are clean my mac and mackeeper legit? i am nervous as i got caught with mac defender. both of these programs i found on my mac tips and tricks app on dashboard and thought they would be approved. not sure and don't want to go ahead and use the samples etc

You're right to be wary - search MacKeeper on these forums and avoid like the plague. Also have a look here:

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

CleanMyMac seems to be OK, but here will be plenty of people on here telling you that you don't need it as the Mac does a good job of tidying up itself.

As Paul says, stay well away from MacKeeper - it's as near malware as makes no difference.

CleanMyMac is legitimate, but has been known to cause more problems than it fixes (like most of these 'housekeeping' applications).

I'm one of those who'll tell you you don't need any of them.

Don't worry about marking me as the 'solver' - I'm happy to share with noondaywitch 🙂.

Given the notoriety MacKeepr has, it would be worth spending a few minutes ensuring that it hasn't secreted any garbage on your Mac. You can download a free app could EasyFind which seems to do a better job of finding files than Spotlight. Search anything MacKeeper or Zeobit and delete it.

I'd be less worried about CleanMyMac, although I don't need it I have got it and have used it once in a while without problems.

If you follow the link in Paul's first post you'll see how to uninstall it properly (NOT with the zeobit uninstaller).

It's unlikely you have actually installed it (unless you've been presented with a screen asking for money), but better safe than sorry.

My guess is that if you clicked on the installer MacKeeper has scattered files around your drive in the locations indicated in the 'uninstalling' link I posted earlier. Certainly trash any MacKeeper apps/installers/icons that you can see in the Applications folder or elsewhere and then go through the instructions in the link. It shouldn't take long and that way you should completely eradicate it.

There is also a free app called EasyFind that you can download. Use it to search for any references to MacKeeper or Zeobit and delete anything it finds.

Information here, but you can also download it from the Mac App Store:

http://www.devontechnologies.com/download/products.html

My recommendation is to avoid both MacKeeper and CleanMyMac.

MacKeeper is far and away the more dangerous but CleanMyMac isn't that much better.

Allan