Tracking Cookies while generally of a low threat level to your PC, they are still classified as Spyware. This article describes what a tracking cookie is, how to identify tracking cookies and finally how to remove tracking cookies.

What is a tracking Cookie?

Tracking cookies usually track the session of a user to a particular website. There are two kinds of tracking cookies in the simplest sense. The good kind and the bad kind. The good kind are used for authenticating and maintaining specific information about users such as site preferences and the contents of eshopping carts.

However, if you visit seedy sites (porn, torrent sites, free stuff) you are most likely going to get the bad kind. In any case, these tracking cookies can be shared among two or more sites all for tracking your browsing tendencies and gathering and sharing information which people might regard as “private”. This private information can be your name or email address and you are more likely to get all sorts of spam to your email.

A typical tracking cookie will look something like this

1www.somedomainname.com/ 0 2719785088 29508922 2980377808 29496852 * ”

The encoded info in this cookie includes a unique UserID assigned by a web server; the cookie can be used to track a user as they visit other sites that accept this cookie.

How to remove Tracking Cookies?

Since tracking cookies are tagged as spyware, you can remove them using commercial AntiSpyware software. The best AntiSpyware software I found is the PC Tools Spyware Doctor. If you buy PC Tools directly from the vendor, the software is around $40. However, Google is giving this PC Tools away for free as part of Google Pack. Click here to including the PC Tools AntiSpyware software we need to remove tracking cookies.

Spyware is computer software that is installed on your computer without your consent and intercepts or takes partial control over your interaction with your computer. Spyware such as Zedo “powered by Zedo” and URL.cpvfeed.com redirects your browser or opens popups displaying advertising. Zedo and URL.cpvfeed.com spyware also installs the core.sys rootkit resulting in slow internet speeds, different home pages and also loss of internet. In this article on Spyware and Adware removal, I will show you how to remove the Zedo(powered by Zedo) and URL.cpvfeed.com popups and also remove the core.sys rootkit.

How to Remove “Powered by Zedo” and URL.cpvfeed.com spyware

Step 1: Download PC Tools Spyware Doctor.

We will be using this free Anti Spyware tool provided by Google. Google is giving out this amazing Spyware product for free as part of its Google Pack. While the Google Pack has other good software, you can download just the PC Tools Spyware Doctor. Click here download Spyware Doctor from PC Tools website to remove the Zero and URL.cpvfeed spyware software.

http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/

Step 2: Disable System restore on your computer.

On the Desktop, right click My Computer. Click Properties. Click the System Restore Tab. Check Turn off System Restore. Click Apply and OK. When prompted to restart your computer, Restart and Boot into Safe mode.

Step 3: Boot into Safe Mode instead of booting normally into Windows.

Step 4: Search for core.sys.

Click on Start and then Search and type core.sys. If the search results return any core.sys results, delete them. Again, in Search, type core.cache.dsk. If you find core.cache.dsk instances, remove them too.

Step 5: Clean the Registry.

Press <Windows Key> + R which will open the run command. Now type in regedit. Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, click the plus sign(+) . Here you will see CurrentControlSet and in some cases, CurrentControlSet1 and also CurrentControlSet2.

Under each one of the CurrentControlSets, click the plus sign(+) next to Service. Scroll down and there will be a folder called CORE. Right click on the folder and Delete it. Do the same for any remaining CurrentControlSets.

Step 6: Run Spyware Scan to remove the Zero and URL.cpvfeed.com popups

First reboot your computer and log into Windows in the Normal mode. Now, open your PC Tools Spyware Doctor. If you did not download the free AntiSpyware software provided by Google, click here to

Under the PC Tools Spyware Doctor, run a complete system scan for spyware and adware removal. You have successfully removed Zero and URL.cpvfeed.com popups and core.sys rootkit.