Controversy about MacKeeper has been round nearly so long as MacKeeper has existed. It is likely one of the most aggressively-marketed merchandise within the Mac world, and there are quite a few accusations that it isn’t helpful and even that it’s fraudulent. On the similar time, you’ll find numerous constructive critiques on the market. How have you learnt what’s true? On this article, I’ll make the case that MacKeeper, and the corporate behind it (ZeoBIT/Kromtech), are to not be trusted.
First, a little bit historical past. MacKeeper first caught my consideration in 2011, when ZeoBIT arrange a faux ClamXav web site. (The actual ClamXav web site is clamxav.com, whereas the faux web site arrange by ZeoBIT was clamxav.org. At proper is a screenshot of the unique clamxav.org web site, pulled from the Web Archive Wayback Machine.)
This faux ClamXav web site included an summary of ClamXav, making it sound just like the web page was an official ClamXav web page, but on the backside, the inexperienced Obtain button would take the consumer to the MacKeeper web site. This endured for a while, till ultimately the tide of public opinion precipitated ZeoBIT to vary the location. They obfuscated their possession of the location, utilizing the WhoisGuard service, and adjusted the content material.
There is no such thing as a proof at this time that ZeoBIT (aka Kromtech) nonetheless owns the clamxav.org area. That area’s possession continues to be hidden behind the WhoisGuard service. Nevertheless, it’s most likely not coincidence that the clamxav.org, mackeeper.com, zeobit.com and kromtech.internet websites all are registered with eNom, Inc.
Round that point, I wrote an article titled Beware MacKeeper. Quickly after, I used to be contacted by a ZeoBIT consultant named Mike Clark, providing to pay me for some unnamed consulting work, and giving a proof for the unethical promoting that I’d hear many occasions over the intervening years: an affiliate was in charge. As he instructed me on the time, “We pay a 50% affiliate fee and typically our associates go wild and have a lapse in judgement with the best way Mackeeper is promoted.”
In March of 2012, a colleague of mine (Derek Currie) noticed lots of of faux MacKeeper critiques being posted on VersionTracker and MacUpdate. This went on for a while earlier than it lastly stopped. It’s nonetheless unclear whether or not this was the results of astroturfing (ie, posting of faux critiques underneath quite a few faux aliases) or whether or not it was brought on by a rumored ZeoBIT rewards program providing free upgrades in change for critiques. After all, these are each unethical, so it doesn’t actually matter a lot which was the trigger.
This 12 months has seen two separate class motion lawsuits filed towards ZeoBIT, alleging fraud. The primary was filed by Gregory Ward of Chicago, claiming that, “ZeoBIT makes use of a standard misleading scheme to trick customers into buying its MacKeeper software program, which finally fails to ship the utility ZeoBIT guarantees.” The second was filed by Holly Yencha, of Pennsylvania, towards ZeoBIT, in search of a sum of $5 million.
Extra not too long ago, MacKeeper adverts have been the bane of the Mac world, being one of the crucial distinguished adverts displayed by adware that sneaks onto folks’s techniques. Because the creator of a utility designed to assist take away adware, referred to as AdwareMedic, I’ve seen numerous complaints from folks about having MacKeeper pop-ups brought on by varied adware applications. I’ve really seen these adverts myself in testing adware. Seeing uninvited MacKeeper adverts has nearly change into synonymous with being contaminated with adware within the Mac neighborhood. (For instance, see the outcomes of a seek for “MacKeeper adverts” on Apple’s dialogue boards.)
A few of these adverts have been extraordinarily unethical. For instance, one explicit piece of adware was not too long ago recognized to change the Obtain hyperlink on the AdwareMedic web site to redirect to the MacKeeper web site. (This affected machines that had been already contaminated with the Downlite adware, and didn’t contain a compromise of the AdwareMedic web site itself.)
Most not too long ago, it has come to my consideration that MacKeeper has come full circle, and is repeating the habits that initially introduced them to my consideration: utilizing a faux web site for promoting. The malwarebytesmac.org web site at present is nothing greater than an advert for MacKeeper, making it seem that it’s affiliated with the Malwarebytes anti-virus software program, discovered at malwarebytes.org. (Notice the slight distinction within the domains!)
Sadly, I’m positive that we’re due of a recurrence of the identical outdated excuse: an affiliate did it! The malwarebytesmac.org web site’s registration can’t be traced to ZeoBIT or Kromtech. It’s registered to somebody named Robert Burke, at an tackle in China, by means of a registrar named Hichina Zhicheng Expertise Restricted. The e-mail tackle given for Mr. Burke is at present sunymore@126.com.
Taking a look at a historical past of the area, it appears to be like like Mr. Burke has not too long ago up to date the area info, altering from a US-based location:
Registrant Group:Robert Burke
Registrant Avenue: 2658 Higher Avenue
Registrant Metropolis:Kansas Metropolis
Registrant State/Province:KS
Registrant Postal Code:66215
Registrant Nation:US
Registrant Cellphone:+1.9132847547
Registrant Cellphone Ext:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant E mail:wiseshare@yahoo.comIt’s definitely potential – even possible – that Mr. Burke is solely a MacKeeper affiliate, and never in any means employed by ZeoBIT or Krometch. This fraud could also be completely the fault of Mr. Burke, and never the direct results of ZeoBIT’s actions. Nevertheless, in the most effective case situation from ZeoBIT’s viewpoint, there’s an ongoing major problem with their associates program that’s permitting and inspiring these sorts of fraudulent adverts to proceed to be perpetuated through the years.
The software program
In addition to the continued unethical behaviors of ZeoBIT/Krometch, what are the advantages of the MacKeeper software program itself? Briefly, there are none. The quite a few “important” points that it’ll establish on even a brand-new, out-of-the-box Mac, should not actual. That is merely a scare tactic to encourage customers to buy the software program whereas evaluating the trial model.
Few of the features of MacKeeper are worthwhile. Of these which are, they are often achieved higher by free or cheaper software program. One of the vital vital options of MacKeeper – the anti-virus safety – isn’t really a part of MacKeeper in any respect. ZeoBIT has merely licensed the Avira anti-virus engine to be used by MacKeeper, so you possibly can receive the identical safety by merely downloading the Avira’s free anti-virus software program. (Not that I essentially suggest doing that, thoughts you! See my Mac Malware Information for suggestions alongside these traces.)
Worse, some folks have reported that their techniques have been broken to the purpose of needing to be reinstalled by MacKeeper. Many individuals additionally report that MacKeeper has had a damaging influence on their system’s efficiency.
Some folks do swear by MacKeeper, claiming that it has helped them maintain their techniques clear and operating nicely. Nevertheless, such claims are by no means backed up with concrete info, corresponding to goal efficiency comparability information collected pre- and post-MacKeeper, and can’t be relied on given the historical past of faux critiques.
Conclusion
The underside line is that MacKeeper shouldn’t be used. The corporate behind it has proven an extended historical past of unethical habits, and the software program isn’t worthwhile. When you’ve got it put in, you must take away it instantly.
In case you are affected by MacKeeper adverts or redirects popping up on websites the place they need to not seem, my AdwareMedic app ought to show you how to clear up that drawback. In case you are prevented from accessing the AdwareMedic web site, flip off JavaScript in your net browser or restart the pc in protected mode to obtain the app, or obtain it on one other pc, or attempt the guide elimination directions in my Adware Removing Information.
