MacKeeper Reviews

[HadEnuff]

Some time ago, a little icon appeared on my Mac screen, advising me that "MacKeeper recommends a scan", or something like that.

I have no memory of purchasing or downloading a program called "MacKeeper"..

I did some research, and it is evidently a legitimate product, as opposed to a total scam. I backed everything up, and hit the scan, and it does a scan, then hooks you up to a "Mac certified 'specialist'", and prompts you eventually to make a purchase of their product. Of course, my situation, according to their scan is "serious"...

When I asked how their product came to be on my computer in the first place I was told that it was probably included (without my knowledge) with some other software I downloaded.

I probably could benefit from a good service that would scan for junk, and keep my machine running well, but I'm irritated by this sales approach.

Anyone have recommendations?

Thanks,

 

[braumeister]

It's legitimate software but probably unnecessary. The problem (aside from their aggressive marketing tactics) is that it can be very hard to remove once it's on your machine. This site will help you with that:
https://www.imore.com/removing-mackeeper-your-mac

If I were you, I would just get rid of it and rely on Malwarebytes.

 

[ERD50]

...

When I asked how their product came to be on my computer in the first place I was told that it was probably included (without my knowledge) with some other software I downloaded.

That's a bright RED FLAG for me! If it was included without you knowing, how do you know it is the REAL MacKeeper? It could be malware impersonating as MacKeeper.

Remove it. Never run something w/o knowing that it is part of the system or something you loaded from a known trusted source.

-ERD50

 

[audreyh1]

Some time ago, a little icon appeared on my Mac screen, advising me that "MacKeeper recommends a scan", or something like that.

I have no memory of purchasing or downloading a program called "MacKeeper"..

I did some research, and it is evidently a legitimate product, as opposed to a total scam. I backed everything up, and hit the scan, and it does a scan, then hooks you up to a "Mac certified 'specialist'", and prompts you eventually to make a purchase of their product. Of course, my situation, according to their scan is "serious"...

When I asked how their product came to be on my computer in the first place I was told that it was probably included (without my knowledge) with some other software I downloaded.

I probably could benefit from a good service that would scan for junk, and keep my machine running well, but I'm irritated by this sales approach.

Anyone have recommendations?

Thanks,

Huh? No, that’s malware - an invitation to download a virus. Exit the browser without clicking on any page. Use force quit if necessary.

Oh, no - you called them? You didn’t give them access to your computer, did you?

OK - I might be confusing it with one of the other pop up in browser Malware programs like MacDefender that tells you viruses have been found, and that you need to click to scan your computer, or something like that. But it sounds like uninvited software anyway - and quite obnoxious and questionable credibility. Found this about getting rid of it. https://www.imore.com/removing-mackeeper-your-mac

 

[Chuckanut]

Get rid of it! It may be MacKeeper. It may be other malware disguising itself as MacKeeper. Anything that loads software onto your computer wihtout your permission is almost by definition malware.

Apple runs a pretty tight ship when it comes to protecting its users from malware.

 

[target2019]

MacKeeper is malware. It infects your browsers.

 

[lucky penny]

Agree with above comments. This happened to me once so I understand how easy it can be to download something without realizing that you may be getting a dubious & unnecessary product. When I took my Mac to the Genius Bar to deal with some problems, the Apple guy spotted it right away & advised me to get rid of it.

 

[HadEnuff]

It's legitimate software but probably unnecessary. The problem (aside from their aggressive marketing tactics) is that it can be very hard to remove once it's on your machine. This site will help you with that:
https://www.imore.com/removing-mackeeper-your-mac

If I were you, I would just get rid of it and rely on Malwarebytes.

I went to the link, and followed the steps. It seems to be gone. Yay!

Thanks for all of the replies.

 

[nash031]

Some time ago, a little icon appeared on my Mac screen, advising me that "MacKeeper recommends a scan", or something like that.



I have no memory of purchasing or downloading a program called "MacKeeper"..



I did some research, and it is evidently a legitimate product, as opposed to a total scam. I backed everything up, and hit the scan, and it does a scan, then hooks you up to a "Mac certified 'specialist'", and prompts you eventually to make a purchase of their product. Of course, my situation, according to their scan is "serious"...



When I asked how their product came to be on my computer in the first place I was told that it was probably included (without my knowledge) with some other software I downloaded.



I probably could benefit from a good service that would scan for junk, and keep my machine running well, but I'm irritated by this sales approach.



Anyone have recommendations?



Thanks,

Run, hide. Remove it from your computer ASAP. It will bog your machine down in no time, and is totally unnecessary with Mac’s resident utilities.

 

[audreyh1]

An unfortunate friend once fell prey to a popup window on her Mac that wouldn't go away. It claimed her computer was compromised and that she needed to take immediate action. She called the number they displayed, and went through their telephone instructions, they then had remote access to her computer. She also gave them her credit card number. At some point she figured out she'd been had, shut off her computer and hung up. Took her Mac to Best Buy to get cleaned up. They told her all she had needed to do was quit the browser. She called the bank to report the credit card and suspected scam and they issued her a new credit card.

We spent several hours trying to get her machine back to where it had been before the Best Buy guys did their supposed clean-up thing and helped restore some things from back ups.

Nasty business.

 

[target2019]

An unfortunate friend once fell prey to a popup window on her Mac that wouldn't go away. It claimed her computer was compromised and that she needed to take immediate action. She called the number they displayed, and went through their telephone instructions, they then had remote access to her computer. She also gave them her credit card number. At some point she figured out she'd been had, shut off her computer and hung up. Took her Mac to Best Buy to get cleaned up. They told her all she had needed to do was quit the browser. She called the bank to report the credit card and suspected scam and they issued her a new credit card.

We spent several hours trying to get her machine back to where it had been before the Best Buy guys did their supposed clean-up thing and helped restore some things from back ups.

Nasty business.

This reads much like my experience with F-I-L in 2016. At the time there was controversy about the product, and complete removal was not well documented.
The Safe Mac » Ongoing MacKeeper fraud
Manual removal was not working, and credit card was being charge, so I used the removal tool mentioned. It did not come back.