MacKeeper - Opions please

[Dos_Box]

Just had my yoinger brother on the phone a bit concerned about MacKeeper. I've never used it (or really heard about it) but he was concerned that it may not be 'above board'.

I've done some searching around and am pretty convinced it is a legitimate product by reviews\opinions from MacWord and Cult of Mac etc.

However, these do not seem to be mirrored by Mac users with many bitter complaints about system slowdowns and malware type behavior.

So, my question is this, has ayone here used it and what's you genuine opinon of it?

[mac_shinobi]

Never gone anywhere near that but do use OnyX or at least used to. What was your brother wanting the util / app for ?

 

Anti malware / anti virus / clearing temp files / logs etc or what exactly ?

@Arthur ....

[Arthur]

I wouldn't install MacKeeper on *any* Mac I look after.

 

• www.macupdate.com/app/mac/33710/mackeeper
  
• www.thesafemac.com/ongoing-mackeeper-fraud
  

Besides the ongoing unethical behaviors of ZeoBIT/Krometch, what are the benefits of the MacKeeper software itself? In short, there are none. The numerous “critical” issues that it will identify on even a brand-new, out-of-the-box Mac, are not real. This is simply a scare tactic to encourage users to purchase the software while evaluating the trial version.

 

Few of the functions of MacKeeper are worthwhile. Of those that are, they can be done better by free or cheaper software. One of the most significant features of MacKeeper – the anti-virus protection – isn't actually part of MacKeeper at all. ZeoBIT has simply licensed the Avira anti-virus engine for use by MacKeeper, so you could obtain the same protection by simply downloading the Avira’s free anti-virus software. (Not that I necessarily recommend doing that, mind you! See my Mac Malware Guide for recommendations along those lines.)

 

Worse, some people have reported that their systems have been damaged to the point of needing to be reinstalled by MacKeeper. Many people also report that MacKeeper has had a negative impact on their system’s performance.

 

Some people do swear by MacKeeper, claiming that it has helped them keep their systems clean and running well. However, such claims are never backed up with concrete information, such as objective performance comparison data collected pre- and post-MacKeeper, and cannot be relied on given the history of fake reviews.

 

Conclusion

The bottom line is that MacKeeper should not be used. The company behind it has shown a long history of unethical behavior, and the software isn't worthwhile. If you have it installed, you should remove it immediately.

[ZeroHour]

Yeah sophos is free for mac, set it up to scan on write anything to downloads/email/browser cache and then do a weekly if you want to cover the bases.

[Dos_Box]

Never gone anywhere near that but do use OnyX or at least used to. What was your brother wanting the util / app for ?

 

Anti malware / anti virus / clearing temp files / logs etc or what exactly ?

@Arthur ....

 

I use Sophos too. He installed it recently (not had full story yet) and, according to his phone call this afternoon, uninstalled it recently after someone told him it was 'iffy'.

He's concerned that it leaves behind nasties and other such things.

I'm going to get a look at it on Thursday, but I'm surprised to see the mainstream Mac media and press not having latched onto it if it is problimatical after having reviewed it.

[ZeroHour]

I'm going to get a look at it on Thursday, but I'm surprised to see the mainstream Mac media and press not having latched onto it if it is problimatical after having reviewed it.

 

They did tbh I thought, I was aware of that one being malware/fake a few months ago.

[GrumbleDook]

ClamAVX here, not the most perfect thing, but found that Sophos *really* killed the machine when scanning external drives across USB 2 or 3 (most of mine are, rather than FireWire 800).

[Arthur]

I've done some searching around and am pretty convinced it is a legitimate product by reviews/opinions from MacWorld and Cult of Mac etc.

The app is legitimate in the sense that it isn't technically malware, but unless you are a complete Mac neophyte who doesn't know any better, I can't see a single reason to install it (just like registry cleaners and "tuneup" programs on Windows!).

 

Paying £119.88 per year for MacKeeper would be utter madness considering that everything the app does can be done freely or cheaply using other apps or through existing features built into OS X. The first link below has some examples.

 

• themacschool.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/mackeeper-is-scam.html
  
• soundsupport.biz/2014/08/25/avoid-apps-like-mackeeper-tuneupmymac-and-macbooster
  
• tidbits.com/pipermail/tidbits-talk/2011-May/002188.html
  

He's concerned that it leaves behind nasties and other such things.

No anti-virus software is perfect. What is he concerned about exactly?

 

I'm surprised to see the mainstream Mac media and press not having latched onto it if it is problematical after having reviewed it.

The obvious explanation is that they are being paid to review it. Zeobit used to be a sponsor of MacWorld's iWorld conference so there is clearly a conflict of interest there and I wouldn't exactly call the Cult of Mac review a proper review myself.

Edited November 22, 2014 by Arthur

[mac_shinobi]

ClamAVX here, not the most perfect thing, but found that Sophos *really* killed the machine when scanning external drives across USB 2 or 3 (most of mine are, rather than FireWire 800).

 

Thought it was ClamXAV ( scon / scone etc )

 

http://www.clamxav.com

[Arthur]

Thought it was ClamXAV

It is. ClamAVX is a typo.

Edited November 22, 2014 by Arthur

[GrumbleDook]

It was a tyop! It happens.

[JHatz]

The Safe Mac » MacKeeper - all you need to know about why you don't want to use MacKeeper.

[Dos_Box]

Thanks everyone. There are so many conflicting articles out there I shall be playing it safe for him.

He's already uninstalled it but it looks like I shall have a bit of tidying up to do for him judging my the amount of reminants it leaves behind.

Joy.