Q: Is MacUpdate.com/ a legitimate site?

Yes, this site is legitimate and reliable.

Yes and NO. It has some useful porograms and in general is an OK site but they do offer downloads that are just POJ software. Like MacKeeper which is the closest thing to a Virus/Trojan/Malware as the Real thing.

Caveat Emptor (Free or Paid for).

MacUpdate is one of the most well known and respected Mac software communities around - they have been in business for over 16 years, bringing together Mac users and developers of all kinds. In most cases, the software download links link directly to the developer's servers, and all app submissions are reviewed rigorously by their content team 24/7.

the software download links link directly to the developer's servers, and all app submissions are reviewed rigorously by their content team 24/7.

Really? Why would the first entry be for a bit torrent site

which, when searched for, returns this result from WOT:

If WOT does not find the site trustworthy, I certainly would not go there - yet your site recommends it?

And, prominently displayed, your site offers the worst software available for a Mac:

And you expect me to find your site trustworthy?

babowa wrote:

Ew ew ew! Make it go away
It's sooooo hideous!

Transmission is a popular BitTorrent client app, not a site. It is actively developed, and is used by hundreds of thousands of Mac users. The download for the app comes directly from the developer's site, just as I stated. WOT gives the developer's site very high ratings (http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/transmissionbt.com) and also gives MacUpdate.com very high ratings (http://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/macupdate.com), so I am not sure what you are referring to.

MacUpdate does run banner ads from paying developers to help support our site, which is free to use. Free accounts on the site also have the option to turn off banner ads. MacKeeper heavily advertises their products on many sites. MacUpdate does not endorse or condone any app or ad on the site, but they do vet and curate app submissions. MacUpdate actively promotes and encourages user-developer interaction via the reviews and comments on the site - if you have a particular problem with an app, feel free to say so on the site. This is another reason that the site is trustworthy - members of the Mac community are quick to let other know about great apps as well as crappy ones in the comments and reviews. For example, many users like Transmission, as you can read for yourself - http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/19378/transmission.

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

<Edited by Host>

Chadatmacupdate,

At least your username clues others in on your affiliation with MacUpdate but, as I interpret the terms of use, your post does not follow the guidelines:

No advertising. Do not use the Site to sell or market your products to others and do not post a URL unless it directly answers a user's question. If any portion of your Submission, including any posted URL, results in any accrual of compensation or benefit to you, you must note this in your post by stating, "I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link."

Any number of companies could come here and write glowing reviews of their products (or web sites) if the terms and conditions did not prevent it. I think your glowing review of MacUpdate borders on viloating the terms and conditions, if not outright violating them.

Aside from the fact that I would not use a bit torrent site for anything, I also would not use a site advertising a bit torrent site since many bit torrent sites offer pirated software.

And, please read the ToU.

Judging by the number of posts here that speak vehemently against MacKeeper (the app), it is difficult to get a warm fuzzy feeling about a site that advertises it.  Total turn off for me, regardless of the quality of the rest of the site.

Babowa,

This type of criticism is not very warranted. Bittorrent is a valid P2P technology, even though because of its decentralization people use it for quite a bit of illegitimate activity. As for MacKeeper, the criticism and description of it as malware is also incorrect. Even though it is not the best software and has questionable advertising practices, it is not malware as many claim. This is false, just like people claiming Macs now have "viruses" because of recent malware outbreaks is false.

MacUpdate has been one of the few good software distribution resources for the Mac that does a pretty good job, similar to VersionTracker and CNET's Download.com (both of which have merged to the latter). If folks need to download updates or software for OS X, then they can go to any of these sites to get the files they need and be sure to not run into malware.

I'm certain that should an advertiser link to true malware for any of these sites, that the sites would immediately remove the links and issue profuse apologies and remedies for damage done. So far this has not happened, and should not happen. Since MacKeeper is legitimate software, even though people may frown upon it there is no reason to blacklist its advertisements and promote bias against it--that is up to the reviews and end users in discussion among themselves.

For me it would also include the fact that their employees/site owners advertise here (without the requisite disclaimer) while defending offering bit torrent sites. Most such sites offer pirated software, so I do not find anyone recommending that trustworthy.

I had an unwelcome incident with MacKeeper - someone hacked into my Yahoo Inbox and when I clicked on the tab, I was redirected to a Russian site which rendered my Mac completely unresponsive except for the site having taken over my Mac. I finally had to wipe and reinstall to be sure no trace of it remained. I would not tust anyone who advertises such malware.

Topher,

I agree with most of your post and I have no first-hand knowledge of MacKeeper so my opinions of it are based on what I've read here plus all the annoying popup ads for it that tick me off so much they ensure I will never buy it. The only disagreement I have with your post is that companies need to be careful about other companies they affiliate themselves with.  This includes advertisements that may appear on the company's web site.  Blacklisting advertising for a "legitimate" piece of software is within the bounds of good business sense if the software gets bad reviews from users. It appears MacUpdate is fine with MacKeeper, or at least satisfied enough to accept their money.  My opinion differs but that's all it is, my opinion.

I beg to differ with you regarding MacKeeper. I was redirected - without my intervention - to a Russian site. It took control of my Mac and told me to download MacKeeper because I had 8,572 viruses on my Mac. Other than that, my Mac was completely unresponsive - had to do a hard shutdown. Because of Resume, every time I booted up, the browser automatically directed me to the same Russian site. I finally wiped and reinstalled.

You may call this legitimate - I do not; it is questionable at best. But that is just my humble opinion and I will not change it.

As for the rest of his posts (the advertising) - I don't see the requisite disclaimer.

I guess it's a matter of opinion. Of course they need to be careful, and avoid advertisement of software that is truly malicious; however, I do disagree that a company should blacklist an advertiser simply for bad reviews. Just like a store selling a product on its shelves, should that product be bad then nobody would buy it and the company would stop selling it. I dont see much reason to hate and lambast Home Depot because it sells crappy sealants along with good ones. Despite some people's claims, MacKeeper does have "some" utility, even if that utility may ultimately not be worth the price and effort.