Opendownloadmanager

Overview

OpenDownloadManager (classified across endpoint security engines as PUA:Win32/OpenDownloadManager and Adware:Win32/OpenDownloadManager) is a Potentially Unwanted Application and download manager bundled with invasive advertising injectors. Promoted as a utility to accelerate web file downloads, OpenDownloadManager injects commercial affiliate advertisements, pop-under windows, and sponsored search results into web browsing sessions. It alters browser default search engines and new tab URLs across installed browsers, routes search queries through monetized third-party search syndicates, and establishes persistent autostart entries under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.

Known aliases

Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:

• PUA:Win32/OpenDownloadManager
• Adware:Win32/OpenDownloadManager
• Program:Win32/OpenDownloadManager
• OpenDownloadManager Adware
• Win32/OpenDownloadManager

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

Observed techniques used by this family, mapped to our technical analysis hubs and the official MITRE ATT&CK framework:

Tactical Mitigations

Based on the techniques used by this family, consider the following defensive strategies:

• T1059.004: Restrict execution of scripting languages such as PowerShell, VBScript, or Python to authorized administrators. Enforce Script Block Logging.
• T1105: Implement network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) and host-based firewalls to block unauthorized inbound or outbound file transfers.

MITRE D3FEND™ Defensive Countermeasures

Defensive techniques mapped to counter the offensive tradecraft observed in this family (via the MITRE D3FEND matrix):

Tiered Detection Rules (Cisco CAIRN Model)

Modern threat detection requires multi-layered rule engineering. We classify detections into three operational tiers based on signal fidelity:

rule MALWARE_WIN_OPENDOWNLOADMANAGER_T1_ARTIFACT {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 1 Primitive Artifact: Raw string matches for Opendownloadmanager"
        tier = "T1 - Primitive Artifact"
        confidence = "Low-Medium (Fast Triage)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        $s1 = "opendownloadmanager" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "pua:win32/opendownloadmanager" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = "adware:win32/opendownloadmanager" ascii wide nocase
        $s4 = "program:win32/opendownloadmanager" ascii wide nocase
        $s5 = "opendownloadmanager adware" ascii wide nocase
        $s6 = "win32/opendownloadmanager" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}

title: SystemHelpDesk Detection - Opendownloadmanager (Adware) Execution & Triage
id: 904b5a36-ab16-57c0-8d58-11f496200c4d
status: production
description: Detects execution, defense evasion, and persistence behaviors associated
  with the Opendownloadmanager malware family. Detects suspicious execution from temporary
  user directories with hidden window flags and background transfer utilities.
references:
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/families/opendownloadmanager
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/defensive/ransomware-protection
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/
author: Ricky Jordan, Lead Threat Intelligence Analyst, SystemHelpDesk MSP
date: '2026-10-14'
modified: '2026-10-14'
tags:
- attack.adware
- author.ricky-jordan
- source.systemhelpdesk-mfc
- attack.t1176
- attack.t1547_001
- attack.t1053_005
- attack.t1112
- attack.t1071_001
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_process:
    Image|endswith:
    - \cmd.exe
    - \powershell.exe
    - \cscript.exe
    - \wscript.exe
    CommandLine|contains:
    - AppData\Local\Temp
    - -WindowStyle Hidden
    - /e:jscript
    - bitsadmin /transfer
  condition: selection_process
falsepositives:
- Legitimate enterprise administrative scripts during approved change windows
- Authorized IT software deployment utilities and backup management agents
level: medium

rule MALWARE_WIN_OPENDOWNLOADMANAGER_T3_ATTRIBUTION {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint: Heuristic detection for Opendownloadmanager tradecraft"
        tier = "T3 - Attribution Fingerprint"
        confidence = "High (Confirmed Family Signature)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        // Core family identifier & heuristic payload signatures
        $attrib_str = "opendownloadmanager" ascii wide nocase
        $pe_magic = "MZ" ascii
        $net_marker = "http" ascii nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and ($attrib_str and $net_marker) and filesize < 15MB
}

Containment & Response Steps

Ordered checklist for responders. Adapt to your environment and engage professional support for active incidents.

1. Use the Windows Control Panel to systematically identify and uninstall all recently added programs, focusing on toolbars and 'search protectors'.
2. Deploy an enterprise adware removal tool (e.g., AdwCleaner) to strip the deeply embedded Scheduled Tasks and registry hooks left behind by the adware framework.
3. Force a complete reset of all installed web browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) to factory defaults to eradicate rogue extensions and restore the homepage.
4. Quarantine the original installer file to prevent further execution.

What to Avoid

Common mistakes during response to this family that can destroy evidence, spread the infection, or worsen recovery.

1. Do not rely solely on manual uninstallation via the Control Panel; the payloads frequently use watchdog services to immediately reinstall themselves.
2. Avoid ignoring the infection; adware tracking data is highly detailed and may expose corporate activities or provide a foothold for more severe malvertising attacks.

References & External Analysis

• Microsoft Defender Threat Encyclopedia - PUA:Win32/OpenDownloadManager
• Malwarebytes Labs - PUP.Optional.OpenDownloadManager Removal Guide
• MITRE ATT&CK - Browser Extensions (T1176)
• Search "opendownloadmanager" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)
• Search "opendownloadmanager" on Any.Run (Sandbox Sandbox)
• Search "opendownloadmanager" on MalwareBazaar (Malware Samples)

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Threats (Category: Adware)

Explore other documented threats in the same operational category:

• Perion
• Spigot
• Mywebsearch
• Techsnab
• Appster
• Ibryte
• Noon
• Crossrider

Machine-readable

Get this profile as JSON: https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/api/opendownloadmanager.json

Ecosystem & Interactive Environments

This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.