Internet Download Manager

Users encountering a browser extension under the rather generic name 'Internet Download Manager' might be dealing with a browser hijacker. This application is likely trying to impersonate a legitimate software product. The extension promises to provide its users with advanced download management, but it also will activate intrusive functions to take over certain browser settings. Typically, adware and browser hijackers also fall in the PUP (Potentially Unwanted Programs) category, due to the questionable methods involved in their distribution.

Upon its activation on the user's device, the Internet Download Manager will modify the browser's homepage, new tab page and default search engine. All affected settings will start opening a promoted address at 'smartwebfinder.com.' As is usually the case when it comes to browser hijackers, the promoted address belongs to a fake search engine.

Fake engines lack the necessary functionality to produce search results on their own. Users will instead be shown search results taken from other sources. When infosec experts analyzed smartwebfinder.com, they were shown results from Bing and Google.

The problem with PUPs is that they may have other hidden capabilities. For example, many monitor silently the user's browsing activities. Additional information, such as device details or even sensitive details (account credentials, banking info) extracted from browsers' autofill data also may be captured and exfiltrated to the PUP's operators.