Does anyone know what Trickler_1040 is ?

I hit ctrl-alt-delete on my computer to get rid of an annoying program and I saw Trickler_4010 there. It was never there before, I don’t know what it is or how it got there. If I get rid of it, am I going to be sorry ? What should I do ?

P.S. I am a computer idiot. HELP !

Thanks

It’s spyware (i.e. unsolicited or surreptitiously installed software intended to provide marketing information on your surfing habits without your express, explicit, informed consent). Thrives on either downright sneakiness or people not reading the small print when downloading other software.

More information [here]. Some instructions on removing it (using other software tools) [here].

You can run regular checks for such spyware using free software like Ad-Aware and Spybot. Both are freely available and easy to use - visit download.com for both.

It appears to be a part of a third party spyware program. Running AdAware or Spybot should get rid of it.

I thought this was going to be a question about “marital aids.”