I’m sure you have seen several advertisements of a software called MacKeeper all over the Internet. Its developers, called Zeobit (and later on, to KromTech), has an aggressive marketing scheme, which is why you’ve probably seen the ad every time you surfed the web. However, countless users who have installed it soon found out that they got the short end of the stick – the software doesn’t actually “keep” their Mac as advertised. Contrary to its name, it performed the opposite and if you have installed the software, we’re sure you agree. And yes, there are tons of reasons why you need to uninstall MacKeeper.
Anyway, if it is still in the deepest, darkest cesspools of your Macintosh, removing it is a priority. We’ll get to know all about his software later on.
How to Uninstall MacKeeper
We’re sure it’s been asked plenty of times by thousands of Mac users, so it’s no surprise as to why we’re writing this guide. Luckily, the whole process is pretty straightforward nowadays, so you won’t have to deal with heading over to individual folders and dragging certain items into the trash. With that said, here’s a quick and easy way to get rid of it:
Quitting the tool
Unfortunately, your Mac goes crazy when you install MacKeeper, and if you’ve opened the tool, you won’t find an option that closes it. I mean seriously, could it get any worse? Force-quitting (the Mac’s version of CTRL + ALT + DEL), which can be accessed by pressing Command-Option-Escape, may not even work either.
You can’t uninstall the tool if it’s still active on the background, so this phase is pretty important. Anyway, to quit, all you have to do is to launch the app straight from the Applications folder and then close it. It’s pretty simple actually.
Uninstalling MacKeeper
Simply drag the MacKeeper icon straight from the Applications folder and dump it to the Trash (where it belongs!). Depending on your security settings, you computer will then ask for your password. Type it in and press Enter. After this, a window will open and will ask you if you wish to uninstall the rest of it. Click the Uninstall MacKeeper and this should remove most of its files sitting on your hard drive. Oh, and you can ignore the options presented when the software asks “What is the reason for uninstalling?”, given that the “It damages my Mac” option is absent.
Deleting the remnants
However, the whole process isn’t over – the tool will leave some remnants that stubbornly latches on to your Mac like a stubborn pimple. To definitively delete it, simply head over to to your Mac’s Library (which can be accessed through the Finder) and you will find a MacKeeper Helper folder. Inside it is a file named NoticeEngine.plugin, which we believe is used in their aggressive advertising strategy. Drag the whole Folder into the trash and congratulations – your Macintosh is now MacKeeper-free!
Otherwise, just use the Finder or Spotlight to check for files bearing the name of MacKeeper or Zeobit. Delete them all.
After performing the whole process, restart your computer and smile: your Mac is back in business, is faster, and can now work without you having to release sighs of frustration. Otherwise, head over to your local Apple Service Center and enlist the help of the pros.
Why you should avoid it
To uninstall MacKeeper is to experience a breath of fresh air…and avoiding it feels like avoiding the fiery depths of hell.
We’re certain that out of 10 Mac users who visited a service center complained about their Macs being too slow and having problems, one installed MacKeeper. With that said, we’re also sure that technicians and troubleshooters first checked if the tool was installed before heading off to dig up other potential problems. There are two sides to MacKeeper, and these are:
What it’s not
Surprisingly, it’s not virus or any other piece of malware. Yes, it’s a legitimate software, but one that is so horribly-made that the Mac OS X is facing problems. It’s like a sickness, and a hard to cure one at that. Sure, let’s say that on a rare instance, there’s a virus or a piece of malware on your Mac, which prompted you to download the tool.
You will end up regretting the decision: if your Mac had some semblance of stability prior to installing MacKeeper, there wouldn’t be any after installing it.
What it was designed to be
If the MacKeeper were a well-made software, then it would be an awesome security utility and cleanup tool for the Mac. It was designed to automatically blocks malicious websites currently stored within its database. Meanwhile, it also integrated Avira’s Secure Anti-Virus API into its system. There’s also a nifty anti-theft feature which can be used to find lost or stolen computers.
The tool has a data control which helps recover deleted files, particularly ones you might have deleted accidentally. It also has a disk cleaner which frees up junk files to free up space.
On paper, the tool is seemingly a perfect one and if it fit how it was advertised, it would be one of the best Mac utilities available. However, Zeobit and KromTech definitely messed a potentially wonderful software and worse, resorted to unscrupulous marketing techniques and false advertising.
Final thoughts and comments
Again, we reiterate: uninstall MacKeeper now and save yourself the burden of dealing with an unstable Mac.
Note that their advertising and marketing techniques are pretty underhanded and are absolutely the worst: they utilize pop-under ads that could drive gullible Mac users, particularly those who are not well-versed in troubleshooting and fixing their computers’ issues. It’s one thing to present value, and another to frighten your audience. There’s even a case about them posting fake reviews on certain websites. Geez.
Also note that even if the uninstall process is pretty quick, it should only be limited to placing the app on the Trash icon. MacKeeper somehow makes you give out feedback (which you can skip) and leaves out remnant files – something that Apple doesn’t approve of.
Overall, just remember to steer clear of MacKeeper and use other legit tools instead, such as CleanMyMac.
8 Responses to "How to Uninstall MacKeeper…and Why You Should Avoid It"