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Advanced Mac Cleaner is a fake Mac OS optimizer that claims to be able to fix, clean and enhance computer’s performance. It also says it can remove viruses from one’s computer. However, the tool is hardly useful and most likely displays false positive scan results just to scare the user and force one to pay for its license. What is even worse, victims who installed this potentially unwanted application (PUA) have reported that the software is being promoted via “Your Mac is heavily infected” or “Your system contains (3) viruses” or “Update Java” scam campaigns.
After installing this program, you will notice that it will imitate a fake scan and serves results that are scary at the first sight. Advanced Mac Cleaner virus will provide thousands of “issues” that you need to fix. However, shortly after you will understand that the recommended “free” software version won’t do no good as it is unable to solve these issues. To repair detected problems, you will be asked to purchase “full” software version.
We do not recommend you to fall for this scam as this program hardly detects any real results. Besides, ways that it is promoted cannot be called neither honest, nor respect-worthy.
The actors behind this scam intriduce Advanced Mac Cleaner as “state of art technology” which was coded with a “combined industry experience of 32 years.” Well, if you ask our opinion, it seems that all these years were wasted, as the program hardly does any good. To prove our argument, you can see this application’s detection rate (meaning how many legitimate antivirus or anti-malware programs detect it as potentially unwanted or malicious) – see VirusTotal results here.
For reasons listed above, we recommend you to remove Advanced Mac Cleaner virus immediately. We suggest using INTEGO for Mac, as it is one of the most robust programs to deal with Mac malware.
Name | Advanced Mac Cleaner virus |
Type | Potentially unwanted application, Mac malware |
Associated files | MacCleaner.pkg |
Damage | Intentionally slows down Mac, displays notifications and pop-ups, urges to purchase its full version to fix detected “issues” |
Distribution | Deceptive ad campaigns, software bundling |
Privacy-related concerns | Might collect browsing-related information, display ads, cause redirects to untrustworthy websites |
Removal | Remove Advanced Mac Cleaner professionally using INTEGO. |
Remove using INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Mac (includes scanning for iOS devices). The one-of-a-kind security suite provides VirusBarrier X9 real-time protection against Mac and Windows-based malware, removes existing threats and scans for malware in popular e-mail clients. Includes NetBarrier X9, an intelligent firewall for home, work and public connections.
The amount of Mac-aimed potentially unwanted applications has risen in these past few years. Examples like Search Marquis, Mac Auto Fixer, or Mac Cleanup Pro all are known for their false claims and hardly useful functionality.
Mac-related spyware and malware is usually distributed via deceptive online ads or software bundles. In case of Advanced Mac Cleaner, there are numerous cases in various online forums where victims discuss installing this program via fake “Your Mac is heavily damaged! (33.2%)” ads. One of such deceptive ads is shown below. Please pay attention that the ad says the virus removal phase is “free” while it is not.
For your information, websites cannot scan your computer. Only software downloaded to your computer can. That said, do not trust shady and lengthy domains claiming your computer is heavily infected.
Another method used to distribute this shady software is called software bundling. In such case, freeware downloaded from online sources contains suggestions to install “recommended” software alongside it. Such statements are often presented in a way not to caught user’s eye, and are auto-selected. If the user fails to notice them and deselect such proposals, the additional software gets installed on the system as well. To avoid installing unwanted extras, we suggest being attentive during software installation, and get download links from trustworthy sources only.
Final distribution method we’d like to mention is fake online ads suggesting to install software updates. Again, websites can’t access anything in your computer, nor they can see the software version you’re using. The majority of such deceptive scam offer Java updates. However, practice shows that these fake updates carry various forms of spyware or malware.
Persistent spyware is never easy to remove, and that is why we normally recommend using professional anti-malware software to do this. On Mac, we highly recommend investing in INTEGO, which can protect your computer from various threats as well. Run a system scan and remove Advanced Mac Cleaner virus with ease.
You can also find detailed Advanced Mac Cleaner removal instructions down below. Follow them carefully to eliminate all components of unwanted program to prevent it from coming back to your computer system.
If you’re determined to delete this software manually, we recommend looking for these components that are known to be related to it:
OUR GEEKS RECOMMEND
Keep your Mac virus-free with INTEGO, an exceptional antivirus with an option to scan other iOS devices. The VirusBarrier X9 offers 24/7 real-time protection against Mac and Windows malware, includes intelligent firewall (NetBarrier X9) for protecting your incoming/outgoing connections at home, work or public hotspots and more.
INTEGO antivirus is one of the leading security products for Mac that includes VirusBarrier X9 and NetBarrier X9 features allowing detection of viruses, ransomware, adware, browser hijackers, Trojans, backdoors and other threats and blocks suspicious network connections. If any detections are found, the software will eliminate them. Learn more about the software's features in its full review.
GeeksAdvice.com editors select recommended products based on their effectiveness. We may earn a commission from affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
Advanced Mac Cleaner Removal Tutorial
To remove the unwanted program from your Mac, use these instructions below to uninstall associated applications from your Mac computer. Then scroll down for instructions how to clean each affected web browser individually.
Remove Advanced Mac Cleaner from Mac
Remove using INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Mac (includes scanning for iOS devices). The one-of-a-kind security suite provides VirusBarrier X9 real-time protection against Mac and Windows-based malware, removes existing threats and scans for malware in popular e-mail clients. Includes NetBarrier X9, an intelligent firewall for home, work and public connections.
Remove Advanced Mac Cleaner from Safari
Uninstall suspicious Safari extensions
Change Safari Homepage and default search engine
Remove push notifications on Safari
Some suspicious websites can try to corrupt your Safari by asking to enable push notifications. If you have accidentally agreed, your browser will be flooded with various intrusive advertisements and pop-ups. You can get rid of them by following this quick guide:
Reset Safari
Remove Advanced Mac Cleaner from Google Chrome
Remove suspicious Chrome extensions
Change Start Page settings
Change default search settings
Remove push notifications from Chrome
If you want to get rid of the annoying ads and so-called push-notifications viruses, you must identify their components and clean your browser. You can easily remove ads from Chrome by following these steps:
Reset Google Chrome browser
Remove Advanced Mac Cleaner from Mozilla Firefox
Remove unwanted add-ons from Firefox
Change Firefox Homepage
Alter preferences in Firefox
Remove annoying push notifications from Firefox
Suspicious sites that ask to enable push notifications gain access to Mozilla's settings and can deliver intrusive advertisements when browsing the Internet. Therefore, you should remove access to your browser by following these simple steps:
Reset Mozilla Firefox
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Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.
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