MOTUnation.com

I recently installed MacUpdate and was really surprised so much of my software was out of date. Then I started to check in detail and MacUpdate is reporting I need to update to a newer version of apps that are already at the version M.U. claims I need to update to.

I smell a rat!

MacUpdate has been up to a lot of nefarious BS the last year or so. The worst of it is adware infected installers.

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrim ... re-plague/

You can Google this $h|+ 'ti you puke:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/shouldnt-d ... macupdate/

If I were you I'd run this:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/antimalware/mac/
Thomas Reed is definitely one of the good guys, and I can vouch for the safety of his software. I keep it around for my wife, who is more trusting than I, and not as diligent when it comes to clicking through installers.

Thanks. I'm on it like snow!

I first got suspicious of MU in the summer of 2015. I had been following them on Twitter, and instead of them tweeting out update notices or links to notices, they started sending out auto download links to .dmg files! I gave them a little grief about this, but it didn't stop them, and my hackles were sufficiently raised to sever all ties with them. It was only late last fall that security bloggers started confirming my worst fears.

Are you a paid member? Apparently their installers act differently if you are logged in as a paid member. I know quite a few paid members who no longer are-an unintended consequence of their business model, I'm sure.

Nope. They have none of my $. I bought a few apps as a package a week or so ago for $50. Worth it just for Toast.

I think the one we all need to be super-wary of is MacKeeper.

Run fast, and run a mile... at least.

monkey man wrote:I think the one we all need to be super-wary of is MacKeeper.

Run fast, and run a mile... at least.

Good advice, but only if you actually know if you are installing it.

cuttime wrote:If I were you I'd run this:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/antimalware/mac/
Thomas Reed is definitely one of the good guys, and I can vouch for the safety of his software. I keep it around for my wife, who is more trusting than I, and not as diligent when it comes to clicking through installers.

Thanks for the link. I installed. No malware...

monkey man wrote:I think the one we all need to be super-wary of is MacKeeper.

Run fast, and run a mile... at least.

I just got rid of that app. I only used to encrypt files and secure erase data. The program is made for dummies and forces actions and pop ups on a pro user.

toodamnhip wrote:

monkey man wrote:I think the one we all need to be super-wary of is MacKeeper.

Run fast, and run a mile... at least.

I just got rid of that app. I only used to encrypt files and secure erase data. The program is made for dummies and forces actions and pop ups on a pro user.

Mackeeper is malware. When you remove it, make sure you not only delete the app, but all related files. IIRC, it installs into LaunchAgents and other locations.

Other apps that are not malware but frequently cause issues include Little Snitch and any kind of 'cleaner' apps.

Little Snitch may have messed up my network access after Yosemite was updated. Never reinstalled it and do miss the extra control of data. I suppose I should see if they've fixed that.

MIDI Life Crisis wrote:Nope. They have none of my $. I bought a few apps as a package a week or so ago for $50. Worth it just for Toast.

I saw that and didn't get there in time. Toast 15 was the one that interested me, too. T14 is still pretty good (best version in many years) but the encryption feature of 15 got me interested.

I've stayed away from MacUpdate since the site installed some annoying Safari extensions to replace Google, and other functions with advertising pages. Clicking the update I wanted led to a "download" link, but it wasn't the download I asked for. If you read the pages very carefully, you can usually find the thing you actually want after a few extra clicks.