What is Advanced Mac Cleaner?

A window keeps popping up for an an app called Advanced Mac Cleaner. Is this legit? Should I do it or is it a third party scam?


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MacBook Pro

Posted on Jul 18, 2015 4:37 PM

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Mar 27, 2017 10:29 PM in response to Linc Davis

I just tried to follow these directions (3/28/17) and noted the following:

  • There is no '~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.pcv.hlpramc.plist' file. There WAS a 'com.pcv.hlpramcn.plist', but had to open the /Library/LaunchAgents folder to get to it. I deleted it. (Step 1)
  • I restarted as per the directions in Step 1, but the program was still there. Don't bother to restart until you're all done-you'll just have to start over.
  • There was NO file here: /Library/Application Support/amc (Step 2)
  • There was NO file here: ~/Library/AdvancedMacCleaner (Step 3)
  • As someone noted further down the discussion thread, a browser window opens when you try to empty the trash with the program app in it. Just close the window and empty the trash.
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Mar 8, 2017 12:36 AM in response to jlfbw

Hello jlfbw,


To remove this pop-up, try locating it under Finder then input the correct malicious software into Trash.


Otherwise, the pop-up could be occurring because it was added as an extension under one of your browsers. If this is the case then please refer to your local browser then click in the upper right hand corner and locate the option that says "extension." Once in the extension tab, find the malicious software then delete it immediately.


Hope you found this helpful! Took me awhile to figure it out.

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Mar 19, 2017 10:19 PM in response to Jennyboo607

Jennyboo607 wrote:


Can't the app b simply tossed into the trash and then securely empty the trash? I'm having trouble with this and I'm not a fan of having to pay $250 at Best Buy to have my computer cleaned up. How can I get rid of this


Apple's single incident support fee is $29.


Never pay Best Buy for anything, other than perhaps let you out of the store should you find yourself locked inside one of them.


You should post your own question. Getting rid of "Advanced Mac Cleaner" is easy (and free) but this Discussion is ancient and should no longer exist.

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Mar 20, 2017 12:35 PM in response to John Galt

John Galt wrote:



Never pay Best Buy for anything, other than perhaps let you out of the store should you find yourself locked inside one of them.

I have felt as if I'd pay them to help me out of the store after the loud music, huge screens and general sensory overload makes it hard for me to get out fast enough.

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Mar 28, 2017 6:25 AM in response to tbaxter

Those manual removal instructions are now almost two years old. Adware has changed drastically since then, so it's no real surprise they were no longer helpful.


Use MalwareBytes for Mac. It may not find something very new (can't recognize what you've never heard of yet), but it should be able to clean up most everything else.

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May 31, 2017 6:22 AM in response to Linc Davis

I wasn't able to do any of the things you listed. I'm not super tech savvy so I may be totally in the wrong place. I wasn't able to triple click on anything. The trash won't accept it not sure what to do. Having the same problem with MacKeeper. Not sure how either ended up on my desktop??

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Jul 31, 2017 8:11 PM in response to jlfbw

I uninstalled with Cliam My Mac 3 and set the outfit that put the program on my computer that they were violating federal law. I should report to the FBI, buyt i suspecgt unless I paid money the FBOI won't do anything, but make a record

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Aug 1, 2017 6:57 AM in response to apz156

And what federal law would that be? That YOU, of your own volition, downloaded, installed and ran their software?


In order to actually commit a crime, Clean My Mac would have to do something illegal. Like transfer your personal files to themselves when using the app. Developing an app that doesn't do much of anything isn't a crime, it's just a waste of your money. The App Store has, literally, thousands of such titles in it.

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Aug 1, 2017 4:10 PM in response to apz156

I didn't load or open it. Putting a program on someone's private computer is the violation.

As IdrisSeabright said, not knowingly. That's how all of this adware legally gets through. You'll get some sort of message that you are agreeing to the licensing and usage of xxx software, or a message about some special software that will be installed (or various wording like it). Sometimes, with. Other times without a check box to dismiss the message before clicking OK.


There's the catch. The wording is always vague. The user thinks they're only agreeing to the software they wanted to actually install. But because it's not stated that way, the wording legally applies to anything the installer puts on your system.


It's also why Apple can't legally block the installation of such software. You agreed to allow it on the system, whether you were aware of it or not. Apple then cannot remove it on their own, even to your benefit. The user allowed it, the user has to be the one to choose to remove it.

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Aug 6, 2017 11:47 PM in response to Amunoz22

Refund? Good luck with that.


But you have a much bigger problem now. Your computer is compromised, and all the data on it, including personal data, is at risk.


You need to cancel and replace all your credit and debit cards. Now.


Back up your data. Erase and install the OS, and then install your apps only from source and not from back up. This is the only way to be sure to erase whatever they installed on your machine.


Change all your passwords.

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