MacKeeper

mackeeper

MacKeeper is a utility software suite for macOS . The software distributor, Kromtech Alliance , states that MacKeeper secures, cleans, protects and optimizes a system . The product has received mixed reviews. It has been widely criticized and is difficult to fully uninstall. It is strongly promoted through aggressive advertising and affiliate marketing . MacKeeper faced a class-action lawsuit because the company allegedly deceived users into paying for fixed unneeded. The lawsuit was settled in 2015 for US $ 2 million [1] with noadmission of guilt by the company.

History

As of 2015 , three major versions of MacKeeper had been released. The first beta version, MacKeeper 0.8, was released on 13 May 2010. [2] MacKeeper 1.0 was released on October 26, 2010. [3] MacKeeper 2.0 was released on January 30, 2012 at Macworld – iWorld with an expanded number of utilities related to security, data control, cleaning and optimization. [4] Kromtech Alliance Acquired from MacKeeper Zeobit in April 2013. [5] MacKeeper 3.0 Was released in June 2014 as software as a service with a new “human expert” feature and optimization with OS X Yosemite . [6] [7]

MacKeeper was first developed in 2009 by Zeobit . In April 2013, Zeobit sold MacKeeper to Kromtech Alliance Corp. [5] [8] Kromtech was closely affiliated with Zeobit in Ukraine and hired many former Kiev-based Zeobit employees. [8] In December 2015 security researcher Chris Vickery discovered a public accessible database of 21GB of MacKeeper user data on the internet, exposing the usernames, passwords and other information of over 13 million MacKeeper users. According to Kromtech this was the result of a “server misconfiguration” and the error was “fixed within the hours of discovery”. [9]

Features

MacKeeper integrates Avira anti-malware scanning engine and according to PC World, Avira’s Mac security product is free. [8] [10] The filesystem-level encryption tool can encrypt files or folders with a password. The data recoveryutility allows users to recover unintentionally deleted files. [11] A backup software is also included, which can copy files to a USB flash drive , External HDD or FTP server . The data erasure allowded users to Permanently delete files ALTHOUGH PC World Argues That this feature duplicates the secure empty trash feature formerly built intoOSX . [8] The disk cleaner finds and removes junk files on the hard drive in order to free up space. [12]

Reception

Version 1 and 2

The earlier bundles received the reviews of the software. Macworld gave MacKeeper 3.5 out of 5 stars in August 2010, based on the 0.9.6 build of the program, and found it a reasonable priced set of tools but experienced lagging while switching between tools. [13] MacLife rated it at 2.5 out of 5 and said it was most likely that it would not be useful. [14] AV-Comparatives found that MacKeeper had an excellent ability to detect Mac-based malware . [15]They commented that it was “very good to have a good understanding of security issues, but not ideal for non-expert users who need pre-configured optimal security for their Macs.” [15] OPSWAT awarded the program a Gold Certification for protecting users against anti-phishing attempts and spyware and malware. [16] [17] Zeobit claims that negative attacks were launched against MacKeeper by an unnamed competitor, and that many users were confusing MacKeeper with another application. [18]

Version 3

Reviews of the latest software version has been greatly negative. A May 2015 test by PC World found MacKeeper That APPROBATION the need for extensive corrections are brand new fully patched machines. [8] [19] In December 2015, Business Insider and iMore have suggested to avoid the product and not install it. [20] [21] Top Ten Reviews has removed MacKeeper from its top 10 ranking of the results of the search for malware. 10. [22] A July 2017 AV-TESTThere have been 85.9 percent of the tested malware. [23] [24] MacKeeper has been criticized for being very difficult to uninstall, [21] [25] [21] [26] and a potentially unwanted program . [27] [28] MacWorld argues various reports have erroneously suggested MacKeeper is a scam or at worst malware. [29] Sophos anti-virus vendor reported Mackeeper as 2017’s most prolific unwanted program on the Mac. [30]

Technical Marketing

Multiple reviewers have criticized Zeobit’s marketing and promotional techniques. [31] [32] Kromtech buys upwards of 60 million ad impressions, making it one of the largest buyers of web traffic at Mac users. [8] Zeobit has been accused of employing misleading advertising with regard to its promotion of MacKeeper, including aggressive affiliate marketing , pop-under ads, and planting sockpuppet reviews . [31] [33]Some MacKeeper advertisements pose as online malware scanners claiming to have found malware on a user’s computer and prompting the user to download a removal tool, which is actually the MacKeeper setup wizard. [34] Kromtech has also had issues with affiliate advertisers, attracted by the 50 percent Kromtech country commissions for sales of MacKeeper, who’ve wrapped MacKeeper ads into adware. [8]

Lawsuits

In January 2014 a class action lawsuit was filed against Zeobit in Illinois . [35] The lawsuit asserted that “neither the full trial nor the full version of MacKeeper performed any credible diagnostic testing” and reported that a consumer’s Mac has been in need of repair and has been at-risk due to harmful error. [35] In May 2014 the lawsuit was filed against Zeobit in Pennsylvania , alleging that MacKeeper fakes security problems to deceive victims into paying for fixed taxes. [36] As of May 2015, the case in Pennsylvania is close to being settled. Under the settlement terms, Zeobit would put $ 2 million into a fund for those who want a refund, but admitted no fault. [8]On August 10, 2015, US $ 2 million . [37] Customers who bought MacKeeper before July 8, 2015, can apply to get a refund. [38]

Kromtech aussi filed at least two unsuccessful lawsuits contre it perceives Those are defaming em. In July 2013 Kromtech filed a lawsuit against Macpaw, the developers of CleanMyMac . Kromtech alleged that Macpaw employees created several usernames and posts on several websites defaming the MacKeeper software. [39] The case was dismissed before the hearing. [40] In July 2014, Kromtech filed a lawsuit against David A. Cox alleging that he defamed Kromtech by calling MacKeeper a fraudulent application in a YouTube video. The judge dismissed the case for lack of personal jurisdiction. [41]In July 2016, Kromtech sent a letter to Luqman Wadood, a 14-year old technology reviewer for harassment and slandering the MacKeeper brand in a number of YouTube videos. Luqman claimed the videos were diplomatic. [42]

See also

  • Comparison of antivirus software
  • Comparison of firewalls
  • Internet Security

References

  1. Jump up^ “Settlement – MacKeeper ™” . MacKeeper . Kromtech Corp Alliance . Retrieved 26 December 2017 .
  2. Jump up^ “ZeoBIT LLC MacKeeper Releases 1.0 – 911 for Mac OS – Now With Antivirus” . Zeobit. 27 October 2014 . Retrieved 14 July 2014 .
  3. Jump up^ “Version 1.0” . Kromtech Alliance. October 26, 2010 . Retrieved 31 August 2014 .
  4. Jump up^ “New Version of MacKeeper released at the MacWorld” . iWorld 2012 Expo . Retrieved 2014-07-14 .
  5. ^ Jump up to:a b “Kromtech Alliance Corp. Acquires MacKeeper” . PRWeb. April 15, 2013 . Retrieved 8 July 2014 .
  6. Jump up^ “Version 3.0.3” . 16 June 2014 . Retrieved 31 August 2014 .
  7. Jump up^ “Moving MacKeeper towards the Software-As-A-Service Model” . October 21, 2014. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014 . Retrieved 28 October 2014 .
  8. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h Kirk Jeremy (5 May 2015). “MacKeeper celebrates a difficult birthday under the cloud of a class action lawsuit” . PC World . IDG.
  9. Jump up^ “MacKeeper Security Announcement” . December 14, 2015.
  10. Jump up^ “MacKeeper” . Avira.com. nd . Retrieved 22 September 2014 .
  11. Jump up^ Vacca, John; Rudolph, K (2013). Easttom, Chuck, ed. System Forensics, Investigation and Response (1 ed.). Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 219.ISBN  978-0763791346 .
  12. Jump up^ Parrish, Robin (4 November 2011). “Review: MacKeeper” . Apple Gazette.
  13. Jump up^ Battersby, Jeffery (24 Aug 2010). “MacKeeper 0.9.6” . Macworld. Archived from the original on 2013-03-14.
  14. Jump up^ Berenstain, Adam (23 September 2011). “MacKeeper System Maintenance Suite Review” . MacLife.
  15. ^ Jump up to:a b “Product Review: Mac Security – July 2013” (PDF) . AV-Comparatives. 2013 . Retrieved 12 July 2013 .
  16. Jump up^ “MacKeeper is Awarded with a Gold Certification as a Security Software”. PRWeb. August 20, 2013 . Retrieved 31 August 2014 .
  17. Jump up^ “February Certifications” . OPSWAT. February 14, 2014 . Retrieved 31 August 2014 .
  18. Jump up^ Parrish, Robin (14 November 2011). “EXCLUSIVE: MacKeeper Says” Unethical Competitor Trying to Tarnish Our Reputation ” ” . Apple Gazette. Retrieved 10 July 2014 .
  19. Jump up^ Jeremy Kirk (27 May 2015). “Ads for MacKeeper refunds will run on Facebook” . Computerworld (IDG).
  20. Jump up^ Max Slater-Robins. “Here’s what MacKeeper is – and why you should avoid it” . Business Insider.
  21. ^ Jump up to:a b c Cohen, Peter (2015-01-21). “What ‘MacKeeper’ is and why you should avoid it” . iMore.
  22. Jump up^ “Kromtech MacKeeper Review” . Purch Group . Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  23. Jump up^ “10 Antivirus Suites for Sierra MacOS Put to the Test” . AV-TEST. 2017-07-05.
  24. Jump up^ Pearl, Luca (2017-07-19). “Die besten Virenscanner für Mac-Rechner”(in German). Computerworld.
  25. Jump up^ Honorof, Marshall (2015-10-23). “How to Get Rid of MacKeeper” . Tom’s Guide.
  26. Jump up^ Breen, Christopher (2017-02-14). “How to uninstall MacKeeper from your Mac” .
  27. Jump up^ Murnane, Kevin (2017-03-20). “MacOS Is Not As Secure As Many People Believe” . www.forbes.com . Forbes . Retrieved 11 November 2017 .
  28. Jump up^ Withers, Stephen (2017-11-03). “2018 Malware outlook: more of the same, says Sophos” . www.itwire.com . iTWire . Retrieved 11 November 2017 .
  29. Jump up^ Haslam, Karen (2017-08-31). “Do Macs get viruses, and do Macs need antivirus software?” . MacWorld . Retrieved 2017-11-12 .
  30. Jump up^ SophosLabs 2018 Malware Forecast (PDF) , Sophos Ltd, p. 19 , retrieved 2017-11-08
  31. ^ Jump up to:a b Kahney, Leander (30 May 2012). “Is MacKeeper Really A Scam?” . Cult of Mac.
  32. Jump up^ “MacKeeper Review – Should You Install This Mac Utility Software?” . Lure of Mac . Lure of Mac . Retrieved 12 July 2014 .
  33. Jump up^ “MacKeeper, a rather slimy tale” . TheMacFeed. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013 . Retrieved 29 May 2013 .
  34. Jump up^ “A multi-purpose fake online scanner” . Malwarebytes . Retrieved 22 June 2017 .
  35. ^ Jump up to:a b Bouboushian Jack (January 21, 2014). “Class Says’ MacKeeper, Software is Junkware” . Courthouse News Service.
  36. Jump up^ Lord, Rich. “Pennsylvania woman sues company that promised computer security” . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved 12 May 2014 .
  37. Jump up^ Clover, Juli. “Customers Who Bought MacKeeper Can Get A Refund Under New Settlement” . Retrieved 2015-08-10 .
  38. Jump up^ “Yencha v. ZeoBIT LLC Class Action Settlement” . Yencha c. ZeoBIT LLC . August 7, 2015 . Retrieved 10 August 2015 .
  39. Jump up^ Barnett, Kyle (4 Sep 2014). “Apple anti-virus software creators face off in defamation lawsuit” . Louisiana Record.
  40. Jump up^ Tennant, Don (28 May 2015). “MacKeeper’s Tarnished Reputation Tip: Convey Your Message, or Others Will Do It for You” . IT Business Edge . Retrieved 13 November 2015 .
  41. Jump up^ “ORDER AND REASONS granting 8 Motion to Dismiss TalkAmerica Tech, LLC for Kromtech of USA, LLC v. Cox et al :: Justia Dockets & Filings” . Justia. nd . Retrieved 13 November 2015 .
  42. Jump up^ Kallelid, Magnus (23 July 2016). “14-åring fra Madla ble truet av amerikansk dataselskap” [14-year-old from Madla US (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad . Retrieved 24 July 2016 .

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