DownloadManagerNow: what it is and how to remove it
DownloadManagerNow is one of many Mindspark Interactive creations and is presented as a useful toolbar that is capable of helping users to download and watch various videos. While this feature might seem useful initially, it is evident that the app is a browser hijacker that changes web browser settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, MS Edge, or another web browser to deliver various commercial content.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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DownloadManagerNow: summary
| Distribution | Browser hijackers can be installed intentionally by users themselves, although many notice these type of apps installed without permission (due to software bundling) |
|---|---|
| Name | DownloadManagerNow |
| Type | Browser hijacker, toolbar, potentially unwanted program |
| Also known as | PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic |
| Symptoms | Browser new tab and homepage address changed to hp.myway.com; extension installed on the browser; customized search engine applied; all search results are filled with sponsored links and ads, etc. |
| Dangers | Users' web browser activities are monitored, which might result in privacy issues. Also, users might end up installing additional PUPs or even malware due to various ads encountered via the hijacked search engine |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 7 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | hp.myway.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 25 June 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What DownloadManagerNow changes in your browser
Read and change data on a number of websites
Is DownloadManagerNow dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
DownloadManagerNow - a toolbar that changes your web browser settings in order to serve you intrusive ads
DownloadManagerNow is one of many Mindspark Interactive creations and is presented as a useful toolbar that is capable of helping users to download and watch various videos.
While this feature might seem useful initially, it is evident that the app is a browser hijacker that changes web browser settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, MS Edge, or another web browser to deliver various commercial content.
Just as many other potentially unwanted programs, DownloadManagerNow can be downloaded on official sources (such as Chrome web store), although users typically find the toolbar installed after they download freeware from third-party websites when software bundling is used. As a result, the PUP gains access to the web browser without direct user permission.
Once installed, DownloadManagerNow virus changes the homepage to hp.myway.com and appends a browser extension. It shows promotional ads and sponsored links via a customized search engine and tracks users' web browsing activity in order to benefit from the targeted advertisements.
Mindspark Interactive is one of the better known potentially unwanted application developers out there. The company is known for its shady distribution campaigns, app persistence practices, excessive information tracking, and similar dubious activities. The company is distributing such apps as CryptoPriceSearch, SearchYA, EasyPDFCombine, GardeningEnthusiast, and many others. Due to the developer, DownloadManagerNow is also often called PUP.Optional.MindSpark.Generic.
In most cases, users install DownloadManagerNow because they believe that the app is useful. Nonetheless, it can also be spread via software bundle packages (unintentional installation). Once installed, the app would show the following symptoms:
While the extension is advertised as a download manager, it is actually nothing like it. All it does is provides links to various insecure websites that allow downloading videos from YouTube, Dailymotion, Facebook, and many other sources.
These types of sites are notorious for injecting malicious ads to users' web browsers, which may result in the infection of malware, personal data disclosure, or monetary losses. Thus, you should not delay DownloadManagerNow removal.
Just like many other typical hijackers, DownloadManagerNow also incorporates links to the most popular websites, such as YouTube, eBay, Gmail, Yahoo, Amazon, and many more. While this might seem convenient, such functionality has been long included within all modern web browsers and is obsolete to users. If anything, you can include links to websites you like - you won't have to deal with DownloadManagerNow hijack and fake search results.
Another reason to remove DownloadManagerNow is its information gathering practices and permissions that the app asks upon installation. Even though the extension mainly gathers anonymous information (such as search queries, websites visited, links clicked, technical details of the device, location, ISP, etc.) for marketing purposes, it allows itself to perform the following actions:
As evident, there is no need to risk your online privacy and engage in diminished web browser experience by using this fake download manager. To eliminate it, right-click on the add-on and select "Remove."
- Homepage and new tab is set set to myway.com;
- An extension is installed on your browser;
- All search results are filled with sponsored links and ads;
- Overall increased amount of advertisements, etc.


From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Avoid installing apps that clutter your computer and track your online activities
Potentially unwanted programs are called so for a reason - they typically arrive at users' machines without permission.
This happens due to several reasons:
However, the unintentional installation can also be followed by an array of other problems. For example, some PUPs can collect personal information in the background, compromise security settings, establish new registries for persistence, and much more. Besides, some unwanted apps can be difficult to eliminate, or they might also leave traces behind.
Thus, it is best to avoid potentially unwanted applications in the first place - choose trustworthy apps that do not track you and use overall fair practices. To do that, you should employ robust security software with PUP detection feature, download apps from credible sources, and always pick Advanced/Custom settings when prompted. This will allow you to remove ticks next to download managers, file converters, extensions, and similar useless tools.
- users are unaware of deceptive distribution practices of PUPs;
- installation process of new apps is typically rushed;
- applications are downloaded from shady websites;
- third-party app developers often deliberately hide optional components within the installer.

From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on DownloadManagerNow
- It can: Read and change data on a number of websites Replace the page you see with opening a new tab Read your browsing history Display notifications Manage your apps, extensions, and themes
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
hp.myway.com
How to remove DownloadManagerNow
How to remove DownloadManagerNow and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete hp.myway.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
hp.myway.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If hp.myway.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
DownloadManagerNow rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.

Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of DownloadManagerNow that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.

Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Get rid of unwanted applications via the Control Panel:
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Remove from Google Chrome
In case ads and sponsored links do not disappear, you should reset the web browser as follows:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Fix issues with Mozilla Firefox by performing a full browser reset:
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

Delete from macOS
macOS users should perform the following actions if they want to get rid of PUPs:
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
DownloadManagerNow removal instructions
To remove DownloadManagerNow from your machine, you should right-click on the extension.
If it is not showing up, you should access web browser settings or reset web browsers entirely. However, you should also be aware that potentially unwanted programs often arrive in bundles, so it might be that suspicious apps are present on your machine. In such a case, you would have to uninstall the program as per the instructions provided below.
In fact, security applications can also get rid of PUPs automatically, in case such function is enabled.
Questions about DownloadManagerNow
Is it safe to keep hp.myway.com as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through hp.myway.com usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.
You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set hp.myway.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Can hp.myway.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to hp.myway.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
What is hp.myway.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker DownloadManagerNow. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is hp.myway.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove DownloadManagerNow, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, DownloadManagerNow affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did hp.myway.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of hp.myway.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove DownloadManagerNow
- clear cookies and site data for hp.myway.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. DownloadManagerNow sends searches to hp.myway.com, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
Can I just block hp.myway.com?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
Will Fortect remove DownloadManagerNow?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For DownloadManagerNow, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Avast: What is a Browser Hijacker? (read October 6, 2026)
- How-To Geek: The Many Ways Websites Track You Online (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)