ProductiveUnit

ProductiveUnit may try to present itself as a useful application that will improve the way users browse or search the Web. However, the truth is that is yet another dubious program that targets Mac users. It combines the capabilities of adware with those of a browser hijacker. Furthermore, ProductiveUnit doesn't rely on the users finding, downloading and installing it by themselves. Instead, the application is proliferated via underhanded tactics, such as bundling, which classifies it as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). 

If ProductiveUnit manages to sneak itself onto the user's Mac, it will start running an ad campaign that will deliver intrusive and untrustworthy advertisement materials. Typically, the advertisements contain questionable materials or messages designed to trick the user into clicking on them. Afterward, via a forced redirect, they can take the unsuspecting user to dubious third-party websites that might be running phishing schemes, various online tactics, promoting more PUPs, etc. 

At the same time, the browser hijacker functionality will take over the Web browser to promote a fake search engine. Users will notice that their usual homepage, new tab page, and the default search engine have all been changed to now open an unfamiliar address. Furthermore, fake search engines are incapable of producing any meaningful results. Instead, they will take the initiated search query and redirected it to a legitimate engine such as Yahoo, Bing, Google, etc. 

While not a direct threat, keeping PUPs on your Mac can be risky. These applications are known for having data-harvesting capabilities. They may be tracking your browsing activities by logging every visited site, clicked URL, or conducted searches. Some even collect device details such as IP addresses, geolocation, ISP and more.