is it safe to download the mackeeper?

Zeobit's own advice for uninstalling MK is:

1. Quit MK

2. Drag it from your Apps folder to the Trash

3. Restart your system

4. Empty the Trash

You won't find this in the app's "Help' — searching for 'uninstall' turns up a blank except for how to use MK to uninstall other apps — but after providing a fake email address I was able to 'chat' to an MK/Zeobit rep using the app's built-in support.

What they don't tell you is that after step 2. you get presented with a pop-up that tries to phish details from you. There is no 'x' / close dialogue box for that pop up. 'Control-w' returns a system error 'beep'.

However, you can simply ignore it and empty the Trash (step 4) and restart (step 3). I found that this removed all the executables (but still left some caches, logs and plist files).

However, there are a few caveats here:

I was running the demo version; I had not signed up for a Zeobit account (as the app strongly urges you to do when you first run it); I had not used any of the features of the app (some of which encourage you to remove as 'unncessary' system files belonging to core programs such as Terminal and Activity Monitor 😮 ).

I plan to run a few more tests over the next few days at varying levels of "commitment" to the Zeobit ecology and see whether things get more difficult or not in terms of removal.

BTW, folks. Don't try this at home unless you're prepared to take some precautions. I set up a quarantined OS, a fake email and a proxy IP address to protect both my system and my personal details from Zeobit (and interestingly, after downloading and installing the app, it will not even run if you try to disconnect from the internet 😠 ).

Hey,

Thank you very much for testing these people who write these comments. I spent 1700 dollars on my mac and would be very upset if something stupid happened. (Like downloading something harmful) Your post's kept me from making that mistake.

Again, Thank you

Loaded this piece of s**t from a speed test site, it intruded and being an salesman's dream I tried it, $40 later start up was slower as was performance from the word go. Its own scans show I don't even need it anyway: this is why I spend $1000 on a Mac for goodness sake. Good advice on freeware for Windows files up above. After I post this I will try to complete the removal from the useful link above, thanx.
It is at best a waste of time and $40.
I don't like what I can only assume are fake reviews all over about this piece of s**t.

Good experience perhaps, see it the positive way.

Indeed, the reviews are fake.

in this thread there is a link with step-by-step instructions how to deinstall. Read that before you uninstall:

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

success,

Lex

😟

That link and the entire "applehelpwriter.com" domain has been suffering from some kind of problem for the last 24 hours that, if I didnt' know better, I'd think was a DNOS attack....in any case, all pages on that domain have been suffering from a 'failed to open page' error since last night as far as I can tell.

However, I've changed the nameserver to this, which is currently working:

http://applehelpwriter.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malwa re/

Incidentally, if the applehelpwriter page should become unavailable for any reason... there are several other places you can find the Mackeepr Uninstall guide:

http://cl.ly/1R2r191D0W2G2s3U1O02

http://applehelpwriter.phpbb3now.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6

http://www.facebook.com/applehelpwriter

Hopefully, by distributing this info widely enough, we can keep it still available to those that need it.

...you can easily remove MacKeeper as it has its own uninstaller

As I understand it, to get the uninstaller, you need to have the paid for version. ie. it is "ransomware". If this is the case, your attempts to entice people to try McKeeper are disingenuous, to say the least.

Rightly or wrongly I have downloaded and paid for Mackeeper, I am a bit underwhelmed so far, but have no noticeable issues but am monitoring it. Will give it a little longer but I do not think its a product I would recomend in future. Certainly difficult to justify the cost.

They have given me the refund they promised and within the time scale they said it would take. So to be fair I have no complaint on them on that score. I didn't need the software though and indeed, I should take some personal responsibility and should have known I didn't need it too!!

Hi super granny,

This is a very sincere thankyou for pointing out appdelete.

I had downloaded mackeeper but did not activate it, yet there were peculiar effects on my Macpro that were not there previous to the download. The most obvious effect was slowing down, particularly graphics. It was nearly driving me nuts, until I found out about appdelete by reading your topic. mackeeper is now gone and my Macpro is back to normal.

Again I thank you,

Bob Adam.

On the slightly different topic of 'App removal' apps.

I have used App Zapper http://www.appzapper.com/ for quite a few years now starting with my old G5 running Tiger. I'm still using this on my new imac running Lion and am still very happy with it.

It's a very simple little GUI that you drop in your app and it clears all of the associated files with a nice satisfying "powww" of a noise 😁

Of course I've NEVER downloaded Mac Keeper and neither am I likely to so I dont know if it would clean everything out that this malware app contaminates.

''This is why I don't Subscribe to Mac forums.I've never met a group of people,that were so Strident,and closed minded and Militant in all their views,from everything to copying dvd's to antivirusware to Anything even remotly

outside of mainstream Apple thinking...You people are truly UNBELIVABLE!!!!!!!''

..you're here tho, soo..

Well I have given it a try. On reflection was not the cleverist thing i've ever done, but in a way it was a test to see how it went as I knew several inexperienced mac users has bought this. Having trialled it, I can say that it did have "limited" uses, and did cause some problems although not as severe as some have mentioned. I removed it using appdelete for which i was happy to pay a few $'s. I will be checking through system just to make sure nothing is left but so far appdelete seems to have done the biz.

Having tried it I will now be recomending to everyone I know to remove this program from their Macs as it does seem to have the potential to cause slow downs and various forms of crazyness in your computer.

Hi Robert,

Firstly, I am not a computer wizard as you guys are. Previously I also did as you described using appdelete, but I found after a while that it didn't totally remove all the mackeeper files. I then used the instructions from Phil Stokes at http://applehelpwriter.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malware. I hope I've done the correct thing, but my computer seems to be normal now. Have I done the correct thing ?

Hi bobadam

Yes I would say you have done the right thing. A bit concerned that appdelete missed some stuff, i will need to double check my own system.

As to me being a computer wizard 🙂 I'm not really. A few years ago i could have just about called myself competent but have not really been keping up with recent stuff as much as i should have. Now approaching silver surfer status 😉

If you do have any problems just post back here and one of the REAL experts will help you out.