how to uninstall advanced mac cleaner

A

You installed a fake "utility" called "Advanced Mac Cleaner." Like any software that purports to automatically "clean up" or "speed up" a Mac, it's a scam. To remove it, take the steps below. Some of the files listed may be absent. Back up all data before proceeding.

If you paid for the software with a credit card, consider reporting the charge to the bank as fraudulent.

Step 1

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.pcv.hlpramc.plist

Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

Services ▹ Reveal in Finder (or just Reveal)

from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. Log out or restart the computer.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

Step 2

Move the following item to the Trash as in Step 1:

/Library/Application Support/amc

This time you may be prompted for your administrator login password. There's no need to log out after taking this step.

Step 3

Move this item to the Trash:

~/Library/AdvancedMacCleaner

Step 4

Open the Applications folder and move an item named "Advanced Mac Cleaner" (if it's present) to the Trash. Empty the Trash.

B

"MacKeeper" is a scam with only one useful feature: it deletes itself.

First, back up all data.

Note: These instructions apply to the version of the product that I downloaded and tested in early 2012. I can't be sure that they apply to other versions.

If you have incompletely removed MacKeeper—for example, by dragging the application to the Trash and immediately emptying—then you'll have to reinstall it and start over.

IMPORTANT: "MacKeeper" has what the developer calls an “encryption” feature. In my tests, I didn't try to verify what this feature really does. If you used it to “encrypt” any of your files, “decrypt” them before you uninstall, or (preferably) restore the files from backups made before they were “encrypted.” As the developer is not trustworthy, you should assume that the "decrypted" files are corrupt unless proven otherwise.

In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Applications

from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-A. The "MacKeeper" application is in the folder that opens. Quit it if it's running, then drag it to the Trash. You'll be prompted for your login password. Click the Uninstall MacKeeper button in the dialog that appears. All the other functional components of the software will be deleted. Restart the computer and empty the Trash.

☞ Quit MacKeeper before dragging it to the Trash.

☞ Let MacKeeper delete its other components before you empty the Trash.

☞ Don't try to drag MacKeeper from the Dock or the Launchpad to the Trash.

☞ Don't try to remove MacKeeper while running in safe mode.

C

You may also have installed one or more of the common types of ad-injection malware. Follow the instructions on this Apple Support page to remove it. It's been reported that some variants of the "VSearch" malware block access to the page. If that happens, start in safe mode by holding down the shift key at the startup chime, then try again.

Back up all data before making any changes.

One of the steps in the article is to remove malicious Safari extensions. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those. If Safari crashes on launch, skip that step and come back to it after you've done everything else.

If you don't find any of the files or extensions listed, or if removing them doesn't stop the ad injection, ask for further instructions.

Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install the malware. Chances are you got it from an Internet cesspit such as "Softonic," "CNET Download," or "SourceForge." Never visit any of those sites again. You might also have downloaded it from an ad in a page on some other site. The ad would probably have included a large green button labeled "Download" or "Download Now" in white letters. The button is designed to confuse people who intend to download something else on the same page. If you ever download a file that isn't obviously what you expected, delete it immediately.

Malware is also found on websites that traffic in pirated content such as video. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.

In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.

Still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked

Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)

or

Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)

if it's not already checked.

I just found Mac Keeper on my computer this morning. It popped up and appeared to be scanning for viruses, I had never seen it before and I assumed it was just something Apple did if it suspected a virus, I didn't really put much thought into it. But then I get on my Macbook this evening and there's a little icon that looks like a face mask with eyes or maybe an alien at the top right of my desktop.

So I went online to learn about this assuming it is garbage, and found tutorials on how to uninstall which didn't work for me, I couldn't do the drag and drop that was suggested. In the process of trying to remove this thing I went into my applications folder and found a folder titled "Youppes", I have never noticed this before. It does have an uninstaller and I clicked on it but it popped up a window with an option to "Also remove Download manager (not recommended) and it also says **This may require admin permissions.

I googled youppes and found a website but I still don't understand or trust it. Here is the link:

http://www.youppes.com/eula

I wanted to post on here to ensure I don't remove anything I shouldn't or mess up my Macbook.

I discovered Advanced Mac Cleaner on my Mac this morning. I followed your previous steps to remove it, but only the first and the last step found anything in folders. I am unsure if I successfully removed it since the other steps wouldn't work for me. I then followed all of the steps in this post and these are my images from each: Any help is appreciated!

In response to LINC DAVIS:

Having the same issues with Mac Cleaner. Trying to follow your steps and uninstall Youppes.

Please let me know if these should be dragged to trash and deleted. Thank you for your suggestions and postings on this issue.

Hi Linc Davis,

I found this thread while I was searching for why I had certain files among my other apps. They are Youppes files, Myppes files and Oliverto. I followed reply much all of the instructions you have given thus far and have uninstalled MacKeeper but have some of these odd files left. I'm not sure if I should just drag them to the trash. Here are my screenshots...

Thanks very much for your help.

You may have installed one or more of the common types of ad-injection malware. Follow the instructions on this Apple Support page to remove it. It's been reported that some variants of the "VSearch" malware block access to the page. If that happens, start in safe mode by holding down the shift key at the startup chime, then try again.

Back up all data before making any changes.

One of the steps in the article is to remove malicious Safari extensions. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those. If Safari crashes on launch, skip that step and come back to it after you've done everything else.

If you don't find any of the files or extensions listed, or if removing them doesn't stop the ad injection, ask for further instructions.

Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install the malware. Chances are you got it from an Internet cesspit such as "Softonic," "CNET Download," or "SourceForge." Never visit any of those sites again. You might also have downloaded it from an ad in a page on some other site. The ad would probably have included a large green button labeled "Download" or "Download Now" in white letters. The button is designed to confuse people who intend to download something else on the same page. If you ever download a file that isn't obviously what you expected, delete it immediately.

Malware is also found on websites that traffic in pirated content such as video. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.

In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.

Still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked

Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)

or

Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)

if it's not already checked.

"Youppes" is malware. Don't run the uninstaller, which is also malware.

This easy procedure will detect any kind of adware that I know of. Deactivating it is a separate, and even easier, procedure that doesn't involve downloading anything.

Some legitimate software is ad-supported and may display ads in its own windows or in a web browser while it's running. That's not malware and it may not show up.

Step 1

Please triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. Press return. Either a folder named "LaunchAgents" will open, or you'll get a notice that the folder can't be found. If the folder isn't found, go to the next step.

If the folder does open, press the key combination command-2 to select list view, if it's not already selected. There should be a column in the Finder window headed Date Modified. Click that heading twice to sort the contents by date with the newest at the top. If necessary, enlarge the window so that all of the contents are showing.

Follow the instructions in this support article under the heading "Take a screenshot of a window." An image file with a name beginning in "Screen Shot" should be saved to the Desktop. Open the screenshot and make sure it's readable. If not, capture a smaller part of the screen showing only what needs to be shown.

Start a reply to this message. Drag the image file into the editing window to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.

Leave the folder open for now.

Step 2

Do as in Step 1 with this line:

/Library/LaunchAgents

The folder that may open will have the same name, but is not the same, as the one in Step 1. As in that step, the folder may not exist.

Step 3

Repeat with this line:

/Library/LaunchDaemons

This time the folder will be named "LaunchDaemons."

Step 4

Open the Safari preferences window and select the Extensions tab. If any extensions are listed, post a screenshot. If there are no extensions, or if you can't launch Safari, skip this step.

Step 5

If you use the Firefox or Chrome browser, open its extension list and do as in Step 4.

Neither one of those should be moved to the Trash.

Both of the put so many bits and pieces all over your Mac that the only;y way to remove them is with an uninstall procedure.

You must get rid of both of before they damage your system.

Thank you for your response and help, I did everything as instructed and found nothing, so I guess I didn't have and ad-injection malware or adware etc. Also the instructions you gave to emailissue to remove mackeeper worked for me. Thanks for all the help. I'm still not sure if the "youppes" thing is something I need but from the readme that was in the folder with the uninstaller, it doesn't sound like I do. Here is what it says:

---------------------------------------

Uninstalling Youppes

The process of uninstalling Youppes consists of two functions:

The first is to reset the search settings set by Youppes on your browsers to default.

The second is to remove Youppes’s application files and download manager service from your computer.

Youppes’s download manager is used to optimize your download experience with InstallMac distributed

products by managing the download process of the various files during the installation, and opening the downloaded installer wizard automatically.

With Youppes being a lead distributor of downloaded Mac applications, Youppes’s download manager can be very helpful to Mac users who enjoy downloading many free applications. For this reason the removal of Youppes’s download manager is made optional.

The simplest way to uninstall Youppes and reset your browser’s search settings, is to use the Youppes’s Uninstaller, located in the Applications folder on your Mac.

1. Open your Applications folder

2. In your Application folder, find the folder named Youppes and open it.

3. Inside the Youppes folder, double click the file name Uninstall Youppes.

4. Follow the instructions on your screen.

You removed it, but you also need to remove "ZipCloud."

"ZipCloud," sometimes named "JustCloud," is a cloud-storage service with a doubtful reputation. The OS X client is sometimes distributed along with malware. Although ZipCloud may not be malicious itself, it should be suspected by virtue of the company it keeps.

To remove ZipCloud, start by backing up all data (not with ZipCloud itself, of course.)

Quit the "ZipCloud" or "JustCloud" application, if it's running, and drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash. Don't try to empty yet.

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

~/Library/LaunchAgents

Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select

Services ▹ Open

from the contextual menu.* A folder named "LaunchAgents" should open.

In the folder, there may be one or more files with a name beginning as follows:

com.jdibackup.

Move all such files to the Trash.

Log out or restart the computer and empty the Trash.

*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select

Go ▹ Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

You should delete everything in the first screenshot except the Spotify file. Also delete any application in the Applications folder that you don't know the purpose of. If you can't delete it, it's a built-in application and not malware.

hello,

So I have accidentally installed this stupid Mac cleaner. I tried your process of uninstalling it but i could only do the first step. when i went to do step two and three both of those links "could not be found" even when i put them in the finder. please help! thank you...

I used the instructions supplied and think I have it taken care of. BUT the file names were all changed and various iterations of Advanced Mac Cleaner, amc, awc, hipramc, hiprawc, both folders and files were added to the Library files (see folders in instructions to check, then stand alone folders as well), then as I deleted re-added. I think I finally got them all and on reboot, haven't seen any of those files return. All from an accidental click on a page. I didn't even intentionally download it. Sneaky ****.

I found this Advanced mac cleaner installed on my home computer. I moved the program to trash immediately and later emptied my trash. Now that I've read this board, I realize the program may not be fully uninstalled.

1.) Is there any way to tell if the program has been fully uninstalled? I do not see any traces in the Finder / Activity monitor.

2.) I've read in this thread that it may be best to reinstall and follow the instructions previously mentioned. I considered doing this, but was unable to find the exact program that was initially installed on this computer. I assume it is not warranted to download other programs in search of the one initially installed.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have the same problem with this being downloaded somehow onto my MacBook, I tried your step 1 and nothing is being found on my computer. I have the Advanced mac ad thing continually popping up though so it is on it. Any other suggestion how to uninstall it?