Is MacKeeper a legitimate program?

I think that the post is writen wrong based on orbors response.

If they hijack links it doesn't mean that the program is not legt. It just means that their marketing practices are questionable. thats says nothing about software usability.

If a person is not having problems then how would you expect to beable to tell them that "yeah they are having problems"? Maybe, i do see it cause of all of the little extra programs that run or maybe because it is not doing anything harmful.

the other thing is how do you complain about a software they you have never used or only used for a little bit. Its like saying that restaurant has horible food and then saying "but i have never ate there".

Wow, you're a fun crowd.

Of course, I would make a mistake. I purchased my Macbook Pro in September 2010, and I could've sworn that I was using Mackeeper before that on my old Macbook, which was running slowly and severely lacking in hard drive space at that point, but I guess I was wrong. So shoot me, it happens. There's no need to attack me personally when I wasn't even singing praises about the program... just sharing my experience, which was fine, and yes, confirming that bribery does indeed occur.

@orbor - Again, I was just sharing my own experience, but if they're hijacking link clicks, that's not cool (if it is, in fact them). This hasn't happened to me, but if it did and if it's true, then they suck.

Is there something I should look for on my computer to show that this program is, in fact, having a detrimental effect?

noelsd wrote:

Is there something I should look for on my computer to show that this program is, in fact, having a detrimental effect?

I doubt it's worth the trouble, but Csound1's suggestion is the only way I know.

You can read about some of the issues here, although in my experience with helping others troubleshoot there haven't been nearly as many problems as there were say a year or more ago. Early versions used an anti-virus process that took over the computer, but that has been totally replaced and seems to be more effective at finding OS X related malware. There were also complaints of it disabling software applications in the process of "eliminating unnecessary code" which haven't been recent complaints. A very few indicated that it disabled their system, but again not recently.

MadMacs0 wrote:

I doubt it's worth the trouble, but Csound1's suggestion is the only way I know.

You can read about some of the issues here, although in my experience with helping others troubleshoot there haven't been nearly as many problems as there were say a year or more ago. Early versions used an anti-virus process that took over the computer, but that has been totally replaced and seems to be more effective at finding OS X related malware. There were also complaints of it disabling software applications in the process of "eliminating unnecessary code" which haven't been recent complaints. A very few indicated that it disabled their system, but again not recently.

Ah, yes, I've never turned on the anti-virus option, so I couldn't speak to that. Maybe that's why I never had issues.

Hi,

I have MacKeeper -- (Version 2.6.1) 2013 Kromtech Alliance Corp.) -- on my IMac. Though I've kept the latest versions up-to-date, I've rarely used any of its programs.

I am wondering is "Kromtech Alliance Corp." different from ZeoBit? Have any of the "latest updates" done anything to make this a decent application?

Lastly what do you think of DiskTools Pro? Does this app do as much or more than MacKeeper? Is it safer?

I've had 2 hard drive failure within the last 8 months (Sea Gate 1TB) which Apple replaced under warranty -- not that this has anything to do ??? with anything, but I can't afford to have my Mac messed up again for obvious reasons.

Many thanks for any input out there . . .

I am wondering is "Kromtech Alliance Corp." different from ZeoBit?

Theoretically, yes. Zeobit sold MacKeeper to Kromtech not long ago. However, it's odd that the mackeeper.kromtech.net site redirects to mackeeper.zeobit.com, rather than the other way around. Makes me wonder if this is all just a marketing ploy, and they're both owned by the same company. (I should note that that is just a question I have pondered, not anything that I have any reason to believe is true. I cannot find any evidence to support that idea.)

Since it's still the same flawed app, I'd still recommend against it. We'll see if Kromtech does anything different with it.

Lastly what do you think of DiskTools Pro? Does this app do as much or more than MacKeeper? Is it safer?

I've never used DiskTools Pro, but some of the things it does are similarly unuseful. Defragmentation, for example, is not something you should be doing frequently - or, for most people, ever - on Mac OS X, as Mac OS X does defragmatation on its own in the background as files are written to the hard drive. In general, any time someone is selling a utility that does something that is completely unnecessary, I have to question that.

Kudcubfa wrote:

Heres a good article. I have it and use it and so far no problems.

http://www.cultofmac.com/170522/is-mackeeper-really-a-scam/

That is generally considered to be an extremely biased article, probably paid for by Zeobit.

Well, I can say with certainty I'm not biased. I was given a MacBook as a gift but also use pc's for work and at home. I'm neither a "fanboy" or part of whatever cult I keep seeing in these discussions.

So, in my humble, non technical and casual opinion, the software is great. Not a bit of trouble.

I will say this, there is a lot of creepy "conspiracy theory" feel to this whole discussion. I expect the comic book guy to jump in any second with "worst-software-ever!"

The fact that you haven't had any trouble does not mean that MacKeeper has done anything beneficial for you, and certainly doesn't mean that it will never cause you problems. It also does not, in any way, address the numerous legitimate concerns with MacKeeper that have been mentioned throughout the year-long history of this discussion.

Kudcubfa wrote:

Well, I can say with certainty I'm not biased. I was given a MacBook as a gift but also use pc's for work and at home. I'm neither a "fanboy" or part of whatever cult I keep seeing in these discussions.

So, in my humble, non technical and casual opinion, the software is great. Not a bit of trouble.

I will say this, there is a lot of creepy "conspiracy theory" feel to this whole discussion. I expect the comic book guy to jump in any second with "worst-software-ever!"

Do you imagine that all the detractors are making their stories up then?

Kudcubfa wrote:

Heres a good article. I have it and use it and so far no problems.

http://www.cultofmac.com/170522/is-mackeeper-really-a-scam/

- You should always trust a review written on a website. Especially when the said website is/was selling the said software. I see no conflicts of interests whatsoever ...😉

The following link offers some balanced information about it.

http://www.cultofmac.com/170522/is-mackeeper-really-a-scam/

From the given website:

"We believe that we have a great product and we want people to know about it and the only way to do this is to explore every medium of advertisement."

Balanced information?

SO frustrating. Now I am a newcomer to to Apple/Mac world and have defected to the "light side" from being a PC user since I've been able to use a computer. I was under the impression that Macs don't get viruses on their machines and that was the #1 selling point for me, but now with all these discussions about the pros and cons of Mackeeper I just don't know anymore. I've successfully removed the software from my laptop but do I need anti-virus software or not??? I come to these Apple forums for support but just get a bunch of confusing back and forth heresy and arrive at no resolution. What to do, what to do? Is there a licensed Apple computer "cleaner" so I can always count on machine to work at its most optimum capabilty? Thanks guys!

JVillalobos21 wrote:

I was under the impression that Macs don't get viruses on their machines and that was the #1 selling point for me

Which is generally true, but they are not immune. You have to keep your software fully up-to-date, don't disable any security features and pay attention to all the warnings you get. If you are asked for your admin password or to approve an invalid certificate, be sure you fully understand why you are doing that. Apple wants you to disable Java in all your browsers. And only download legitimate software and files from trusted sites.

now with all these discussions about the pros and cons of Mackeeper I just don't know anymore. I've successfully removed the software from my laptop but do I need anti-virus software or not???

If you don't feel like doing all the things I outlined, then you probably need some form of A-V software, otherwise there is adequate protection built into OS X 10.6.8 and above. But just to be clear, MacKeeper is a lot more than just an A-V product. It also has a lot of mostly unneeded "cleaning" processes, which should be an entirely different discussion topic.

Is there a licensed Apple computer "cleaner" so I can always count on machine to work at its most optimum capabilty?

Yes, it's all built into OS X. It will normally keep everything running smoothly and will not require any routine user maintenance at all. Sometimes you will run into issues and when that happens, come back and describe the problem in detail and someone will point you in the right direction.

do I need anti-virus software or not???

There's no easy yes or no answer. You probably can get by just fine without, but even if you do use anti-virus software, you need to know how to stay safe. See my Mac Malware Guide.

I come to these Apple forums for support but just get a bunch of confusing back and forth heresy and arrive at no resolution.

Yes, unfortunately, that's always the case here when it comes to the topic of anti-virus software. There are a lot of people out there who will tell you “There are no Mac viruses” and who will get downright rude about anti-virus software. Others can get equally vehement that anti-virus software should be considered a requirement. Both sides tend to make their cases based on a lot of hearsay and isolated incidents, and not a lot of personal experience or decent data. As with most cases where two groups violently argue with each other over extreme points of view, the truth lies somewhere in the middle... ground that, in this case, few people seem to tread.

Is there a licensed Apple computer "cleaner" so I can always count on machine to work at its most optimum capabilty?

There is no need to "clean" your Mac regularly, except to keep the dust off! See The myth of the dirty Mac.