Traffic logger: what it is and how to remove it
Traffic logger is a phenomenon that users noticed when performing normal browsing activities on their Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or another web browser. Many claimed that they were suddenly interrupted by a browser redirect that lead to https://traffic-logger.com domain, and then returned them to their search provider, for example, Google.
Facts checked October 6, 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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Traffic logger: summary
| Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive ads, fake update prompts |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, personal information disclosure, financial losses |
| Name | Traffic logger |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
| Associated extension | MP3 Downloader |
| IP address | 172.67.134.38 |
| 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
| Symptoms | The browser suddenly redirects to Traffic-logger.com and then takes users back to their search provider, such as Google; unknown browser extension is installed without permission; intrusive ads and redirects, sponsored links in search results, etc. |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | traffic-logger.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 16 December 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Traffic logger dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Traffic-logger.com is a suspicious web address that might start popping up on your browser seemingly out of nowhere
Traffic logger is a phenomenon that users noticed when performing normal browsing activities on their Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or another web browser.
Many claimed that they were suddenly interrupted by a browser redirect that lead to https://traffic-logger.com domain, and then returned them to their search provider, for example, Google. While this disruptive behavior might be annoying, it is also quite concerning, as such activities should never occur.
The reason Traffic logger redirect occurs is due to a potentially unwanted program, namely, a browser hijacker. PUPs can take different forms and be attached to the browser or installed on the system. One of the applications responsible for the unwanted behavior is the MP3 Downloader extension, so you should check whether it is present on your browser and uninstall it to stop the ads and redirects.
If the app remains on the system, it will track your non-personally identifiable information and send it to unknown parties. Besides, you might also be subjected to an increased number of ads, redirects, sponsored links in searches, etc.
Many users might be surprised that their browsers are suddenly beginning to behave erratically - they redirect to unknown websites, insert ads into their searches, etc. This typically happens because most are unaware that a potentially unwanted program (or several programs) such as browser hijacker is installed on their systems - it can be attributed to a software distribution technique known as bundling.
Another way to install a potentially unwanted app is by getting tricked by deceptive ads, or fake update prompts. Alternatively, users might already have an extension installed that suddenly goes rogue, and the Traffic logger virus is likely to be the case.
Once installed, a browser hijacker immediately begins to change the settings of the used web browser. Some alternations might be visible immediately, for example, your homepage and new tab address might be set to something else, and search results redirected to Yahoo, Bing, Web Crawler, or another provider. It is not uncommon for browser hijackers to insert sponsored links at the top of search results.
Every time users click on ads injected by the hijacker, the developers get a small commission. With thousands of users having the program installed on their systems, creators can accumulate quite a lot of cash over time. Therefore, it is in their best interest to feed users with ads.
Due to deceptive distribution practices, users might be victims of traffic-logger.com redirects and ads. Since the web address is not tied with the program's name that is causing this unwanted behavior, Traffic logger removal can be a difficult task for many.
One of the best tips security experts can give in this type of situation is employing security software such as or and ensuring that browser changes are not caused by a much more malicious intruder, such as Trojan or a keylogger.
If a security scan found something, ensure the threat is quarantined and deleted immediately. After that, you can also employ to returned potentially compromised system files to the previous state.
To remove Traffic logger virus from your computer, you need to find the associated program. Since it is likely to be an MP3 Downloader extension, you should follow the step-by-step guide below and eliminate it at once. You should also check whether other unwanted add-ons managed to get in without our knowledge.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Protect yourself from PUPs: easy tips
Software developers and distributors often deliberately hide optional components within the installers, which results in users being unaware of the offered software.
This is why employing anti-malware with a PUP detection feature is so important, along with being attentive during the installation process of the freeware. However, not all security programs would immediately flag the PUP, as each vendor has different criteria for many of such apps.
Therefore, the best way to stay secure your computer from intrusions is to be very careful when installing software downloaded from third-party websites. Here are a few tips that should help you:
- If possible, always download applications from the official websites;
- Keep in mind that even the most popular websites bundle software, so you should always be attentive;
- Before installing a program, you have never heard of, check the reviews and blog posts online to uncover if any suspicious traits that might only be visible after the installation;
- During the installation of a new app, always opt for Advanced/Custom settings and avoid Recommended/Quick ones at all times - this will allow you to stay in control of the process from start to finish;
- Remove all the ticks for checkboxes, watch out for misleading button placements, and decline all the offers on the way.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Traffic logger
- Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
traffic-logger.com
How to remove Traffic logger
How to remove Traffic logger and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Traffic logger often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete traffic-logger.com
Searches that pass through
traffic-logger.commean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on traffic-logger.com.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Traffic logger. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
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.
Uninstall from Windows
You can uninstall programs via Control Panel on Windows systems:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Uninstall MP3 Downloader and other suspicious extensions to prevent the browser-hijacking activities on 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)
After you eliminate the PUP, you should clean Firefox to secure it:
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.
Delete from macOS
To get rid of potentially unwanted applications on a Mac, please follow these steps:
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
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.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Traffic logger virus removal options
Traffic logger removal should not be too difficult, considering that its culprit is an extension attached to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, MS Edge, or another web browser.
If you have never dealt with this process before, you can check below for step-by-step instructions. Thus, access the settings section of your browser and look for "MP3 Downloader" or another suspicious extension installed and terminate it immediately.
Look for anything suspicious - PDF converters, media players, system optimizers, etc. If those apps appeared on your system without your knowledge, you should immediately uninstall them. If you are having problems with this process, you can always rely on a robust anti-malware tool to do the job for you.
Questions about Traffic logger
Why does my search engine keep changing to traffic-logger.com?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time traffic-logger.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Can traffic-logger.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to traffic-logger.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
Why do my searches go to traffic-logger.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Traffic logger did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to traffic-logger.com.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with traffic-logger.com?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove Traffic logger and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Traffic logger affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does traffic-logger.com know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing Traffic logger, delete the cookies and site data for traffic-logger.com so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
Would an ad blocker stop Traffic logger?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on traffic-logger.com, but it does not change your search engine back or remove the extension that set it. Your searches would still pass through the hijacker's servers and be logged.
Some ad blockers include tracking filters that block parts of the redirect chain, which can break searches altogether. Remove Traffic logger with the plan above; an ad blocker is a reasonable extra afterwards, from the official store only and from a developer with a long track record.
Should I just switch to another browser?
It may not help. Installers that add hijackers usually target every browser on the PC, and system-level changes such as the hosts file, DNS or proxy affect all browsers at once. A new browser also leaves the hijacker's program and extension in place, collecting data in the old one.
Remove Traffic logger properly first. After that, use whichever browser you prefer; Chrome, Edge and Firefox all let you set and protect your own search engine. Import your bookmarks only after the old browser is clean.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows traffic-logger.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove Traffic logger and search directly.
Will Fortect remove Traffic logger?
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 Traffic logger, 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
- Wikipedia: URL redirection (read October 6, 2026)
- CSO Online: What is a keylogger? How attackers can monitor everything you type (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)