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MacKeeper

Hello - We recently purchased a Mac (for the first time), and we're getting a spinning color wheel popping up that says MacKeeper? What is this?

Posted on Oct 10, 2012 6:14 PM

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Posted on Oct 10, 2012 6:19 PM

You installed MacKeeper on your Mac.


It is crapware. everything it does can be done more safely and for no cost with other applications.


My suggestion is to uninstall ASAP.


Allan

15 replies

Oct 10, 2012 6:33 PM in response to 808193

808193 wrote:


Hello - We recently purchased a Mac (for the first time),


Hi 808193


Welcome to the Mac world.


There is a lot to learn, but most of all you should un-learn everything you learned about Windows. Among them is the desire to load up your Mac with a bunch of junk it does not need and will only make your life miserable. MacKeeper is probably the worst example.


Mac OS X incorporates all it needs to protect itself from viruses and malware. You already paid for it and you do not need any commercial anti-virus utilities. Most are worthless and some (like MacKeeper) are harmful.


I suggest you take a quick read through this: Tips to keep your Mac in top form


and at your leisure: http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/

Oct 10, 2012 6:49 PM in response to John Galt

Hi John - Thank you for letting us know about this support site and for taking the time to reply. We appreciate it! Neither of us dowloaded this MacKeeper or any anti-virus software. One of the reasons we decided to go with a Mac was for the protection. This MacKeeper pops up every once awhile, like an ad...


Thanks!

Connie


P.S. I've checked my Applications and Launchpad, and downloads, I don't see MacKeeper anywhere. I'd like to get rid of the ad!!!

Oct 10, 2012 8:04 PM in response to 808193

The ad should not keep on reappearing. That makes me wonder if MacKeeper is really eradicated.


I recommend you do this: First, quit Safari. Then, launch Safari again while holding a Shift key. This will ensure Safari opens only your home page.


Then, go to the Safari menu and select Preferences, then the Privacy pane.


Click the button "Remove all Website Data..." and confirm the deletion. This will erase all cookies and data left behind by potentially harmful websites. Close the Preferences window.


See if that stops the advertisements from appearing.

Oct 11, 2012 2:59 AM in response to 808193

Many users will see references to an application called MacKeeper on various web sites and via pop-ups on their browser. Not only is it expensive for what it purports to do (freeware applications that do the same or more are readily available), it can sometimes install itself without the user realising it, and it can be very tricky to get rid of.


Most positive reviews of it have been found to have been paid for by Zeobit (developers of MacKeeper) in the form of ‘free upgrades’ etc. For example (posted by fellow contributor Softwater), on their Facebook page and on their webpage they have this apparent endorsement from UNC Charlotte:


https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/125157040

Softwater contacted the Director of IT at the College of Arts and Architecture UNC Charlotte, about whether they endorse MacKeeper and his response, quoted here, was:

No, please do not download and install MacKeeper. We have seen problems with this software in the past.

MacKeeper has been described by various sources as highly invasive malware* that can de-stablize your operating system, adding that it is unethically marketed, with a history of making false advertising claims, by a company called Zeobit and a rip-off.


For more details about Zeobit’s alledgedly fraudulent advertising and paid-for ‘reviews’, and their dubious marketing practises, read this:


http://stemmings.com/the-truth-about-mackeeper-scam/


Further opinion on it and how to uninstall MacKeeper malware can be read here:


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


MacKeeper have recently said that the uninstaller from here:


http://applehelpwriter.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/how-to-uninstall-mackeeper-malwa re/


now works.


This is also worth reading:


http://www.reedcorner.net/news.php/?p=245


Equally phoney was iAntivirus:


http://www.reedcorner.net/news.php/?p=341


until it was purchased recently (May 2012) by Symantic (makers of Norton anti-virus which does not work well with Apple OS X). Even after having tinkered with it, iAntivirus still fails to do the job properly and cannot be recommended.


There are no viruses that can affect Apple OS X and there is therefore no reason to run anti-virus software on a Mac, but a Mac, like all computers, can transmit viruses and malware to other users particularly those running Windows. Note, however, that Trojans are another matter and can represent a genuine threat, an example of which was the recent 'Flashback Trojan' which you can read more about here:


https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3261


For further information you may find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful:


https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435


The User Tip (which you are welcome to print out and retain for future reference) seeks to offer some guidance on the main security threats and how to avoid them.


* The expression ‘malware’ is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software.

Oct 11, 2012 3:56 AM in response to John Galt

Good Morning John - Done! In the list, at the very bottom was "zeobit.com", which I believe is the MacKeeper website? Reflecting back on yesterday, I was sending an email, and the ad was up, and I was switching screens.....using my fingers....something that is so new to us using the Mac. I find it is so sensitive and I switch screens not wating to!! Anyway, I must have touch the ad, because it opened up, I immediately closed out of it...using the "red" dot in the upper-left-hand corner...


Thank you again!

Oct 11, 2012 4:14 AM in response to 808193

Note that if you haven't actually downloaded and then installed MacKeeper - the latter of which would have to be a very deliberate action - you don't have it installed. Just clicking the ad wouldn't be enough to install it. So it doesn't sound like you actually installed it.


Zeobit is guilty of using some very unethical and deceptive marketing practices, of which obnoxious pop-up ads are one. If you have a pop-up ad like this appearing in the future, and it keeps coming back every time you open Safari (I'm unclear on whether that was the case in this situation or not), there's a much simpler way to get rid of it: just hold down the shift key while launching Safari to prevent it from trying to re-open whatever windows were open when it quit.


As to the spinning beach ball cursor, that shouldn't be happening normally just by loading a pop-up in Safari. It's possible for a misbehaving JavaScript on a web site to cause that, but if that behavior continues with other sites, you may have something wrong somewhere.

Oct 11, 2012 9:35 AM in response to thomas_r.

Hi Thomas - That is good news! And we haven't seen the MacKeeper ad today... I really don't know why it appeared in the first place...I don't do very much internet surfing, just go to my few trusted sites...it's a puzzle. I would get viruses on our PC and not know where or how it happened....AND we have anti-virus software!! I was told Mac's never get viruses...and then this MacKeeper ad shows up....WHY ME?!?!?


Thank you for your time and assistance....I love this community discussion site. For people like me, it is so wonderful.


Regards..

MacKeeper

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