Traffic.io is one of the domains for a platform known as Traffic Exchange. Advertisements and redirects are being generated and spread across websites to boost the traffic of other sites. An adware application adding the domain to your browsers exists as well. The secondary domain related to the unwanted application is Online.io. The platform advertises the exchange of traffic between websites, but it uses black SEO tactics and ads. To remove the websites, redirects, and ads, you should read the article carefully to the end.
Threat Summary
| Name | Traffic Exchange |
| Type | Adware, Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | The platform generates advertisements and redirects, and ad content can be displayed on other websites. |
| Symptoms | You can see advertisements in your browsers, such as pop-ups, banners, or other types. You will experience lots of redirects. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Traffic Exchange. |
Traffic Exchange – Distribution Tactics
The Traffic Exchange adware is distributed in different ways. Third-party installer setups could have installed the related adware on your computer. These installations typically come with freeware or bundle packages. Without your awareness, additional content can be installed on your personal computer. Preventing installations of any undesired software can be done if you find a Custom or an Advanced options menu in the setup. Web domains such as Online.io can distribute the adware if you register on them.
Traffic Exchange might also be distributed with the aid of multiple redirects and advertisements, that are hosted and spread by suspicious websites. Pop-ups, pop-unders, and banners could contain links for redirecting and boosting traffic. Upon visiting websites with an unknown origin you could get the related adware inserted into your computer system. Browsers which could be affected are: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.
Traffic Exchange – Closer Inspection
Traffic Exchange is a platform for exchanging traffic as you might have guessed from the name already. The basic principle is for its clients to receive more online traffic on their websites, while they put advertising content and redirects towards domains of the platform. The two more popular domains are:
- Traffic.io
- Online.io
The platform also pushes related software spreading the advertising content from your computer, thus being an adware. Mostly, the adverts will point to the website Online.io, and you can end up on its registration page. That result can be seen from the image below:
Traffic.io is the other domain, and it is going to appear mainly with redirects and be one of the primary redirects. Unfortunately, ads and in-text links also can serve as redirects, so you won’t see it less often. This is how that domain looks:
From observing the websites, though, it seems that Online.io is the dominant domain, which looks to be in development from its main page, but is already working. Seeing the copyright at the bottom of the page also gives the feeling of a more complete site. The Traffic.io site seems more likely as a dummy domain for where the blame to fall on. It might have been an older domain and the operation to be shifted to the other one, but the site to have remained accessible – or at least a part of it.
Traffic Exchange seem to be able to spread even similar malicious software through its platform and advertisement redirects. Browser hijackers affecting the homepage, new tab and default search on your browsers might get installed. The adware itself has some hijacking capabilities for launching redirects and adverts in your browsers whenever it feels like it. Some of the advertisements can have text inside them.
Here are examples of texts which can show inside ads:
- Ads by Traffic.io
- Advertisement by Traffic.io
- Ad by Traffic.io
- Advert from Traffic.io
- Powered by Online.io
- Brought to you by Online.io
Redirects accumulate money for the website owners with a pay-per-click plan and from the installing of malicious software on your computer system. Advertisements like pop-ups and banners could be associated with partners or affiliates of the platform makers. Adverts which are related to Traffic Exchange show as pop-ups, pop-unders, banners, and sometimes they could also appear as sliders, interstitial and transitional ads.
No Privacy Policy can be found on neither the Online.io, nor the Traffic.io website. Also, no traces of browser cookies are found on neither of the sites. Have a moment to think about it, though, if the platform has its adware inside your computer it can send out personally and non-personally identifying information – all it needs is an internet connection. The data could also be shared with third-party partners. You do not know what information is exactly sent out, and that makes this adware particularly scary. Spying on you and your PC activity is possible.
In case you do not wish your privacy to be intruded in such a way, you should remove the platform and its adware as quick as possible. Besides, you might get more malware on your computer, if you keep it.
Remove Traffic Exchange Adware
To remove Traffic Exchange manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal tutorial written down below. In case this manual removal does not get rid of the adware and redirects completely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Traffic Exchange from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Traffic Exchange with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Traffic Exchange and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Traffic Exchange on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Traffic Exchange there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for Traffic Exchange (Windows).
Get rid of Traffic Exchange from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Traffic Exchange and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Traffic Exchange. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Traffic Exchange via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Traffic Exchange files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Traffic Exchange, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Traffic Exchange (Mac)
Remove Traffic Exchange from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase Traffic Exchange from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall Traffic Exchange from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove Traffic Exchange from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Traffic Exchange will be removed.
Eliminate Traffic Exchange from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Traffic Exchange-FAQ
What Is Traffic Exchange?
The Traffic Exchange threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Traffic Exchange?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Traffic Exchange?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Traffic Exchange Work?
Once installed, Traffic Exchange can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Traffic Exchange can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Traffic Exchange Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Traffic Exchange Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Traffic Exchange how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Traffic Exchange?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Traffic Exchange threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.