Many folk visiting the Apple Support Communities (ASC) with queries are some of the most naive and unaware computer users on the planet. In other words, vulnerable.
Often they are recommended to visit the Etresoft web page and download a product called EtreCheck, run it and then post the resultant report on ASC for peer review.
One recent ‘visitor’ claims that he visited Etresoft, chose NOT to download the software …… but nevertheless later discovered that it HAD been downloaded onto his iMac.
Can you check it out please?
Might the software have an unexpected payload?
Thanks.
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David Brooks – I post on ASC as HunterBD
I see that software recommend on the Apple Support site too, but I don't know much about it. I've never downloaded it and never used it. So it is hard for me to have an opinion.
I wouldn't take that one case as proof that there is a problem with it, not when so many others recommend it. The claim of NOT downloading something and then finding it had been downloaded sounds dubious. Even if that was true, it doesn't say anything about the software. Either he downloaded it and didn't realize it, or he didn't download it but believes he has it anyway. And if it is just a file in his downloads folder, then that's hardly an issue. Really impossible to say about that case unless there are a lot more details.
Gary, thanks for responding.
Apple Support do NOT vouch for EtreCheck. I have been in touch with then and they have expressed concern that there may be folk on the ASC who might be abusing the forums. Folk on the ASC site - which is a User to User forum - say it's OK ...... but it may NOT be! https://discussions.apple.com/message/33738761?ac_ci
If you are afraid to download and run it yourself - to test it - perhaps you know somebody else who could do so? It's better to be safe than sorry!
David: Even if I did download it and try it, there is no way to prove that it is safe to run. You can't test for that. So if this is a concern (and it probably should be for everyone) then err on the safe side and don't use it.