Q: Is MacKeeper a legitimate program?

Unlike Lukian who installed MacKeeper I did not agree to or knowingly install anything from them.  MK managed to corrumpt my system.  Simply clicking on their link got me full screen pages with ads and who knows what else.  As if that were not enough, I passed a virus on to a friend's PC.  I immediately called Applecare to help uninstall what turned out to be two files.  One was MacKeeper and the second one used 911 as part of its name.  My friend got help to get rid of a virus.

My imagination or just an opinion?  The full screen ads including dirty one (can't use the p word on this site) are gone and my computer is back to normal.  That is enough proof for me that MacKeeper is junk in whatever form it seems to appear.

Again, beware, Satan is just one click away.

For what it's worth, I thought I'd share my experiences with MacKeeper here.

I've been using MacKeeper for at least five years on three different computers and if it's caused me problems, I'm unaware...  I use it mainly for the Fast Cleanup, which does successfully clear up space on my HD (I know this could be done in other ways, but this is quick and easy).  I'm satisfied with the program (though now a bit nervous, after seeing what I have here).

I did, at one point, receive an email from Zeobit, saying that there had been a smear campaign about MacKeeper and that if we could post a positive review, we'd receive a free license on a new computer, I think it was (not money). I definitely see how this is still an unethical marketing practice, but no one was being paid to say good things...  just rewarded with the product they're already using... So, if they were dissatisfied, they obviously wouldn't do it, since they wouldn't want an additional license or upgrade to the product.

In any case, I'll be doing further research now, because I'm nervous about the product, but my personal experience has been fine. Those are my two cents.

>>I've been using MacKeeper for at least five years...

Wasn't it first released in 2010 ?

andyBall_uk wrote:

 

Wasn't it first released in 2010 ?

Yes, v1.0 is dated 25 Oct 2010.

Yup

The first beta-version of MacKeeper 0.8 was released on May 13, 2010, the second release on October 26, 2010. The MacKeeper 2012 version was released on January 30, 2012 at Macworld – iWorld in San Francisco, California. MacKeeper 2.0. included updates in security, data control, cleaning and optimization features.^[1]

I don't know how noelsd managed to use it 2 years before it was released. But I have become used to Mackeeper's supporters having a dim grasp of reality.

Now that's amusing! But I've had a sense there are many socks in this room.

Another thing about noelsd's comment, as well as some of the other positive comments about MK, is that it misses one of the main points. I don't use MacKeeper, and don't intend to try, so I really don't care if someone likes it. My complaint with MacKeeper/Zeobit/or whatever it's called this month is that they hijack link clicks to send me to their website. Interesting that a company selling a product purported to clean up my system should implant something malicious in my system.

Interesting that you have used MacKeeper for two years before it existed, but thanks for confirming once again that Zeobit bribe their users to post favourable reviews!

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?

Take it off and compare.

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.

What?

Are you guys saying that MacKeeper is a bad app coupled with dubious marketing, borderline scamming targeted towrads gullible Mac users?

Oh Come on!  No, it cannot be!

Let's see...

Sourced from: http://themacschool.blogspot.com/2012/09/mackeeper-is-scam.html

According to their own marketing, MacKeeper is "worth" $510.

Internet Security   $79        Sophos Antivirus Home Edition $0              Savings:  $79

Antitheft                $39        Prey Project                               $0              Savings   $39

Backup                 $25        Time Machine                            $0               Savings   $25

Geek on Demand $40        Apple Store                                $0              Savings    $40

(Warning, we are entering the "Muahahahahaha" section)

File finder $59                    Finder                                        $0               Savings $59

Default App  $5                  System Pref                               $0               Savings $5

Disk Usage $9                   Disk Inventory X / Finder           $0                Savings $9

Shredder     $10                Secure Delete                            $0                Savings $10

Login items  $5                 System Pref                               $0                Savings $5

Data Encryptor $39           Disk Utility/True Crypt,PGP       $0               Savings $39

Now, do you understand what you are paying for?  Things such as Logins Items, Default App? Shredder?  Seriously?   Almost all is pure wind. The only thing you are really paying for is a slick GUI, and the referral fees paid to web sites, blogs and third parties that sell you this monster.

**

Data Encryptor: 

Quoted:  "Data Encryptor makes your personal data invisible on the hard drive.."

Warning nothing is "hided", the name of the file is simply reversed, (Hello >> olleH) hence easily findable by anyone that can use Terminal at the beguiner level.

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 . . .

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/