Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

MacShiny experience anyone?

So my wife gave me her MacBook when she upgraded, I'm only a few months in as a Mac convert and feeling my way around. One of the first things I noticed was how slow my computer seemed to run, I ran the ClamXV she had installed no issues, seemed to have plenty of free memory. I went into the app store and downloaded MacShiny, it seemed to get some of the best reviews. I ran in the initial time with what seemed like success, however subsequent attempts to run the app give me an error message along the lines of "oops, something seems to have happened when trying to run mach shiny, please forward to us so that we can help resolve the issue". Well, that didn't work, I received one response asking what the error message sent (information I'd already sent them). I waited awhile, no response. SO i emailed again, and again, and again. NO response. Now I look under purchased apps it doesn't show up there, I do a search for it in the app store it doesn't show up there. I've emailed countless times without a response. The icon still shows up at the top of my screen next to the bluetooth icon, but it won't run. So my questions are - does anyone have any experience with this app? If it's suddenly gone from the app store do I have any recourse with Apple or am I just out the $20 or so that I spent on the third party app? and if I can't get anything out of the developer or Apple does anyone have a solution or the correct way to uninstall? and finally, any suggestions on the best way to clean up cache, OS system, etc.? Thanks in advance.

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Jan 1, 2016 10:59 AM

Best reply

Galileo Galilei

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Apr 12, 2017 7:15 AM

MacShiny is one of those annoying rip-offs that always seem like a good idea at the time, when you are having problems. It supposedly scans your computer, and then tells you that you have all sorts of problems, some of which are allegedly 'critical'. It then supposedly cleans a percentage of them, for 'free' (There is no such thing as 'free'). After which, it tries to suck you in, with an apparently cheap offer of $1.99, which unsurprisingly converts into $49.95 a month. Admittedly, this fact is stated, when you are asked to pay, but the writing is in greyed-out (grayed-out) lettering, and very easy to miss.

As an alternative, I have used the excellent EtreCheck app (free or voluntary donation) that does actually check your computer, and provides a very useful report, which even a computer numpty like me can understand. You can print the report, or save as a PDF, for future reference.

In my report, there were a couple of adware files that it noted, and offered to remove, which it did, when I requested it to.

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Click the [Remove] links to remove adware.

Show signature failures: Enabled

Problem: Other problem

Description:

Malware/Adware

But it doesn't do anything, without your consent or request. EtreCheck also gives some useful advice, most of which is common sense, but that being a rare commodity, it is worth reading, if only to confirm what I already thought to be sensible practices. EtreCheck is French Canadian software, which is not usually a good indicator, hence Brexit, (mes excuses Etresoft Inc. ;0)), but this app does provide a very useful service, and donations are voluntary.

Clever people like these EtreCheck chappies or chappesses, who are willing to voluntarily help others, and share their knowledge, deserve our gratitude and financial support. If everyone who benefits from this app, donates the minimum CAD$10.00 (Sterling£6.03 or USD$7.50 or 3 bottles of Corona. Hmmm, 3 bottles of beer or a clean computer? 3 bottles of beer or a clean computer? 3 bottles of beer or a clean computer? Difficult decision.), it would make a big difference. And it will save you at least that much, if not more, on buying spurious/dodgy software like MacShiny. As I feel the need to apologise to the younger generation, for the mess us oldies have left this planet in, I felt obliged to donate. There is not much software in this world, that I can honestly recommend, but at least check this one out, at https://etrecheck.com/index

However, if you would like to run Windows software, seamlessly and simultaneously on a Mac, then VMWare Fusion is definitely worth looking at. The best £52 (now £61.96) I've spent on software, and I just upgraded from v4.0 to v8.5, for £38.95 incl. VAT. http://store.vmware.com/DRHM/store?Action=DisplayProductDetailsPage&SiteID=vmwde &Locale=en_GB&productID=323416600

If I never see another PC, ever again, it will come a day too soon.

Adieu mes amis et bonne chance!

View in context

16 replies

May 7, 2016 12:17 PM in response to simonchoe

If you attempted to remove them by dragging them to the Trash then you in fact left behind a whole bunch of bits and pieces that they put into your operating system and that is what is showing up in the EtreCheck report.

The only way to properly remove them is to use the uninstall procedures written by the developer. It is the only way to find all of those bits and pieces they stick all over your system.

Frequently it is necessary to reinstall again and then uninstall them properly.

If that does not work to get rid of them completely then you might have to erase the disk drive and start all over again.

MacShiny experience anyone?