ToolIndexer

ToolIndexer is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) with two primary functions: to generate advertisements and promote a fake search engine. Due to these features, the application is classified as an adware tool and a browser hijacker simultaneously. Applications like ToolIndexer usually spread through well-known deceptive methods: threat actors bundle them into other popular programs or freeware installers. Users would download and install these applications on purpose rarely; therefore, their developers reach out to questionable distribution channels.

The advertising content displayed by ToolIndexer usually opens phishing pages, download pages for other PUPs, different online tactics and many other potentially threatening services. Also, any advertisements shown by ToolIndexer may contain corrupted scripts that download or install unwanted applications without the users noticing them.

ToolIndexer also promotes a bogus search engine. To do this, it hijacks the Web browser and modifies its settings. These modifications affect the default search engine, the new tab page, and the homepage, whereby they all get replaced with the promoted false search engine’s URL. Fake search machines of that kind deliver some results; however, they are usually misleading and filled with potentially unsafe sponsored links.

On top of that, most PUPs have additional harmful features, like collecting sensitive user data and browsing history. ToolIndexer represents a severe threat to the online safety of affected users, definitely.