FilterIdea

FilterIdea presents itself as a useful application that can help users achieve faster and more accurate Web searches. However, after installing the application, the truth becomes evident rather quickly - FilterIdea is just another adware-type program designed to deliver intrusive and unwanted advertising materials to the affected system. The main targets of the application are Mac users. 

Having adware present on your system can lead to a greatly diminished user experience. The advertisements could take numerous different forms - pop-ups, banners, in-text links, etc., and even might start to overlay the legitimate content displayed in the browser. Engaging with the displayed advertisements is not advised. Users risk being redirected to questionable or unsafe places. They can be exposed to phishing pages trying to collect sensitive information, fake giveaways or other popular schemes, domains spreading PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) and more.

Adware applications also are known for monitoring the browsing activities of the users. Information such as the entire browsing history, all conducted searches, and every clicked URL could be collected, packaged, and uploaded to a remote server.

It should be noted that, usually, adware applications such as FilterIdea are not downloaded and installed by users willingly. It is far more likely for the application to have infiltrated the Mac via a deceptive distribution technique. One such method is called 'bundling.' The dubious application is wrapped alongside a more popular software product and is added as a preselected choice hidden somewhere in the installation settings, normally under the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' menus. This underhanded behavior classifies FilterIdea as a PUP.