MacKeeper is a real Mac utility app, now owned by Clario Tech, but it has a controversial history: lawsuits over its early marketing, a settlement in 2015 and a customer data exposure that year. Its owners changed in 2019 and it has since gained independent test certifications. It's not malware, but read the terms and decide with that history in mind.
Few Mac apps have a reputation as divisive as MacKeeper, so I understand why people search for it before installing. I've read what Wikipedia records about its history and what the current MacKeeper website says, and I'll keep both the bad and the better news in view.
Who makes MacKeeper now
According to Wikipedia, MacKeeper was first released in 2010, developed by Zeobit. In 2019 it was acquired by Clario Tech, which owns it now. MacKeeper's website lists Clario Tech FZCO as the developer and copyright holder.
That change of ownership is important. Most of the criticism you'll find online dates from the earlier years, and I'll separate that from the current product wherever I can.
What MacKeeper says it does
MacKeeper's website describes it as an all-in-one Mac maintenance app. It lists a cleaner, an uninstaller and a duplicate finder, plus an optimizer, an antivirus and adware cleaner, a VPN and ad-blocker, and ID theft monitoring. The site mentions a Try It Free button and a free test drive of one tool.
Those are the vendor's own claims. A mixed bundle like this is common, and it's worth asking whether you need all of it. If your worry is a slow Mac, a sensible first step is to look at what's using your storage and start-up items before paying for a cleaner.
The lawsuits and settlement in MacKeeper's past
Wikipedia records several legal actions from MacKeeper's earlier years, which I'm summarising neutrally.
- A class action filed against Zeobit in Illinois in 2014 alleged that neither the free trial nor the full registered versions performed any credible diagnostic testing.
- A lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania in 2014 alleged that MacKeeper faked security problems to get people to pay for unneeded fixes.
- In 2015 Zeobit settled for 2 million US dollars, and customers who bought before July 8, 2015 could apply for a refund.
A settlement isn't a finding of guilt, and these cases concern the earlier owners. But they explain why the brand's reputation took years to recover. The allegations were about aggressive marketing and unnecessary scares, which is the opposite of what you want from security software.
The 2015 MacKeeper data exposure
Wikipedia also records that in 2015 a security researcher found MacKeeper customer data publicly accessible online. It covered over 13 million users, including emails and phone numbers, and the company quickly secured the database. Exposed emails and phone numbers can be useful to scammers, whatever else was or wasn't in the data.
It's another reason to use a unique password for any account you create, and to be alert to messages that mention the app. If you want to know how to check for signs of compromise, my guide on knowing if an account has been hacked lists the warning signs.
| What I checked | What the public record shows |
|---|---|
| Who owns it? | Clario Tech, which acquired it in 2019 |
| Past legal trouble? | Two lawsuits in 2014 and a 2 million US dollar settlement in 2015 |
| Past data issue? | Customer data exposed online in 2015, covering over 13 million users |
| Independent testing? | A 2017 AV-TEST assessment found 85.9% of tested malware detected |
| More recent testing? | A maximum 18 out of 18 in AV-TEST results in 2025, per Wikipedia |
What the testers and critics have said about MacKeeper
Wikipedia says many antivirus programs classified MacKeeper version 3 as a potentially unwanted program or adware, and that cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs called it scareware. A 2017 AV-TEST assessment found it detected 85.9% of tested malware.
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The picture is more positive more recently. Wikipedia says Clario obtained ISO 27001 and AV-TEST certification, with a maximum 18 out of 18 score in AV-TEST results in 2025. Test scores are snapshots, and they measure detection rather than whether the marketing is fair, so treat them as one input.
Should you install MacKeeper? Practical checks
- Download it only from the official MacKeeper website, never from a pop-up or an unknown download site.
- Read the renewal and cancellation terms before you enter payment details. The home page only links to a Subscription Termination page, so read that page.
- Don't install a second full antivirus alongside it.
- Be wary of any web page that claims your Mac is infected and tells you to install a cleaner.
- Keep backups, whatever tools you use.
If you'd like to compare options before deciding, my notes on browser extensions and basic security habits cover protections that cost little or nothing.
My verdict on MacKeeper
The app isn't malware, and it has new owners and independent test certifications that the old reputation doesn't reflect. But its history includes lawsuits over its early marketing and an exposure of customer data, and that deserves weight. If you choose to use it, install from the official site, read the subscription terms and keep your expectations realistic.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns MacKeeper?
According to Wikipedia, Clario Tech acquired MacKeeper in 2019 and owns it now. Its website lists Clario Tech FZCO as developer and copyright holder.
Has MacKeeper been sued?
Wikipedia records a class action in Illinois and a lawsuit in Pennsylvania in 2014, and a 2 million US dollar settlement by Zeobit in 2015.
Was MacKeeper hacked?
Wikipedia says that in 2015 a researcher found customer data publicly accessible online, covering over 13 million users, and the company quickly secured the database.
Is MacKeeper a virus?
No. But Wikipedia says many antivirus programs once classified version 3 as a potentially unwanted program or adware, and that was under earlier owners.
Does MacKeeper have a free trial?
Its website mentions a Try It Free button. Check the subscription terms page before you enter card details, because the home page doesn't spell them out.
