Javier23gol

Q: What is Genieo and why did it appeared misteriosouly on my MacBook Pro?

Today I was using my MacBook and misteriosouly I saw something on my dock. There was an icon saying install Genieo. I ask my brother if he downloaded something and he told me that he haven't use my computer. Fortunetely I have a passcode so nobody can istall a program without the code.... I feel scared because this morning I saw a message on my Mac saying that somebody on my network was using my computer IP Adress. I deleted that installer but I feel scared for all the Mac users. Somebody please replie.

MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Nov 10, 2012 6:19 PM

Close

Q: What is Genieo and why did it appeared misteriosouly on my MacBook Pro?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 6 of 18 last Next
  • by Heimdallen,

    Heimdallen Heimdallen May 22, 2013 4:20 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (1 points)
    May 22, 2013 4:20 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Thank you Thomas, sorry I'm so clumsy here. I edited my above post to do as you suggested and when I finished and clicked post, I was informed the Apple forums were being updated and my edit therefore wasn't saved, ha, what luck. So I had to make yet ANOTHER post to use the method suggested since apparently there's a limit to the number of edits I can make to one post, either a number of times or a time limit.

     

    Install Genio Page 1.jpg

    Install Genio Page 2.jpg

    Install Genio Page 3.jpg

    Install Genio Page 4.jpg

    Sorry to make so many posts trying to do something that should have been so simple, I swear I'm not trying to spam this thread full of posts about this, lol. Thanks for your help Thomas

  • by Genieo support,

    Genieo support Genieo support May 22, 2013 4:22 AM in response to Heimdallen
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 22, 2013 4:22 AM in response to Heimdallen

    I use "Jing" for screenshots. much easier

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 22, 2013 4:25 AM in response to Heimdallen
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2013 4:25 AM in response to Heimdallen

    Yup, you only have a limited period of time to make edits, and it's fairly short... 5 or 10 minutes, if I recall correctly.

  • by andyBall_uk,

    andyBall_uk andyBall_uk May 22, 2013 5:43 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 7 (20,495 points)
    May 22, 2013 5:43 AM in response to thomas_r.

    >>Where do you see that?

    on page 2 of this thread, for one

     

    both installers contain url's for codec-m & qtrax, wondered if they were used

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 22, 2013 6:22 AM in response to andyBall_uk
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2013 6:22 AM in response to andyBall_uk

    Ahh, I see those URLs in the installer's executable file. Last time I tested Genieo, it did not install either of those things. I'm not sure why those URLs are found inside the executable file. I'll do some digging.

     

    As for the download on page 2 of this topic, that just looks like the customized installer provided for that partner. Genieo undoubtedly provides that download site so that their partners can link to a copy of the Genieo installer that will give them compensation. As far as I can tell, that's not something you'd be able to find easily, unless a partner referred you there. In any case, the issue here is not the actual download, but the way the partner is getting people to download it.

  • by lindsayfromleander,

    lindsayfromleander lindsayfromleander May 22, 2013 8:23 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2013 8:23 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Genieo is only barely "legitimate".  It does not come bundled with Firefox, nor with any other browser, and is considered malware by many people.  It will hijack your browser.  See http://botcrawl.com/how-to-remove-the-genieo-virus/ .   I ran into it just a while ago when a website my browser was parked on threw up a pop-up telling me that I needed to update Adobe Flash.  The buttons presented to accomplish this linked to a Genieo host.

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 22, 2013 8:59 AM in response to lindsayfromleander
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2013 8:59 AM in response to lindsayfromleander

    Genieo does not hide the fact that it is going to "hijack" your browser, so the term "hijack" wouldn't be appropriate. Although I don't find Genieo useful, and don't recommend it, it's also NOT malware. Any kind of software like this is frequently mis-labeled as malware.

     

    As for the fake Flash notice, see the more recent discussions on this topic. The post you responded to is from November of last year.

  • by lindsayfromleander,

    lindsayfromleander lindsayfromleander May 22, 2013 9:41 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2013 9:41 AM in response to thomas_r.

    I"m sorry, Thomas, but I consider this kind of program to be malware, as do many people.  It's described on Wikipedia as a "malware type program".  If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck .....  At very least, it's behavior is unethical - right up there with the Domain Registry of America

     

    Any program that attempts to install itself on my computer through deception deserves the terms "malware" and "hijack".  Genieo is reportedly very difficult to uninstall, and is apparently flagged as malware by anti-virus programs such as Malwarebytes.  You may not call it "malware" but I and many other people will disagree with you.  Do a little research on it.

     

    When and where the original comment on the fake Flash notice was posted has no bearing on my reply since the thread is ongoing.

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 22, 2013 9:51 AM in response to lindsayfromleander
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2013 9:51 AM in response to lindsayfromleander

    I"m sorry, Thomas, but I consider this kind of program to be malware, as do many people.

     

    Most people don't understand the basic concept of malware properly to begin with. You shouldn't care what someone with no particular expertise is saying about it on Wikipedia.

     

    Any program that attempts to install itself on my computer through deception deserves the terms "malware" and "hijack".

     

    And if you would read the more recent posts on this topic, you will see that we now know what is going on (to some degree, at least), and that this appears to be the doing of one of Genieo's partners trying to cheat the system and get paid for bogus installs. See the Previous and Next links at the top and bottom of the page.

     

    Genieo is reportedly very difficult to uninstall

     

    Genieo is actually very easily uninstalled, using the provided uninstaller.

     

    and is apparently flagged as malware by anti-virus programs such as Malwarebytes.

     

    I'm not sure where you're getting that information. Here's a report for the Genieo installer I just submitted to VirusTotal:

     

    https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/8de20e6fa6556d4536e4ff0feb34ded000f125948634b 0e859c5c4f34be29e53/analysis/1369241326/

     

    As you can see, it's not considered malware by any of the engines VirusTotal uses, including Malwarebytes.

     

    Do a little research on it.

     

    I have, as you would see if you read the rest of this topic and not just the first page.

  • by lindsayfromleander,

    lindsayfromleander lindsayfromleander May 22, 2013 10:03 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2013 10:03 AM in response to thomas_r.

    You can call it what you want to, Thomas.  People can make up their own minds.

  • by naja_trance,

    naja_trance naja_trance May 22, 2013 10:17 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2013 10:17 AM in response to thomas_r.

    +10000 for lindsayfromleander to wrote:

     

    Any program that attempts to install itself on my computer through deception deserves the terms "malware" and "hijack".

     

     

    Thomas A Reed wrote:

     

    Most people don't understand the basic concept of malware properly to begin with. You shouldn't care what someone with no particular expertise is saying about it on Wikipedia.

     

    "basic concept of malware" ? lol

     

    in fact Thomas, i think that for years now, virus and malware specialists have re-defined (their own ?) concept of malware, and i believe that every specialyst may have his own definition of malware ; BUT if you stay to the basics terms, malware is "malicious software", so every soft that acts "malicioucly" is malware, and that's it ! and no matter what kind of technology / or concept they have (or if, effectivly {i agree with you} if  it's very easy to uninstall it )

     

    and IMHO installing a software in the name of updating another one IS a malicious behavior, no need to be a wonderfull specialist to say that

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 22, 2013 10:20 AM in response to lindsayfromleander
    Level 7 (30,934 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 22, 2013 10:20 AM in response to lindsayfromleander

    People certainly should make up their own minds, but they should do so with all the facts at hand.

  • by lindsayfromleander,

    lindsayfromleander lindsayfromleander May 22, 2013 10:55 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 22, 2013 10:55 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Well even considering how little I know about Genieo, and about the basic concept of malware, and about all the other posts in this thread, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, or a ten foot lithuanian, either

     

    So I'm not in a position to say from direct experience how easy it is to uninstall, nor will I ever be.

  • by Genieo support,

    Genieo support Genieo support May 23, 2013 2:11 AM in response to lindsayfromleander
    Level 1 (25 points)
    May 23, 2013 2:11 AM in response to lindsayfromleander

    Hi All,

     

    We apologize for the misleading behavior of our partner.

     

    We have talked with them and the fake flash pop up does not install Genieo anymore.

    Feel free to test it.

     

    And if you find this behavoir or similar again, PLEASE send us an email to support@genieo.com so that we can adress it on the spot.

     

    We talked with Wiki.org and Genieo value was edited and fixed today.

     

    http://botcrawl.com/how-to-remove-the-genieo-virus/ is not a reliyable or a trusted site.

  • by naja_trance,

    naja_trance naja_trance May 23, 2013 3:37 AM in response to Genieo support
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 23, 2013 3:37 AM in response to Genieo support

    Hi you, Mr. Genieo support ...

     

    i can read on Genieo's home page :

    Let all the information you personally care about - come to you.

     

    the first post of this topic is about 6 month older than today ...

     

    6 month for the information* about YOU to come to YOU ...

    what about a big LOL for that ?

     

    so ... let's say that nobody in your company uses your product ^^

     

     

     

     

     

    * assuming, "of course and without any kind of doubt", that you really personally care about this information ....................

first Previous Page 6 of 18 last Next