MacKeeper auto-downloaded via Chrome

Hi..

It's invasive and hard to remove from a hard drive and some files may not turn up from Spotlight search.

Click here > Do not install MacKeeper

Then look for: "Further opinion on it and how to uninstall MacKeeper malware can be read here:"

Some users backup their important data then restore the disk to factory settings.

laschak wrote:

So I clicked on a Facebook link resulting in something called MacKeeper automatically dowloaded onto my computer. ...

So it didn't automatically download... you clicked on it to start the download.

Yes you fell for one of the fake links on Facebook designed to harvest your personal information and install adware.

Hello laschak,

Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that if you didn't install MacKeeper, then you are fine. The uninstall instructions you referenced are actually out of date. MacKeeper finally did add a functional uninstaller.

Now for the bad news... Those uninstallation instructions are from 2011. MacKeeper was certainly the boogeyman back then, but MacKeeper is quite tame in comparison to modern adware. In short, things have gotten much, much worse.

I wrote a little diagnostic program to help show what is running on your Mac from all of those hidden directories. Download EtreCheck from http://www.etrecheck.com, run it, and paste the results here. EtreCheck is perfectly safe to run, does not ask for your password to install, and is signed with my Apple Developer ID. You can even use EtreCheck to delete most (but not all) adware/malware currently in circulation.

Disclaimer: Although EtreCheck is free, there are other links on my site that could give me some form of compensation, financial or otherwise.

MacKeeper does not install itself automatically. Even if you authorized its installation, MacKeeper is very easy to uninstall with no ill effect. Not all such garbage is as easily deleted.

Installing and subsequently using MacKeeper to alter one's system is a different story altogether. From what you describe, you did not do that.

It is very common to find copies of the MacKeeper installation package on people's Macs, often multiple copies of it. Merely visiting a web page containing interest-based targeted advertisements can cause that to occur. Most of those websites are associated with prurient interests. So-called "news" sites are among them.

If you did not actually install MacKeeper, there is no reason for concern. Just drag the installer package or .dmg file to the Trash. No other actions are required, or justified.

No. You do not want to install an anti-virus package on your Mac.

They are all scams which offer no additional protection. All they do is cause problems.

I strongly recommend against doing that.

Non-Apple "anti-virus" products serve no beneficial purpose, and relying upon them will leave your Mac more vulnerable to unauthorized modifications and malicious tampering. Install no such product. Read Effective defenses against malware and other threats.

Currently the findings enthuse forums are the assorted lineup of Mac Anti Virus products should be avoided as they have been documented as causing stability issues and performance issues.

On that note Malwarebytes and Etrecheck are not anti-virus nor do they behave like any TSR anti-virus.

Malwarebyes removes existing malware if found (it does not actively protect you against getting infected) You should of course read these forums and decide for yourself if any recommended product is safe and effective but you may find the better portion of us use these two applications and recommend them to users having issues or looking for advice on detection (etrechek, malwarebytes) and removal (malwarebytes) of adware or an assortment of system issues and incompatibilities (etrecheck)

At this time no credible securities lab has found a mac "virus" that exists outside of the labs that develop them for testing or investigate their existence on the wild. However Mac malware, adware and crapware do exist, Apple recommends your best protection outside of developing smart and safe browsing habits is to keep your Mac up-to-date with the most recent OS and security updates.