Mac Auto Fixer - How to remove

Mac Auto Fixer is supposed to be a cleanup utility, optimizer, and a security tool for Mac that claims to be “no. 1 maintenance tool for your Mac”. However, it’s detected as malware by real cybersecurity tools.

Mac Auto Fixer is published by Techyutils Software, which means that it is associated with PCVARK – an infamous family of junkware for both Mac OS and Windows. These applications are known for spreading with the help of malicious ads and malware, for showing exaggerated and fake scan results, and for being difficult to get rid of.

While the app makes a lot of promises on its home page, the application should not be trusted. It uses the same promotional text as Mac Tonic and Fix My Mac. It often gets installed under false pretenses or without asking your permission at all and uses its access to try to scare you into buying the full version of the program.

Mac Auto Fixer short description:

Classification	PUP (potentially unwanted program) Scareware
Symptoms	Slower Mac Pop-ups from Mac Auto Fixer about the  state of your computer Other unfamiliar applications being installed without your knowledge
Consequences	Money lost paying for the PUP Lower productivity False expectation that your Mac is protected Access to your Mac given to a low-reputation application
Remove Mac Auto Fixer	Move the application to Trash Delete associated files Find and remove other unwanted applications (use antivirus tools like Combo Cleaner)

Mac Auto Fixer is not a useful program

The application offers a lot of potentially valuable features, such as application management, junk file deletion, malware deleter, and a website scanner. But the main goal of the application is to make people believe that they need to buy this app. Every scan of your Mac that Mac Auto Fixer performs shows exaggerated and dishonest results where items like cookies, temporary files, even items in the Trash folder are considered to be problems.

Mac Auto Fixer will try to scare you into buying the program by telling you that your computer’s security, privacy, or other conditions are critical. This is dishonest – I mean, if you try running one of these programs on a freshly installed Mac OS, it’ll still manage to find problems. Accurate scan results are not useful for selling Mac Auto Fixer.

I should also mention that your Mac is maintained anyway in the background, so it’s doubtful if you even need a utility application. It might help you find and delete unnecessary files and free up some memory, but memory is hardly a problem on most computers. Malware removal is valuable if you find your computer infected, but only reputable programs should be used for that.

How Mac Auto Fixer gets installed

Honestly, if Mac Auto Fixer was just a mildly useless application, people might not be upset with it. The problem is that it gets installed without permission and makes itself nearly impossible to remove.

Some users complain that they don’t know how Mac Auto Fixer got installed on their computer. Others say that pop-ups and security warnings lead them to download it. One thing is for certain – Mac Auto Fixer is not associated with Apple; it’s a third-party application that tries to pretend to be useful. Mac Auto Fixer isn’t a program with a good reputation and its VirusTotal report linked to earlier in the article speaks for itself. So how does it spread to people’s Macs?

There are a few ways:

• Apps like Mac Auto Fixer use malvertising to spread. Malicious ads come in a variety of forms: it might be a message that your browser is out-of-date, or a warning that your computer is infected with viruses. Such warnings usually show up in the browser and are opened by bad ads or by an adware infection on your computer.
• Mac Auto Fixer might get installed thanks to bundling – when a potentially unwanted application is included in the installer of another program. Usually, these included offers should be warned about during setup and you’re supposed to be able to say no to them, but this rule is sometimes ignored.
• This optimizer can also be downloaded by other, similar programs. One report says that Advanced Mac Cleaner downloaded it Mac Auto Fixer.

However this optimizer made it into your computer, there’s likely more potentially unwanted programs there, so keep that in mind.

How to remove Mac Auto Fixer

This application should be removed, but it might not be easy. Some people swear that they delete all the associated files they could find and Mac Auto Fixer still shows up. The standard procedure is to end the optimizer’s process (Cmd+Alt+Esc), then to open the Applications folder and drag Mac Auto Fixer into Trash. In Library folders, this application may hide files in folders called “Mac Auto Fixer” or “maf”. Make sure to check the Library/LaunchAgents folder and remove files associated with Mac Auto Fixer.

Mac Auto Fixer may have installed or been installed by other potentially unwanted programs, so it might not be the only app that needs to be removed. Search for applications installed around the same time, however, there are cases where it took weeks or even years for a malicious app to start acting. It can help to scan your computer with an anti-malware program, such as Combo Cleaner. A good-quality security program will be able to find malicious files.

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