what is mackeeper 911

I'm not sure if I should really dive in here or not, so I guess I will.

A while ago I was having some drive problems so I did a search for them on the web and found the following article titled "Mac hard drive test software - creating the definitive list" at the following link:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1544280

In it they go over the better known drive testing products, all of which are the ones known to have good to excellent reputations....but then in the comments comes the question, "What's MacKeeper?" and the article seems to take sort of a nasty turn.

I would personally read the article above and it's entries then reach your own conclusion.

I applaud your zeal Fred but sharonfromdublin had this question back in June 2011, I doubt that she is still waiting for someone to reply 🙂

Nothing ever dies when it's on the web!😁

In all fairness to Fred, several of the posts were updated today.

Okay, here's the deal with MacKeeper:

Technically, MK is legitimate software. Many people and companies agree with this notion, including Apple themselves. It is NOT the same thing as MacDefender, MacProtector, etc etc, which is agreed by all to be legitimate malware. Apple considers this malware as well.

However, MacKeeper is not something one should download onto their computers for a couple of reasons:

1. MacKeeper is unnecessary. Every single task it performs can be performed by another app or built-in process for cheap or free. Moreover, some say that certain features of MK aren't needed at all, specifically, the "cache cleaning" feature. This is debatable, but cache cleaning is also available for less. I won't list all of the suggestions for alternatives, but they can be easily found.

2. MacKeeper has been said to cause problems on computers. I've seen posts all over saying that MacKeeper slows computers down, cleans necessary files off of the system, and many users have had to reinstall their systems because of MacKeeper-related problems

3. Finally, the company that started MacKeeper, ZeoBIT, is known for using marketing practices that range from annoying to unethical:

• Popunders and popovers that aren't blocked by popup blockers. These popups use very Apple-like graphics, including the Spinning Beach Ball of Doom. Also, hasn't anyone noticed that the MK logo looks a ton like Apple's Automator logo? It nearly fooled me the first time I saw it....
• ZeoBIT has been known to bribe people for positive reviews on web sites. The rewards have included free upgrades, and in one notable case, a job as a ZeoBIT consultant.
• Worst of all was the clamxav.org scam. ClamXav, for those of you who don't know, is a competing AV software. Their site is clamxav.com. ZeoBIT bought a similar site, clamxav.org, and wrote a "review" of ClamXav. And then there was a Download button, which actually redirected to the MacKeeper website. I mean, honestly...

Regarding SanaPaul or whatever his/her name is - he/she is the PR manager at ZeoBIT so he/she cannot really be trusted.

Its easy, MacKeeper is a wooden nickel covered in snake venom.

and.........

Agreed. But I'm trying to be... diplomatic...

(Please note that references to the original developers, Zeobit, should now refer to Kromtech Alliance Corp, who acquired MacKeeper and PCKeeper from ZeoBit LLC in early 2013.

For more about ‘astruturfing’ (writing phoney product reviews for money) see here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24299742

I know about this, but according to Thomas Reed (whom I trust with my life, or at least, my MacBook), the MacKeeper website still contains zeobit in the URL...

So what? Presumably so that the hapless, innocent fools who actually want it can find it!

True... I didn't think of it that way. But honestly, who in the world would want that piece of crap??

Kinda weird, though... I mean, if I were Kromtech's CEO or whatever, I'd want to disconnect myself from ZeoBIT as much as possible. Who'd want to be associated with them? So I'd change the URL ASAP.

Unless, of course, the people at Kromtech are as terrible as the people at ZeoBIT (if that's possible)...

I don't care who the heck owns MK... I wouldn't download it if you paid me.

bentkitty100 wrote:

I don't care who the heck owns MK... I wouldn't download it if you paid me.

I would, then I would delete it, I'll do that every time someone pays me too. 🙂

Note that bentkitty100 was not "astroturfing." If you read the entire post, you'll see it's definitely not a recommendation for MacKeeper!

As for Zeobit vs Kromtech, the thing I find odd is that Kromtech bought MacKeeper quite some time ago... yet, mackeeper.kromtech.net redirects to mackeeper.zeobit.com, rather than the other way around as you would expect. Why is Kromtech still redirecting all inquiries about MacKeeper to a Zeobit site? Suspicious... makes me wonder what the real relationship between Zeobit and Kromtech is.

Hey Thomas, thanks for backing me up 😀

I am a HUGE fan of your work - on your website, I'm "Someone" with the little cat avatar.

And no, I am TOTALLY not recommending MK

@Csound, I like your idea!! Except then I'd have to go through uninstalling it, which according to people here is a really difficult process

Maybe they are one.😉