Painter Extension

The Painter browser extension is classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). These intrusive applications rely on questionable methods for their distribution and often carry extensive functionalities that have little connection to their supposed features. Indeed, PUPs are often observed to act as adware, browser hijackers and even data trackers. 

While active on the system, users could experience various unwanted side effects. Applications such as the Painter Extension could take control over the installed browsers and modify their behavior. Important settings (homepage, new tab page and default search engine) may be changed to now lead to a promoted address, typically a fake search engine. In addition, the intrusive application may be responsible for the continuous appearance of various unwanted advertisements. Users risk receiving advertisements for untrustworthy websites running online tactics, fake giveaways, phishing schemes, etc. 

The presence of a PUP on users' computers or devices also may mean that their browsing activities are being monitored, packaged and transmitted to a remote server. In some cases, the PUPs are not satisfied with only browsing-related data and also will collect device details (IP address, geolocation, device type, browser type, etc.) or even attempt to extract account credentials or banking details from the affected browser's autofill data.