DataHandler Mac

DataHandler is an adware application that targets Mac users to deliver intrusive and unwanted advertisements, generating monetary gains for its creators in the process. The application is installed by the users seldomly and instead, it relies on deceptive distribution methods such as bundling for its proliferation. Furthermore, DataHandler is equipped with certain browser hijacker capabilities to generate artificial traffic towards a promoted third-party address.

The presence of DataHandler on your Mac computer or macOS device will lead to a severely diminished browsing experience. The constant flood of advertising materials could start to cover the legitimate content viewed by the user. Not to mention that engaging with any of the generated banners, pop-ups, surveys, in-text hyperlinks, etc. could take the user to unsafe websites promoting PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs), conducting phishing or technical support tactics, or even domains spreading malware threats.

As for DataHandler's browser hijacker functionality, it will take control over the homepage, new tab page, and the default search engine of the user's web browser. The affected settings will be set to open a fake search engine that has been promoted through numerous browser hijackers in the past - Safe Finder via akamaihd.net. Any search conducted by the user will be run through the fake engine then redirected through a legitimate one such as search.yahoo.com for the list of search results. Keep in mind, however, that among the displayed results, various sponsored ads could have been injected.

Users shouldn't keep applications such as DataHandler on their systems even if they do find some of the provided features as useful. Most PUPs are capable of data-harvesting and will actively track the user's browsing history, search history, IP address, geolocation and more.