What is the best way to uninstall applications? Is software like MacKeeper worth getting?

MacKeeper is definitely NOT worth getting. Be aware there's also a malware trojan going around that uses that name, too (among many others).

How to uninstall depends on how you installed it in the first place.

If all you did to install was drop the application's icon on the Application folder, then you can uninstall simply by dragging the app to the trash.

If on the other hand it was installed with a proper installer, you should re-open the installer and see if there's an uninstall option available. If not, contact the vendor and see if there's an uninstaller available for that application.

Failing that, there are a few applications which will help to uninstall with various degrees of success;

AppZapper

AppDelete

There are others but those are the ones I've tried.

I use a program I downloaded called "App Cleaner." It does the job well and was free. I agree that Mackeeper is not worth the price and doesn't do anything better than you could do witha program called "Onyx." Onyx is available *** a free download and can do many of the things Mackeeper does, and, in some cases, better. Mackeeper is not a good app. The trojan that has been going around is called'Mac Defender." Apple has released an Security update for OS X 10.6 which deletes the app and its variants. However, the hackers that be have already found a way around that and are sending out new malware. Beware of any downloads or websites than warn you that you need an antivirus program. They are usually scammers. Hope this helps.

No. Avoid MacKeeper. You wouldn't know whether you are getting a/v software or malware.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection <--- SL only

How to avoid or remove Mac Defender malware <---- for Mac OS X 10.4, Mac OS X 10.6, Mac OS X 10.5

Security Update 2011-003 (Snow Leopard) <--- improves security

http://www.fixkb.com/2011/05/remove-mac-protector.html

http://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/02/new-macdefender-malware-threat-for-mac-os-x/

And read here. http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/

Never accept unsolicited offers from the internet.

MacKeeper help: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2786697?answerId=15253258022#15253258022

See the post by: iVmichael

Macs don't get viruses but just to be safe you can download ClamXav.

Onyx is a good cache cleaner and maintenance tool.

There are also other applications that will make sure that your 3rd party software is up to date.

I do NOT recommend MacKeeper. It removes some certain important files that owned by certain applications. After I ran MacKeeper, some of my apps acting up. So therefore, I do not recommend MacKeeper.

Have an amazing weekend! I see that you are from Toronto. I am also in GTA (northern part of GTA metro area called Markham).

Brian

darcyfromtoronto wrote:

What is the best way to uninstall applications?

Follow the directions from the developer. Often they provide an uninstaller and sometimes it's as easy as trashing the application and ignoring the small preference file left behind.

Is software like MacKeeper worth getting?

What everybody else already said or you can search this forum and find dozens of dissatisfied users and two or three who think it's OK, one of whom does PR for the MacKeeper developer.

You have to be VERY careful, because when you go to pages that offer things like Onyx, the MacKeeper ad is lurking there, but it doesn't say it's a MacKeeper variant ... it integrates into the page, looking like part of the Onyx or other free application offer, and you can easily invite MacKeeper variants into your environment without meaning to do so. Make sure you are on the genuine Onyx site, and beware the MacKeeper robot! MacKeeper wrecked my Mac and I had to reload my entire hard drive. :O

Macpaw's CleanMyMac works perfect.

MacKeeper? NOOOOOOOOOO

I have used AppCleaner for some time now across several OS X platforms. It works great and it's FREE! Finds the preference files and many others that you would likely not get using the uninstaller (if there is one with the app) and much better than trying to do it manually.

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/25276/appcleaner

AppCleaner has worked good for me too but to uninstall the application, the uninstaller normally has to be installed first for it to work very well.

Chris

I Use a Program called App Trap!!

http://onnati.net/apptrap/

Its kinda old and does look the best but it is FREE and works great for me

all it does is it asks you if you want to remove extra files related to the program you want to remove.

Do this by simply draging any aplication to the trash.

Its the simple way to go in my opinion!

Hope I could help!

Yeah, I like AppTrap too ... very invisible, until you need it.

I think I'm gonna download OnyX for cleaning shop. Of course, my drive is all fresh and clean now, after recovering it from MacKeeper's evil machinations.

🙂

I have used AppTrap in the past but don't have the latest version and the web site has been down since at least Friday. Anybody know if it's still supported.

Well, I visited the site just know and this was the result

that was at http://konstochvanligasaker.se/apptrap/

I click the "this site" link and it transfered me to this site http://onnati.net/apptrap/

This site seems to be fine and it says that AppTrap only supports Snow Leopard and Lion and not Leopard.

chrisfromhopewell wrote:

...transfered me to this site http://onnati.net/apptrap/

Which still doesn't work for me but this did http://www.onnati.net/apptrap/

This site seems to be fine and it says that AppTrap only supports Snow Leopard and Lion and not Leopard.

Actually, it says the current v1.1.7 no longer supports Leopard, but there are links to download either v1.1.6 for Leopard or v1.1 for Tiger.