Is macsweeper.com Safe?

MacSweeper is a rogue application that misleads users by exaggerating reports about spyware, adware or viruses on their computer. It is the first known "rogue" application for the Mac OS X operating system. The software was discovered by F-Secure, a Finland based computer security software company on January 17, 2008. As of 2009, the official website for the application, macsweeper.com, is currently offline, although the home page for KiVVi Software can still be accessed. MacSweeper could be downloaded through KiVVi software's (the company that makes the "rogue") website, as a drive-by download, or silently downloaded with another application. Once automatically installed, MacSweeper scans the computer and informs the user that many applications on their computer (such as iCal or Dashboard, safe pre-installed Apple applications) are "fat binaries or trash" and must be slimmed immediately. When the unsuspecting user tries to "Remove Objects", they are told that the trial version downloaded cannot delete the supposed trash. Then the user must provide credit card details to the company for a $39.99 "lifetime subscription serial key". MacSweeper's GUI and behaviour is almost identical to another program that is published by KiVVi Software, Cleanator. Cleanator, however is designed for Windows operating systems. It is also very similar to the SpySheriff and SpyAxe applications, infamous for typosquatting Google. A paragraph from within the software that encourages users to purchase the full version is identical to that of SpySheriff.

The first rogue software (and, in essence, the first virus) for Macs! Its developers, KiVVi Software, also created such 'greats' as SpyAxe and SpySherrif on PCs. Apparently after downloading it, if you click "About Us" in the program, it redirects to Symantec's website - the developers of Norton Antivirus, in case you didn't know. Always says you have 339 errors on your system, even on PCs. Don't even bother with this site!

Rogue Mac malware remover. Made by KiVVi Software, also the company that made the Windows rogue malware-remover, Cleanator. Next, KiVVi Software decided to make another rogue Mac malware-remover, iMunazator (spelling?). MacSweeper reports many viruses and many files (like built in iCal or Safari) that are viruses and need to be slimmed immediately. It always detects threats until you buy the full version, which detects nothing. It will say you have 360 privacy violations to do with your MAC on a WINDOWS computer. It copies the agreement policy and about page from Symantec. If you want something to slim and clean your files, get iClean.