could be clicked accidentally, which would allow the site to deliver pop-up ads at any time directly to users' desktops.
These ads could incorporate plenty of misleading and deceptive statements, such as those which claim one has won a large sum of money or that the computer has been infected with viruses. In other words, the material shown within those ads would be fake as well. Instead, to stop push notifications from Cleantraf.xyz, follow these steps:
MS Edge (Chromium)
- Open the Google Chrome browser and go to Menu > Settings.
- Locate the Privacy and security section and pick Site Settings > Notifications.
- Look at the Allow section and look for a suspicious URL.
- Click the three vertical dots next to it and pick Block. This should remove unwanted notifications from Google Chrome.
- Open Mozilla Firefox and go to Menu > Options.
- Click on Privacy & Security section.
- Under Permissions, you should be able to see Notifications. Click the Settings button next to it.
- In the Settings – Notification Permissions window, click on the drop-down menu by the URL in question.
- Select Block and then click on Save Changes. This should remove unwanted notifications from Mozilla Firefox.
- Click on Safari > Preferences...
- Go to the Websites tab and, under General, select Notifications.
- Select the web address in question, click the drop-down menu and select Deny.
- Open Microsoft Edge, and go to Settings.
- Select Site permissions.
- Go to Notifications on the right.
- Under Allow, you will find the unwanted entry.
- Click on More actions and select Block.
From our report of Aug 2022 · not reviewed since
How the scam works
As mentioned, users do not venture to malicious or fake websites intentionally but are rather redirected to them.
This simple aspect is what works very well in conjunction with various online scams, as users are less likely to be attentive and are more prone to making mistakes. This is not an accident and is one of the most commonly used tactics by scammers, as it makes their schemes more successful.
That being said, users who already engage in risky behavior are more likely to encounter Cleantraf.xyz redirects and ads while browsing.
Soon after, the results show up and claim that five viruses were found in the system. Users may also so further pop-ups that may look like Blue Screen of Death errors, although the messages have nothing to do with the official Microsoft warnings and errors. It reads:
While further links may redirect users to legitimate sources, it may not always be the case, and instead, users could be exposed to malicious websites where potentially unwanted programs or even malware would be recommended.
From our report of Aug 2022 · not reviewed since
Make system checks
It is worth mentioning that users who encounter Cleantraf.xyz redirects might be infected with adware or another type of malware.
Adware is a commonly encountered software that is often bundled with freeware and downloaded accidentally from third-party sources. Some people may also install adware after being tricked by a phishing message or a fake Flash Player update.
Therefore, if you have noticed that your system is showing a larger amount of ads and you encounter misleading or fake content online, you should definitely check your device for adware by scanning it with powerful anti-malware software, such as or .
It will also ensure that more dangerous threats are not present in the system. Likewise, if you have downloaded software from a scam site, it is vital you get rid of it as soon as possible.
You can uninstall programs from Windows by accessing the Control Panel as follows:
If you are using a Mac, you need to move the unwanted application into the Trash as follows:
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
Finally, you should also eliminate unwanted browser extensions and clean browser caches accordingly. Adware is known to insert cookies and other trackers upon infiltration so that it can follow users' visited websites, clicked links, search queries, technical data, unique device identifiers, and similar information.
To stop this, you should get rid of these items - they are stored locally on your computer. The easiest way of doing that is by employing , although we also provide a manual solution below.
- Enter Control Panel into the Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
What to do after the Cleantraf.xyz e-mail
If you only received the message and clicked nothing, step 3 is all you need.
If you clicked the link or typed anything on the page it opened, do every step, starting with the password.
Step 1: Change the password you typed on the fake page
If you entered a password after clicking the link in the Cleantraf.xyz message, treat that account as known to the sender.
Open the provider's real site by typing its address yourself, not through any link in the e-mail, and change the password there. Choose a new one you have never used before, and change it on every other account that shared the old one.
Then use the option to sign out of all other sessions or devices, if the provider has one. This works the same in any browser on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Microsoft account, Security page (account.microsoft.com/security): Change password. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 2: Turn on two-step verification
Two-step verification asks for a code from your phone or an authenticator app whenever someone signs in from a new device. A stolen password alone is then not enough to open the mailbox.
Turn it on in the security settings of the e-mail account first, then for the bank, shop and social accounts that send their reset links to that address.
While you are there, check the recovery e-mail and phone number and the forwarding rules, which attackers sometimes change to keep access. The settings pages look the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Microsoft account: Manage how I sign in, where two-step verification and the sign-in methods are. Full procedure with screenshots: Turn on two-step verification / secure a hacked account
Step 3: Report the e-mail and delete it
Report the message instead of only deleting it. In Outlook choose Report > Report phishing, in Gmail the three-dot menu > Report phishing; the provider then blocks the same message for other people.
Do not reply and do not click anything else in it. On a work account, forward it to your IT team as an attachment first. Web mail and the mail apps on Windows 11 and Windows 10 offer the same options.
New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web: Report > Report phishing. Full procedure with screenshots: Report a phishing e-mail
Step 4: Scan the PC if you opened a file from the message
A page that only asked for a password installs nothing, so most readers can skip this step.
If the Cleantraf.xyz e-mail or the page it opened made you download or open a file, delete it and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about Cleantraf.xyz e-mail scam
Can reading "Your Windows 10 is infected with Viruses and other malicious applications." infect my computer?
Reading it cannot. An e-mail is text and pictures, and current versions of Outlook, Gmail and other web mail services do not run code from a message just because you opened it. What can cause harm is an action:
- signing in on the page the link opens
- opening an attachment
- enabling macros in a document
The message "Your Windows 10 is infected with Viruses and other malicious applications." was built to lead you to one of those steps. If you stopped at reading, delete it and use the report button so the provider can block the same wave for others. Nothing needs to be removed from Windows.
The "Your Windows 10 is infected with Viruses and other malicious applications." page asked for my code too. Is two-step verification enough?
Not when you typed the code yourself. Some phishing pages pass your password and the one-time code to the real site in real time, which lets the attacker sign in once.
Change the password immediately, then sign out of all sessions so the stolen session ends. Check the account's security page for new devices, app passwords and recovery details, and remove anything you did not add.
A passkey or a hardware key is the strongest protection against this trick, because it cannot be typed into a fake page. Keep the e-mail "Your Windows 10 is infected with Viruses and other malicious applications." for your report, then delete it.
Is Cleantraf.xyz really from a well-known company?
No. It is sent by scammers who copy the name and look of a well-known company. The sender address and the links do not belong to it, and the message asks for your password, which a real company does not request through an unexpected message.
If you want to be sure about your account, open the website or app of a well-known company the way you normally do, not through the message, and look for notices there. Then delete the message and report it as phishing. If you already followed its instructions, use the steps in this guide for your case.
Is it true that your account needs urgent attention?
No. The claim that your account needs urgent attention is the hook of Cleantraf.xyz, invented to give you a reason to act quickly. Scammers pick a story that could plausibly apply to many people, so it may feel relevant to you, but nothing in the message is based on your real accounts or devices.
If the claim concerns a service you use, check it there directly, by opening the website or app yourself. You will find no such problem. Then delete the message and report it as phishing.
What happens if I do what Cleantraf.xyz asks?
The scammers get your password, and they use it quickly. Passwords are tried on the real service within minutes, cards are charged or added to phone wallets, remote access is used to open your bank, and crypto is moved on at once.
Documents surface later as accounts in your name. If you already did what the message asked, do not wait to see what happens; follow the steps in this guide for your case today. Speed matters more than anything else here.
Will a well-known company refund me if I fell for Cleantraf.xyz?
A well-known company did not send the message and is not responsible for it, so a refund usually comes from your bank or card issuer, not from the brand. Call the bank first if you paid.
It still helps to tell the real company: they can secure your account, add notes for their fraud team and take down pages that use their name. Contact them through their official website or app only, never through the message or a search ad. Keep the message as evidence.
Does receiving Cleantraf.xyz mean I was hacked?
No. A e-mail like this is sent to huge lists at once, and your address or number is on one of them, most likely because it appeared in a data breach or on a public page. Nothing on your PC caused it.
What would matter is whether anyone signed in to your accounts; check recent sign-in activity in your e-mail and bank accounts if you are worried. Turn on two-step verification for the important ones, then delete the message and report it as phishing.
How can I spot messages like Cleantraf.xyz in future?
Check the sender's actual address, not only the name. Hover over links before clicking and compare the domain with the real one. Be suspicious of urgency, threats, prizes, unexpected invoices and requests for passwords, codes, card data or crypto.
Do not call phone numbers from unexpected messages; use the number on the official site or your card. When in doubt, go to the service directly through its app or a bookmark. Phishing protection and two-step verification limit the damage when a scam gets through.
Can just reading Cleantraf.xyz harm my PC?
No. Reading the e-mail does nothing to the PC. The risk lies in what the message wants you to do: your password. Every one of those needs an action from you, such as a click, a typed password, a payment or a call.
If you stopped at reading, you are fine. Delete it and report it. If you are unsure whether you clicked something, check your browser history for the time you read the message, and act on what you find there.
Will Fortect remove Cleantraf.xyz?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Cleantraf.xyz, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Feroot: What Is a Malicious Script? (read October 7, 2026)
- Imperva: Phishing attacks (read October 7, 2026)
- Norton: What Is Adware? (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize and avoid phishing scams (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: Recognize and report phishing (read October 7, 2026)