Tracks down and deters them from working out trade secrets (6)
I believe the answer is:
traces
'tracks down' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for traces that I've seen before include "Kick these over to be insubordinate or reckless" , "Slight indications on parts of the harness" , "Just detectable amounts" , "Sketches the outline of" , "Follows or discovers by examining evidence" .)