Do you know what Bridgetrack is?
Bridgetrack is not a malicious infection all by itself, but it could be exploited by unreliable third parties in order to collect all sorts of information. It is a tracking cookie, and tracking cookies fall into a dubious category because there are a lot of users out there who simply ignore tracking cookies since they do not pose immediate threat. On the other hand, you will see a lot of security experts say that it would be for the best to remove Bridgetrack, and other similar pieces of software from your system. Therefore, follow the instructions below to get rid of this cookie right now.
Technically, this tracking cookie shouldn’t even be the object of our interest because the cookie is 10 years old. It was first detected in 2009, and it is rather fascinating, that it still appears on user computers here and there. What’s more, the cookie has an official website via bridgetrack.com. From this, we can get an impression that there is nothing malicious about Bridgetrack, and users shouldn’t be concerned about it. However, we have to remember that users seldom know when or how different cookies enter their browsers, so we can assume that barely anyone adds this tracking cookie to their browser willingly.
We would like to point out that the official website is not the main distributor. When we talk about browser hijackers, adware programs, freeware apps, tracking cookies, potentially unwanted programs, and other similar intruders, it is important to remember that they often take third-party routes to reach target systems. What’s more, the tracking cookies might be used by other websites, and you might agree to add them to your browser the moment you land on a certain page. Therefore, it is often really hard to pinpoint the moment a tracking cookie reaches your browser.
Although it might be impossible to avoid opening certain websites, you might be able to protect yourself from Bridgetrack and a number of potentially unwanted programs. Please remember to download programs from their official websites instead of looking for them at file-sharing pages. Also, if you download a freeware application, be sure to check every single installation step because it is very often that additional programs are added with user’s permission although people do not realize they authorize certain apps when they go through installation wizards. So the point is that you have to read everything that is given to you.
Now, let’s say Bridgetrack is there on your computer. Why should you be concerned? The problem is that a tracking cookie can collect information on your web browsing habits and even your location. The privacy policy displayed at the tracking cookie’s official website says that Bridgetrack collects “information about your online activities and location in order to show you relevant advertisements.” So with this cookie added to your browser, you will see a lot more commercial ads when you browse the web. Technically, there is nothing malicious about commercial advertisements, they are merely annoying.
However, the problem is that Bridgetrack cannot and does not review the content that is embedded in the commercial advertisements it displays. This presents a very big security loophole that can be exploited by malevolent third parties. For the most part, tracking cookies and the content they promote are there to generate a financial profit. However, in the worst case scenario, it wouldn’t be surprising if some of the ads contained corrupted links that redirected users to malware-related pages. Therefore, you should not take such risks. The sooner you remove Bridgetrack and all the other undesirable software from you system, the better.
This tracking cookie does not have an entry in the list of installed programs. In fact, the best way to remove cookies is to reset your browser’s settings to default. After that, it would be a good idea to run a full system scan with the SpyHunter free scanner. It is very likely that there are more unwanted programs installed on your system, and so you must terminate them, too.
Finally, make sure you invest in a reliable antispyware tool that would safeguard your system from similar intruders. After all, your computer’s security should be one of your top priorities.
How to Delete Bridgetrack
Reset Internet Explorer
- Press Alt+T and open Internet options.
- Open the Advanced tab and click Reset.
- Select Delete personal settings and press Reset.
- Click Close.
Reset Firefox
- Press Alt+H and go to Troubleshooting information.
- Press the Refresh Firefox button at the top right corner of the new tab.
- Click Refresh Firefox and press Finish.
Reset Chrome
- Press Alt+F and go to Settings.
- Click Advanced at the bottom of the page.
- Scroll down and click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click Reset settings.
In non-techie terms:
Bridgetrack is not a malicious computer infection, but no one should keep this tracking cookie on their browsers. A tracking cookie can collect information on the online activity, and then share this information later on with unreliable third parties. In short, this tracking cookie is a security liability, and the sooner you delete Bridgetrack from your browser, the better. If you are not sure how to do it, you can always use a security tool that is good at removing cookies.