MacKeeper/Zerobit Pop Up ad Problem

IMHO you don't want MacKeeper. It is crapware.

Why pay for something to do things unsafely when you can do the same things safely for free?

My suggestion is DON"T download it.

If you do download and install it and wish to uninstall it, DON"T use the uninstaller from Zeobit. It DOESN"T do a completely job.

Allan

Oops, I should have included the post I was referring to:

My comments/questions were about Ghostery. I never have/never would install the one this whole thread is about.

My Mac, too, was rendered essentially unusable by MacKeeper popups when I had installed nothing. I don't recall how I eluded them because it was many months ago, but I am writing to tell you that I managed to ward them off permanently by installing ghostery (http://www.ghostery.com/), a free browser plug-in that keeps MacKeeper popups and many other browser nasties at bay.

LIZ BUCHER wrote:

I did some reading on their site.....sounds good. But could not find out if it can be removed just in case I don't like it.

Since Ghostery is a Safari or Firefox extension, it can be removed by clicking one button in in the preferences.

how long have you had it on your Macs?

I've probably been using it for a year.

Although it sounds like it may be reducing the amount of popups I would have been getting, it's real claim to fame is preventing tracking cookies, which is why I've been using it.

I know this post is a few months old, but I recently had this problem and used "CleanMyMac" that has an uninstaller for apps, to remove MacKeeper. All of the files that iVmichael said to look for are gone.

Anyone having the MacKeeper Popup/Popout problem. Zoe Baum's solution worked like a charm!!!!!! This is the solution for anyone looking on. I hope the moderator moves that answer to the top of this thread.

I was unable to install Cleanmymac and then I saw this Tunemymac - typical program that scans your computer, finds hundreds of "fixes" and then wants you to purchase it without saying how much it costs until you've taken the next step to purchase. I did NOT purchase it. I manually hunted down evil mackeeper app (which I did intentionally install at one point and I think that's what slowed everything down). I was also having the insistent pop up issue so I installed glimmerblocker. As an extra bonus, for some reason where I was unable to go full screen on youtube on safari, now I have no trouble. Crazy computers....

Brownknee,

I see that you asked this question a couple of years ago but I thought I would go ahead and answer this for the benefit of the board and topic here.

You don't have a virus, this is not malware, spyware, a trojan etc...

This MacKeeper window that is popping up on your computer when you use Safari, is just that... a popup window that is advertising their anti-virus software. Your computer is not infected. It is an intimidation tactic to pressure people into buying their tools.

The security built into Mac OSX is sufficient for most applications and users and your controls over that exist under System Preferences>Security&Privacy.

You don't need to do anything other than close the annoying pop-up window. In Safari, there is a preference for blocking pop up windows. Go to Safari>Preferences>Security and check the box next to "Block pop-up windows". This will not block 100% of every pop-up window but filters most of them.

Hope that helps.

I have had exactly the same problem: the ad pops up and is impossible to close or navigate away from. Here is a screenshot. And no, I have never had MacKeeper installed on my Mac. Why anyone would want to install something from a company with such unscrupulous sales tactics is beyond me.

Have also done the other steps you suggested: searched my Mac for zeobit and found nothing.

OK, I will try resetting Safari entirely to see if that works. If it doesn't - well, I guess I'll move to Firefox, Chrome or some other browser that doesn't have such flaws.

The problem is, you can't close this pop-up window. It is the pop-up from **** because it stays open AND it will not even allow you to navigate to another Safari window. Safari loses all functionality once the MacKeeper window opens.

Rolf Asphaug wrote:

I guess I'll move to Firefox, Chrome or some other browser that doesn't have such flaws.

I never see these, almost certainly because of one of the Safari Extensions / plug-ins I'm currently using, but I'm not certain which one.

Extensions:

JavaScript Blacklist

Ghostery (probably not as it blocks traking cookies)

SIMBL plug-in:

Safari AdBlocker (If you can't use or don't like SIMBL try the AdBlock Extension)

OK, I've downloaded the AdBlock Extension and will see if that works. Thank you!

Glimmer Blocker works great. Thanks.

I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of Silicon Valley (San Jose) against ZeoBit, which makes Mackeeper software and its use of popups that freeze my computer. My complaint is about the Mackeeper popups that get past Safari safeguards and try to force me to hit "okay" to try the product. I never hit okay and am unable to get rid of the popup and have to to restart my computer to get rid of the popup and regain use of my computer. I use popup blocker and the only popup that gets through is for Mackeeper. This company has developed a reputation for questionable marketing tactics for its Mackeeper software.

Zeobit has responded to my complaint to say that it would never produce such a popup and do any nasty type thing and if I can't get rid of the popup and my computer is freezing it's because there is something wrong with my computer. That would mean people across the Web who have the same complaint I do about Mackeeper popups, and as others do on this forum, all have malfunctioning computers and the popups are not the reason their computers freeze when the popups appear, or so goes the argument ZeoBit has made to the BBB about the popups and my complaint.

I suggest everyone with this problem file a complaint with the San Jose BBB on this issue. Perhaps then ZeoBit will see it's in its best interest to stop using marketing tactics that harass and infuriate people. http://sanjose.bbb.org

OK, although the AdBlocker extension did work for me, we shouldn't have to jump through those hoops to get this to stop. Here's the complaint I filed just now:

Thank you for using the Better Business Bureau's Online Complaint System.

Your complaint has been assigned case # 307081.

Correspondence regarding this complaint will be emailed to : ****

Please print a copy of this for your records.

Filed on : March 1 2013

Filed by :

Rolf Asphaug

Filed against :

ZeoBIT, LLC
440 N Wolfe Rd
Sunnyvale CA 94085-3869

Complaint Description:

MacKeeper windows pop up, getting through Safari's ad blocker, and are impossible to close without re-starting Safari. If you check out the "support" area on Apple you will see dozens if not hundreds of complaints with the same problem: ads touting MacKeeper, a ZeoBit product, pop up while using Apple's Safari browser. Normally you can close a pop-up by clicking on the red button on the pop-up window, but unlike any other pop-up windows, these windows have the red, yellow and green buttons on the left top of the window grayed out. There is an "OK" button on the pop-up - OK meaning that you want to buy MacKeeper! - and that is the ONLY option available to you once one of these windows pops up unless you stop and re-start Safari. And then, once you re-start Safari, the window pops up again. There is a workaround available but it's difficult to find and implement. MacKeeper's ads are like having a telemarketer call your home and then refuse to hang up - permanently keeping you from using your phone again unless you unplug the phone from the wall. It's horrible, deceptive and harassing.

Your Desired Resolution:

MAKE IT STOP! I know that MacKeeper claims that they aren't putting out these ads. Really? It has the name of your product on it. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

This case will be reviewed by a complaint specialist at the Better Business Bureau, and then forwarded to the business for their response. It is our policy to allow the business 30 working days to respond to your complaint. You will be notified when the business has responded.

<Email Edited By Host>

AdBlock does appear to have solved the problem, at least for now. I recommend it to others.