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MacKeeper unexpected website

I've just switched to this my new MBP 2 months ago. But every time when I open Safari, a link to a MacKeeper website keeps on popping up, and then jumps to the MacKeeper download websites, and once I close it, after 5-10 minutes, another same website pops out, with the "download MacKeeper" slogan . Sometimes a fake AppleCare website showing system malware also pops up too. This persisted on my old MBP which was stored in a backup. It is seriously bugging me, and I hope to remove this soon. Is there a way to permanently block a website? Please help me fix this problem. Thanks 🙏 ! (The photo below is only one type of this website, that just popped out today, there are many other types too)

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Oct 1, 2019 7:51 PM

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Posted on Oct 1, 2019 8:10 PM

Mackeeper is considered malware. The other stuff may be adware or simply a scammer trying to get you to give him details so he can get to your money. Download malwarebytes for Mac (free version) and run it; it should take care of it. And no, you cannot permanently block a website - most of these are not always permanent sites - they redirect from a legitimate site to theirs.

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Oct 1, 2019 8:10 PM in response to superstanley31

Mackeeper is considered malware. The other stuff may be adware or simply a scammer trying to get you to give him details so he can get to your money. Download malwarebytes for Mac (free version) and run it; it should take care of it. And no, you cannot permanently block a website - most of these are not always permanent sites - they redirect from a legitimate site to theirs.

Oct 1, 2019 8:59 PM in response to superstanley31

That address in Safari's URL field (the one that shows "track.toroadvertising" etc) is commonly referred to as a browser redirect. Its name isn't particularly important or relevant since it changes all the time, and as you can see its sole purpose is to promote garbage that should never be installed on any Mac.


If that's happening routinely, then you may have inadvertently downloaded and installed adware. You most certainly do not need to download or install anything else to fix it.


Navigate to the following folder, and post its contents in a screenshot.


~/Library/LaunchAgents


To open that folder, copy the entire line above and paste it in the Finder's Go menu > Go to Folder... field. Make it look like this:





... and click the Go button.


A Finder window will open. Take a screenshot showing all that folder's contents, and post it in a reply. To take a screenshot read the Appendix in the following User Tip: Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question.


Usually, there is nothing in that folder so don't be surprised to find it empty. The reason for starting with that folder is to eliminate other potential causes before proceeding with steps that will identify and eradicate whatever is affecting that Mac.


There will be additional instructions to follow and this is just the first step.


For a description of how this may have occurred, how to avoid it in the future, and for Apple's recommended actions read How to install adware.


Review your Gatekeeper settings: OS X : About Gatekeeper - Apple Support. Gatekeeper is designed to help prevent you from inadvertently installing garbage software.


If you get impatient and want to "read ahead" the remedy will follow the format of this Discussion: "root" process has high energy impact which drains my battery fast.

Oct 2, 2019 7:54 PM in response to superstanley31

Thanks. In the same manner as the above, open the following folder:


/Library/LaunchDaemons


To open that folder, copy and paste it in the Finder's Go menu > Go to Folder... field. It should look like this:



Once again ensure all its files and their names are readable, take a screenshot, and post it.


Then, repeat that exercise with the following folder:


/Library/LaunchAgents


Notice its pathname is different than the other two.


In the end, you will have captured and posted the contents of the following three separate folders:


~/Library/LaunchAgents

/Library/LaunchDaemons

/Library/LaunchAgents


Please be sure to include or otherwise indicate the name of the folder that corresponds to each screenshot, so that you and I can keep track of which ones they are.

MacKeeper unexpected website

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