Malicious Google Ads Target Mac Users with Fake Mac Cleaner Pages

Researchers at MacKeeper have found malicious Google Ads for “Mac cleaner” tools that trick users into running dangerous Terminal commands. Stay safe by learning how to spot these fake Apple sites.

Researchers at MacKeeper have identified malicious Google Ads promoting fake “Mac cleaner” tools that trick users into running dangerous Terminal commands. The campaign directs victims to Apple-lookalike pages designed to gain full control of macOS systems.

On 26 January 2026, MacKeeper researchers discovered sponsored Google search results targeting users searching for “mac cleaner” utilities. These ads do not provide legitimate cleanup tools. Instead, they redirect users to fraudulent pages that imitate Apple’s official support site and attempt to coerce users into executing malicious commands.

How the Trick Works

Google Ads often appear at the top of search results, which gives them an implied sense of trust. In this case, the ads led to convincing Apple-style pages hosted through ...