saminwp

Q: mackeeper

is MacKeeper a scam?

Posted on Apr 11, 2012 3:55 AM

Close

Q: mackeeper

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Page 1 of 3 last Next
  • by BGreg,

    BGreg BGreg Apr 11, 2012 4:31 AM in response to saminwp
    Level 6 (17,522 points)
    Apr 11, 2012 4:31 AM in response to saminwp

    The general consensus is to avoid it at all costs. There are other alternatives that are proven, for example, OnyX from http://www.titanium.free.fr/download.php

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Apr 11, 2012 5:04 AM in response to saminwp
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Apr 11, 2012 5:04 AM in response to saminwp

    MacKeeper is highly invasive malware* that can de-stablize your operating system. It is also unethically marketed and a rip-off.

     

    Further opinion on it and how to uninstall MacKeeper malware:

     

    http://applehelpwriter.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malware/

     

    Do NOT download or use the ‘MacKeeper uninstaller’ from the Zeobit site, as this will cause even more damage to your operating system.

     

    This is also worth reading:

     

    http://www.reedcorner.net/news.php/?p=245

     

    Equally phoney is iAntivirus:

     

    http://www.reedcorner.net/news.php/?p=341

     

    * The expression ‘malware’ is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software.

  • by WindSurfer905,

    WindSurfer905 WindSurfer905 Apr 27, 2012 8:36 AM in response to saminwp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 27, 2012 8:36 AM in response to saminwp

    Don't do it! just don't do it!

    (now that I said don't do it 50 more people are going to try it because they don't like to be told "Don't", then they too can spend 2 hours going through the complicated manual removal process)

    Sometines don't really is for your own good!

  • by Paul_31,

    Paul_31 Paul_31 Apr 27, 2012 9:00 AM in response to saminwp
    Level 6 (13,810 points)
    Apr 27, 2012 9:00 AM in response to saminwp

    Linc & Klaus1 have kindly done the leg work for you, but if you search these forums and elsewhere you'll get a pretty convincing picture that it's to be avoided like the plague.

  • by Yaelle,

    Yaelle Yaelle May 28, 2012 6:22 PM in response to saminwp
    Level 1 (10 points)
    May 28, 2012 6:22 PM in response to saminwp

    I am going to go copy & paste what I just told someone else about MacKeeper because seriously, i feel morally obligated as a mac user and a human being to warn you about this:

            here's what i said -

    I came to these forums specifically to try to warn any person in the Universe who may have been thinking about getting MacKeeper against it.  OMG. 
    WOW. I dont even know where to begin.  Let me just say....since I'm so wound up lol that I cannot even type like a normal person, its the closest thing to a virus my Macs have ever had!  Its been like 4 or 5 days and I'm actuallly still getting a little wound up just thinking (typing) about this garbage they call MacKeeper.
    Luckily, I got a ful- well, I've been PROMISED a full refund by the company.  The crazy thing is, the guy on the phone didnt even ask me for my personal information - he said, ok we will issue a full refund to you.  I said, hey! Hang on a second?!  You literally did not even ask me for my name or any personal information.   (busted. lol)
    So....I had called for a refund after the thing began to duplicate itself all over my MacBook Pro.

    It was OPENING BROWSER WINDOWS on its own! I could not even keep Safari shut down ....and I have a screenshot of the software where it tried to download about 19 times.  No joke. 
    TOTAL.  GARBAGE. 
    And you can believe me because i'm shouting.  But seriously, its horrible. 
    I am embarassed to even give my name here. 

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 28, 2012 6:47 PM in response to Yaelle
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    May 28, 2012 6:47 PM in response to Yaelle

    Good move thanks for trying to make the  world a better place!

     

    No idea how they get away with advertising this garbage everywheree... oh wait, could be Money?

  • by softwater,

    softwater softwater Jun 17, 2012 3:17 AM in response to saminwp
    Level 5 (5,392 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 17, 2012 3:17 AM in response to saminwp

    I hate to be the one to bring this topic back to the top of any board, but I think its also worth mentioning this.

     

    Zeobit, MacKeeper's developer, have a history of making false advertising claims. Here's the latest one I've found. On their Facebook page and on their webpage they have this apparent endorsement from UNC Charlotte:

     

    Screen Shot 2012-06-17 at 17.04.04.png

     

    I contacted the Director of IT at the College of Arts and Architecture UNC Charlotte, about whether they endorse MacKeeper and his response, I quote here, was:

     

    No, please do not download and install MacKeeper. We have seen problems with this software in the past.

     

  • by tanya3300,

    tanya3300 tanya3300 Jun 17, 2012 6:23 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (270 points)
    Jun 17, 2012 6:23 AM in response to BDAqua

    Businesses can advertise as they choose.  Consumers always have the option of "voting with their feet".  If enough do, the "money" won't be there and the business will eventually fold.  There are also laws agains "false and misleading advertising", but those come into play only after there is a complaint about or a problem with an advertisement.  The US is not a country (at least yet) where any government agency screens advertisements BEFORE they become public; I hope that never comes to pass.

  • by Joe Nation,

    Joe Nation Joe Nation Aug 14, 2012 6:36 PM in response to saminwp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2012 6:36 PM in response to saminwp

    I purchased MacKeeper a year ago, and I'm now being prompted to buy it again.  This is a totally worthless product and your customer support does not exist.  Use the $39 for anything else and you'll be better off.

  • by Storm Pudding,

    Storm Pudding Storm Pudding Aug 22, 2012 12:00 PM in response to saminwp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 22, 2012 12:00 PM in response to saminwp

    I have been reading several threads on "Mackeeper".

    Is the boxed disc "MacKeeper" sold at OfficeMax produced by the same people as the on-line junk MacKeeper program is produced? Are they the same?

     

    The manager of my local Office Max, when I told him what I had been reading on these forums, told me, "We sell a lot of them" and "Everybody likes it."  Now I wonder if he means his store sells a lot, or OfficeMax nationwide sells a lot.  I have no idea how he determined "everybody likes it," but now I wonder if there is any evidence of that at all.  Since OfficeMax will not accept software returns, why should anyone come back in to complain?

     

    Which also makes me wonder about that federal law - I've been told it is against federal law to refund money for returned software.  It seems obvious that software companies would have been heading the lobby effort to get Congress to pass such a law. But ultimately Congress (or the President?) is responsible. Why not make it a felony to refund customers for returned, or returned college text books (Oh, Lordie, I hope I'm not giving some moronic bureaucrat an idea), or returned jeans, western shirts, work boots, dresses, and picture frames? Why software, especially seeing how cr*ppy some of it is.

     

    Could someone persuade me that no refund on software is a good idea?

    Software can and has been written to prevent multiple downloads, so software theft could probably be prevented or at least limited.

     

    Message was edited by: Storm Pudding to highlight OfficeMax as a possible, gullible collaborator.

  • by Storm Pudding,

    Storm Pudding Storm Pudding Aug 22, 2012 11:57 AM in response to WindSurfer905
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 22, 2012 11:57 AM in response to WindSurfer905

    "spend 2 hours going through the complicated manual removal process"

     

    Frank VA at

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3265241 gave instructions that took me much less than two hours.

    The whole bothersome collection seems to be gone (crossed fingers).

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Aug 22, 2012 12:12 PM in response to Storm Pudding
    Level 6 (15,098 points)
    Peripherals
    Aug 22, 2012 12:12 PM in response to Storm Pudding

    Can't see whats complicated about it.   Get rid of MacKeeper.   Period.  

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3039

  • by Steve HC19,

    Steve HC19 Steve HC19 Sep 30, 2012 6:16 AM in response to softwater
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 30, 2012 6:16 AM in response to softwater

    Hello Softwater,

    Do you have a copy of the original communication, or an (edited) em headers?

     

    I am extremely suspicious about MacKeeper, and detest their dubious, un-ethical and deceptive marketing techniques,  nevertheless, the UNC Charlotte still has MacKeeper "recommended" on their computer lab page.

     

    http://coaa.uncc.edu/resources/computing/storrs-computer-labs

     

    Bottom of the page.

     

    Screen shot 2012-09-30 at 9.15.10 AM.png

Page 1 of 3 last Next