MacKeeper ads: what it is and how to remove it
MacKeeper is the program that has not so positive reputation online due to intrusive advertising campaigns and PUPs associated to this name of software. It should be a useful system optimizer with security and AV engine features but adware creators abuse the name and inject PUPs on websites you visit, so revenue can get generated and the shady program installed without your permission.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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MacKeeper ads: summary
| Name | MacKeeper |
|---|---|
| Classification | System tools |
| Compatibility | The PUP and all the issues regarding the application occurs on macOS devices only |
| Danger level | Not dangerous. It's a legitimate Mac optimization tool that does not implement malicious activities on the system. |
| Issues | Users complain that redirects constantly promote the program and trigger pop-ups, banners, other material with shady content that leads to suspicious or even insecure sites on the internet |
| Why is it called a virus? | Some people claim it a virus due to irritating pop-up ads and issues regarding the fake software installs. The legitimate program shouldn't create any issues with your device |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 12 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Push-notification spam site |
| Symptoms | Notification spam from a website |
| Evidence | 7 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | apple.com |
| Ads shown as | Desktop notifications |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| Installed on the PC | Nothing; a browser notification permission only |
| First seen | 7 March 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What the MacKeeper ads ads look like
As we move forward in this next chapter, one of our main focuses is to change the way MacKeeper™ is advertised and marketed: we've improved our advertising to offer useful and helpful information; we've revised the language used during our software installation process to make it the best customer experience possible; and in the coming months we will be donating much of our extra advertising space to non-profit organizations and worthy causes. We want to earn the trust and customer loyalty that MacKeeper™ deserves.
Is MacKeeper ads dangerous?
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
MacKeeper – the program that should provide useful features and improve the performance of macOS devices
MacKeeper is the program that has not so positive reputation online due to intrusive advertising campaigns and PUPs associated to this name of software.
It should be a useful system optimizer with security and AV engine features but adware creators abuse the name and inject PUPs on websites you visit, so revenue can get generated and the shady program installed without your permission.
If you see pop-ups, banners, redirects, and other material on the screen that is keeping you from accessing normal content, surfing common sites, the PUP is most likely running on the machine.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Some people claim MacKeeper is a virus due to irritating pop-up ads and issues regarding the fake software installs.
This suspicious App is promoted as a Mac maintenance and optimization tool.
Its developers claim that it's a number one selection of millions of Mac users due to powerful scan engine, 24/7 support service, and other advantages. However, when looking at its reviews online, users' opinions divide into two groups.
A part of users claim it to be one of the best optimization tools used ever; the others consider it to be a virus due to advertisements and pop-up ads. However, it's a fact that MacKeeper is NOT a virus, and it can't perform illegal activities on the user's PC.
MacKeeper has been launched in 2010 by ZeoBIT, LLC. In 2013, the software was sold to Kromtech Alliance Corp. The previous company, ZeoBIT, used aggressive marketing strategies to promote the software, which consequently earned a bad reputation for the product. As a result, the company was sued for using deceptive tactics to convince users to purchase the full version of the software.
According to AppleInsider , the company didn't admit its fault but agreed to settle the lawsuit for $2 million instead of going to trial. The indicated amount of money was put into a fund to cover expenses of attorney fees, refunds to users, and administrative costs.
Therefore, users who purchased the software prior to July 8, 2015, were eligible for a full refund. However, those willing to fill a claim had to do it before November 30, 2015.
The current owner of the program is Kromtech Alliance, and the company has significantly lowered the program's campaigns. Although you can still run into MacKeeper pop-ups while browsing the Internet, they are not aggressive as they used to be when the product was owned by ZeoBIT. The current company that develops and controls the product (Kromtech) states :
Such statements really do sound promising. Although it takes a lot of time to rebuild user trust, it seems that the company is taking small steps towards this goal. We can already see fewer complaints about MacKeeper ads in online forums.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
The reputation of the software is still not ideal - to be improved in the future
The latest version of the tool receives few negative reports, meaning that the company has already done much to get rid of erratic advertising campaigns and other traits disapproved by Mac users.
However, some of the user reviews give the impression that there is a lot of space for improvement, especially when talking about earlier versions. A popular discussion on Reddit shows that users are still looking for an answer on how to get rid of MacKeeper pop-up.
Besides, we have noticed that some ad networks are still showing MacKeeper ads promoting the software. Usually, after entering the website, it displays a pop-up saying "Please consider cleaning your Mac from junk."
While the promotional website is not annoying or aggressive at all, it contains one promotional line that can be quite confusing: at the top of the page, there is an image saying that MacKeeper is the "#1 System Utility for MAC in the World."
However, at the bottom of the page there is a line that clarifies the statement, saying that it is "solely subjective opinion" of the software developers and "is used purely for advertising and promotional purposes."
However, we have also come across websites such as www[.]apple.com-security.help/mackeeper that advertise the product in a much worse way. The detected site claims that "Your system is infected with 3 viruses!" and suggests that "personal and banking information are at risk."
Consequently, the site suggests to "remove viruses now," and clicking the button downloads MacKeeper to user's computer. However, we couldn't find any statements explaining how the web page detected "2 malware and 1 phishing/spyware" on our computer, which seemed suspicious and not really convincing to install the Mac maintenance product.
We hope that such advertising techniques will be replaced with different ones soon - in our opinion, it isn't the best way to advertise a software when trying to earn users' trust. While writing this article, we have downloaded the installer of the said program and uploaded it to VirusTotal file-scanning engine.
The results showed that 8 out of 58 computer scanners identify this file differently - some of them recognize it as a potentially unwanted program, while others mark it as riskware.
However, the rest of scanners identify it as clean file, and we believe that if the new owners of the software continue to update the product, the detection ratio will drop to zero. In case you no longer want to keep the described program, you can find easy MacKeeper removal guidelines below the article.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
The old version of MacKeeper: reasons why users didn't like it
Mac users who have been tricked into installing the older version of this program didn't seem to be too happy about it.
Although the previous MacKeeper version was also presented as an optimization program that can improve computer's performance, many people reported it for not initiating significant changes that would boost Mac's performance.
The most annoying thing, according to users, is that it displays ads and keeps opening Chrome automatically. Despite the fact that some people may consider such activities malicious, MacKeeper advertising campaigns are more intrusive than destructive.
In many cases, MacKeeper optimizer appears not to be guilty for the ads that people receive. The culprit may be related to the adware-type programs that people may install bundled with freeware, so checking the system for ad-supported applications is a must before judging a particular program that is advertised via the pop-ups.
In a nutshell, MacKeeper is not a virus. The latest version of the software presented by Kromtech can turn out to be extremely useful for improving Mac's performance.
The security experts used to rank the previous version as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and recommended users to remove MacKeeper from their computers without a doubt.
That cannot be said about the version, however, if you feel that it does not meet your expectations, you can easily uninstall it the way regular computer programs are uninstalled (via Control Panel).
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on MacKeeper
- If you are not satisfied with this tool, you can eliminate it manually or with the help of antimalware tools that can find, detect and remove MacKeeper alongside other related files or apps
- Since this program can alter some settings on the machine and damaged files in the system, you should recover virus damage using a tool similar to
How MacKeeper ads got into your browser
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
The only place to download the current and legitimate version of MacKeeper is its official website and verified distributors' webpages.
We must remind you that attempts to install the paid license versions for free using software cracks or keygens can not only result in accusations of copyright infringement but a serious malware infection as well.
You must know that cracks are often filled with malicious software such as Trojans that can spy on your activity. Even though MacKeeper is mainly associated with potentially unwanted programs, symptoms resembling adware or hijackers, you need to take malware infiltration possibility into consideration.
You may encounter advertisements in places that typically do not have any commercial content or redirects to additional sites with different offers, deals, software promotions. These are common unwanted programs symptoms, so you should take care of these installations that happen behind your back. You need to remove MacKeeper if it managed to install itself without your knowledge.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
apple.com
How to remove MacKeeper ads
How to stop MacKeeper notifications
Do this in every browser you use, and in every profile inside it: each keeps its own list of sites allowed to send notifications.
Nothing has to be uninstalled for the notifications themselves.
Which browser shows the ads?
Step 1: Remove apple.com from Chrome's notification list
Open More (the three dots) > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications, or paste
chrome://settings/content/notificationsinto the address bar.Under Allowed to send notifications, open the menu next to
apple.comand choose Remove or Block, and do the same for any other address you do not recognise.Next to Not allowed to send notifications, click Add and enter apple.com, so the site cannot ask again. The menus are the same in Chrome on Windows 11 and Windows 10, and each Chrome profile keeps its own list.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Google Chrome
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Step 1: Remove apple.com from Edge's notification list
Edge stores its own permission list, separate from Chrome's, and it is often the browser behind these pop-ups on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications, or paste
edge://settings/content/notifications. Removeapple.comfrom Allowed, then add it under Not allowed to send notifications. Notifications that show the Edge logo come from this list.
Edge on Windows 11: Site permissions > All permissions > Notifications. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Microsoft Edge
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Step 1: Remove apple.com from Firefox's notification permissions
In Firefox the permission sits in Settings > Permissions and data > Notifications (in older versions Privacy & Security > Notifications > Settings). Select
apple.comin the list, click Remove Website, and confirm with Save Changes.Firefox only shows these notifications while it is open, so if they stopped after closing Firefox, this is the browser to clean. The steps are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Firefox on Windows 11: the Notification Permissions window. Full procedure with screenshots: Stop website notifications and pop-ups
Instructions for Mozilla Firefox
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Our tested steps are for Windows 11 and 10. For Safari (Mac), use the instructions below.
Instructions for Safari (Mac)
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
To remove MacKeeper, go to the Applications folder and drag the unwanted program to Trash. Please look at screenshots provided below to perform the task correctly.
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Then, whichever browser you use
Step 2: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
Most people who only saw the notifications can skip this step. If a notification or the page it opened made you download or run a file, delete the file and run a full scan, then a Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
In Windows 11 and Windows 10 open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts and the scan takes about 15 minutes, so save your work first.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
More removal instructions
For programs installed on the PC and older browsers. Open the one you need.
Tips to keep your computer spyware-free
If you are looking for a Mac maintenance program, you might consider using a highly-promoted application.
Various tools may offer to help you to improve your computer's performance, but make sure that you use the legitimate copy of it.
- Today, macOS can be affected by adware in the same way as Windows. It means that your Mac may get infected with adware right after installing another freeware. Apple products are not immune to malware.
- Therefore, we highly recommend you to be careful when installing software from the Internet. Besides, you should start checking freeware before downloading them on your computer. In order to make sure if your selected program is filled with "optional downloads", you should select the "Advanced" or "Custom" installation option and carefully check every checkbox.
- The most important thing that you have to do is to find the list of 'optional downloads' and unmark all additional programs. In case annoying pop-ups started bothering you, you may need to check your system for adware programs.
Remove MacKeeper easily using the automatic method
If you decided that MacKeeper does not meet your expectations and you would like to remove it, you can use simple guidelines prepared by our team.
In fact, the same instructions can be used for the removal of any other legitimate Mac app. Simply be careful when removing it, and it won't bother you again.
MacKeeper virus is not the correct term, but intrusive and annoying features create many questions, so you should find out is the extensions harmful or not. You can do that by running the anti-malware tool that determines particular files, applications, or tools that are potentially dangerous.
Once that is done and you can see what are the risks, you can rely on the same AV tool or different program and perform the automatic MacKeeper removal if needed. Another method is to uninstall the program, clean cache, downloads, trash, update to the newer software. Some of these steps can fix those issues with intrusive pop-ups and commercial material.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about MacKeeper ads
Why do I get notifications from apple.com when the browser is closed?
Chrome and Edge can keep a small part running in the background so that sites can deliver notifications, and Windows shows them in its notification area. That is why messages from apple.com keep arriving with no browser window open.
The permission to send them was granted when someone clicked Allow on a prompt from that site, often disguised as a robot check or a video player. Closing the browser does not remove it; only the notification settings do.
Remove apple.com from the allowed sites and the background messages stop. You can also stop the browser from running in the background in its system settings, but the permission is the real fix.
The apple.com notification said my PC is infected. Is it true?
No. Notifications from apple.com are adverts written to look like system messages. A website cannot scan your files, so it has no way to know whether your PC is infected; it shows the same warning to everyone who allowed its notifications. Real Windows Security messages name Windows Security in the bottom line, not a browser and a website.
If you want to be sure, open Windows Security from the Start menu and run a quick scan there. Then remove apple.com from the browser's notification settings so the fake warnings stop arriving. Do not call any number or buy anything the notification or its page suggests.
What is MacKeeper?
MacKeeper is a push-notification spam site, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing desktop notifications, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.
MacKeeper does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.
Why does apple.com keep showing up?
There are two possible reasons. If it appears as desktop notifications, a browser on this PC was given permission to receive them from apple.com, usually through a misleading prompt. That permission stays until you remove it in the browser's site settings.
If it appears as tabs or redirects, an ad on a site you visit is opening it, or an extension or program on the PC is. Test a private window: if apple.com never appears there, an extension is the likely cause. The plan above covers each case.
Do I have to change settings in every browser?
Only in the browsers that allowed apple.com, but checking all of them takes a minute and is worth it. We saw the notifications in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Chrome and Edge keep their notification lists under site settings, and Firefox under Privacy & Security > Permissions.
Remove apple.com and any other unfamiliar site from each list, then turn off new notification requests if you do not need them. Remember that every browser profile has its own list, so a second profile can keep the messages coming after you clean the first.
Are the pop-ups I see really from MacKeeper?
Compare them with the details in the table above. MacKeeper produces desktop notifications, and the clearest sign of it is notifications from apple.com. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.
If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.
Can I turn off the pop-ups in Windows settings instead?
You can hide them, but that is not the fix. In Windows 11, Settings > System > Notifications lets you switch off notifications for a whole browser, which silences the spam together with every useful notification from that browser.
The site keeps its permission and can still send messages when you switch them back on. It is better to remove the specific site in the browser's own notification settings and block new requests. That stops the messages at the source and leaves the rest of your notifications working.
I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?
Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.
Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.
If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.
Can an adware pop-up infect my PC just by appearing?
No. A pop-up, a notification or a new tab is only a web page or a message. It cannot run programs on Windows by itself, provided the browser and Windows are up to date. Infection needs a step from you:
- running a downloaded file
- installing an extension
- giving a stranger remote access
That is why scam pages work so hard to make you click. Close such pages with the tab's X or by closing the browser, not with buttons inside the page, which may start a download.
Will Fortect remove MacKeeper?
No program removes MacKeeper itself, because there is nothing on the PC to remove: the notifications come through a permission saved in the browser, and only the browser's settings take it away, as the steps above show.
What Fortect can do is check the rest of Windows. Its free scan looks for malware, unwanted programs and damaged system files, which is useful if you clicked the ads, downloaded something from the pages they opened, or are not sure what else changed on the PC.
If the scan finds nothing and the notifications stopped after you removed the permission, this problem is solved. Use Microsoft Defender as a second opinion whenever you have downloaded files from pages like these.
Sources
- MacKeeper: MacKeeper official website (controlled by the developer of the software described in the article) (read October 6, 2026)
- Reddit - Mac: Discussion about MacKeeper (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
