{{Short description|Software tool}} thumb | right | alt=Screenshot of Free Download Manager v2.5.723 | Screenshot of Free Download Manager v2.5.723. A '''download manager''' is a type of software that manages the downloading of files from the Internet, which may be built into a web browser, or as a stand-alone program.
== Functions == A download manager manages files being downloaded from the internet.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Meier |first1=Reto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xu5qDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Download+manager%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA233 |title=Professional Android |last2=Lake |first2=Ian |date=2018-08-23 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-118-94954-2 |language=en}}</ref> Download managers allocate resources for downloading multiple items simultaneously. They also break down files into multiple chunks for faster download speeds, either by making multiple connections to the same server (to overcome per-connection throttling or overly pessimistic TCP congestion control) or to multiple servers providing the same file (multi-source).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of download manager |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/download-manager |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=PCMAG |language=en}}</ref> Failed downloads can also be restarted from a download manager.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Shubham |date=2019-06-13 |title=Do You Need a Download Manager on Android? The 3 Best Apps Worth Trying |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/android-download-manager-apps/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=MUO |language=en}}</ref>
Download managers may be separate programs or may be built into web browsers or other programs, such as Firefox's and Telegram's built-in download managers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yeow |first=Cheah Chu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfciobmzOOcC&dq=%22Download+manager%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA62 |title=Firefox Secrets |date=2005 |publisher=SitePoint Pty Ltd |isbn=978-0-9752402-4-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Neowin · |first=Paul Hill |date=2024-04-14 |title=How to use Telegram's well-hidden download manager |url=https://www.neowin.net/guides/how-to-use-telegrams-well-hidden-download-manager/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Neowin |language=en}}</ref>
== Criticism == Download managers are occasionally used to spread malware or advertisements onto a user's computer. For example, the download page for Free Download Manager was hacked and used to spread malware on Linux devices from 2020 to 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Ankush |date=2023-09-13 |title=Linux Malware! Read This If You Use Free Download Manager |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/free-download-manager-malware/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=It's FOSS News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Craig Hale |date=2023-09-13 |title=This free download manager site actually just redirected Linux users to malware for years |url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/this-free-download-manager-site-actually-just-redirected-linux-users-to-malware-for-years |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref> Other download managers have been noted to contain advertisements, be identified as malware by antivirus software, or attempt to install unwanted software during installation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fisher |first=Tim |date=2023-11-09 |title=8 Best Free Download Managers |url=https://www.lifewire.com/free-download-managers-4129266 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Lifewire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ax |date=2022-09-24 |title=Fake Chrome extension 'Internet Download Manager' has 200,000 installs |url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fake-chrome-extension-internet-download-manager-has-200-000-installs/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=BleepingComputer |language=en-us}}</ref>
==See also==
* BitTorrent, a popular file sharing protocol which lets an anonymous group of users upload/download files from each-other * Comparison of download managers * Comparison of file-sharing applications
==Further reading== * The Best Internet Download Manager by PC Magazine Editor's Choice in 12th Annual Utility Guide, June 8, 2004 [https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1588067,00.asp Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414201853/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1588067,00.asp |date=2009-04-14 }} * Streaming-Audio Capture Tools by PC Magazine, November 30, 2004 [https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1712673,00.asp Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323005537/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1712673,00.asp |date=2009-03-23 }}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Download managers}}
Category:Data transmission Category:Download managers