Talk:Genieo

Malware claim
Remove the edit regarding the identification as a Malware, the value was misleading and incorrect.

Removed the edit "In May 2013, a malicious installer distributed by Genieo partner Softonic[5] was found by security software company Intego." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.117.204.204 (talk) 07:48, 21 July 2013 (UTC)

The malware claim is incorrect. by wiki definition a malware is short for malicious software, that used or programmed by attackers to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems. Genieo is none of the above and was never used to do any of the above. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.117.204.204 (talk) 15:37, 16 June 2013 (UTC)

Added the Virus Total link to support virus clean claim.

Added a new Virus Total link showing 5 flags as a trojan/malware, in addition to Intego The IP : 46.117.204.204 appears to be Genieo itself, altering unfavourable information, even though it is from reliable sources. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.208.87.32 (talk) 18:17, 27 July 2013 (UTC)

Genieo is not a spyware/malware or any sort of thing, check yourself if Genieo is transferring data from your personal computer and you will see you're totally wrong. so instead of saying lies and making up, why won't you let anti-virus companies do their jobs and stop with your dirty work and trying to promote your shitty thesafemac.com website? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.127.58.116 (talk) 01:51, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

IP : 46.117.204.204 is Genieo, they should not tamper with verifiable critical content about their own product.

You should not tamper about stuff you got no clue on — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.117.204.204 (talk) 09:41, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

Several respected sources and anti-virus applications recognise Genieo as adware or even malware. That is all the 'clue' required. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.90.240.199 (talk) 12:31, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

If you write about AV companies that define Genieo, please state at what they define them, otherwise it's a false information. Genieo is defined as adware/malware/PUP by most, so don't give the assumption that they define Genieo as a virus/trojan (since only 1 or 2 companies define them as such? out of the 20 you mention. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 5.29.193.59 (talk) 09:48, 27 April 2014 (UTC)

Funny that people are so passionate about defending Genieo from malware claims. I can't imagine anyone having a legitimate interest in doing so. I captured several megabytes of packets sent directly to genieo.com nameservers after I deleted Intelligo-branded malware that was injected onto my computer. The traffic shows, among other things, complete URLs, page titles, and raw HTML contents of every website I visited during that time. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.164.183.149 (talk) 20:46, 14 August 2015 (UTC)

77.127.58.116, 46.117.204.204, and 5.29.193.59 are all sockpuppets operated by Genieo. Their only edits are reverting legitimate edits from the Genieo page to make the malware company look good. Also, Genieo has five definitions in Apple's own XProtect anti-malware program, so yeah, Genieo is definitely malware. Reporting them at wp:an/i .AnAwesomeArticleEditor (talk) 15:24, 2 September 2016 (UTC)

Malware claim
Removed the edit about "being scrutinized as malware, because it being increasingly reported hijacking computers", such a claim must be backed by reliable sources WP:BURDEN. Irishcajun85: please repost with such sources if you have them, like MYSELF. -- I'm finding a lot of people who don't know how this program got onto their computer and started gathering contact information etc. No wonder you have a bad rep. Well deserved. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.166.53.248 (talk) 16:05, 13 February 2013 (UTC)

You find a lot of people who don't know how this program got onto their computers? you find a lot of idiots that don't know what a browser is as well, that claim got no point. Instead of accusing, give a proof.

Removed the section about malware which is irrelevent to this topic

Also, where's the evidance Genieo is gathering Information about users? from what I know, Genieo doesn't even save a mailing list. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 5.29.193.59 (talk) 09:49, 27 April 2014 (UTC)

Malware :from wikipedia
'Malware' is a general term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software.[2]

Malware includes ...., adware — Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.113.114.51 (talk) 11:11, 24 June 2013 (UTC)

Removed all spam claiming Genieo is a malware
This is an on going processes of removing incorrect and defamatory information about Genieo.

See previous also changes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.117.204.204 (talk) 09:11, 7 November 2013 (UTC)

Reverted recent changes by 46.117.204.204 who are the subject of this page & who keep removing verified but unfavourable content. Facts are not spam. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.112.236.194 (talk) 11:31, 7 November 2013 (UTC)

Genieo themselves : 46.117.204.204 keep vandalising the article & removing legitimate, verified & referenced content which they perceive as critical. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.90.240.199 (talk) 11:32, 26 November 2013 (UTC)

Some of the sources cited claiming that this is malware were clearly not reliable, like links to Mac support forums. However, there may be more reliable sources. I lack the expertise to make these calls on my own, so I am going to open a thread on WP:RSN. -- Jprg1966  (talk)  16:06, 26 November 2013 (UTC)

Could you explain why links to the opinions of experienced, albeit volunteer supporter on Apple support site are 'clearly not reliable' while your own volunteer efforts seemingly are enough to know that ?. Genieo is recognised as malware/adware by several virus removal tools & by mac 'security' websites. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.90.240.199 (talk) 19:12, 26 November 2013 (UTC)

How can you claim Genieo is a spyware when MOST and nearly ALL anti-virus programs don't recognize it as such? Users install Genieo on their own accord, no one is forcing them to download and use it, it's not a problem to remove it, just because it might leave some files on the system doesn't mean it's a malware/spyware, you can check and see it doesn't send any information to their company. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.127.58.116 (talk) 01:35, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

According to TheSafeMac, the Genieo app is installed under the guise of a fake Flash Player installer. There is the Genieo Partner Network, where they pay people to promote Genieo. Perhaps the partners are doing this so they can make revenue? Either way, this is unwanted software as the user would expect Flash Player, not Genieo. Dr. Web and Intego (antiviruses) have even added Genieo detection to their products. IsraphelMac (talk) 02:07, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

Several respected antivirus/security companies classify Genieo & Installmac as at best, potentially unwanted & adware/malware. That fact is rightly mentioned in the article. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 146.90.240.199 (talk) 04:00, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

You can keep repeating that Genieo is a malware according to two antivirus, when the other 40 don't define it as such, so I see no point in mentioning it, as it got nothing wrong with it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Enigmatic666 (talk • contribs) 14:51, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

It's not two - Dr. Web, Avast, F-Secure, Trend Micro Housecall and GData and Intego have all characterised it as adware or a 'PuP' (potentially unwanted program), and there are numerous sites describing how to remove the 'Genieo virus" or "Genieo adware". The fact that You, Enigmatic666, see nothing wrong, does not make it true... nor does it invalidate verified sources & justify removal. 87.114.254.100 (talk) 16:46, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

Edit War
It's obvious from the revision history that the subject of the page, or their agents/supporters are determined to excise all perceived criticism & connection with adware/malware etc... also that more than one other party is keen to see that those 'facts' are left in place.

In the interests of resolving the dispute - can we discuss why say Intego.com or thesafemac.com might not be considered reliable sources & thus their opinions worth mentioning ?.

Also, it might be considered here, that a web-search for 'Genieo' produces 100's of results asking for help in removing the Genieo 'adware', 'virus' 'malware' etc. Regardless of the company intentions, it seems clear that many users, & 'experts' too, see their products in a poor light, and that should not be hidden from anyone seeking information at wikipedia... doubly so when the are verifiable & reliable sources for those points of view.

I feel that the company or their puppets are likely to continue reverting/vandalizing - and that the topic requires some sort of protection. 146.90.240.199 (talk) 14:24, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

The topic needs protections from people like you that try to change the topic into something else, and advertising your own website (thesafemac). How can one put a source of information to his own website? it is ridiculous. Genieo is not causing any harm, it can be removed with ease, it's not gathering any information to their servers, and it's legit and free to use, so what's your problem with reverting this page over and over? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Enigmatic666 (talk • contribs) 14:56, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

Genieo make their own unsupported claims - at best backed by a link to 'their' own website. What's your source that thesafemac are responsible for any edits here ?. How do you explain the position of Intego & other AV companies ?87.114.254.100 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 15:11, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

There's only Intego and Dr.Web you're refering to, most and other AV companies don't define Genieo as adware/malware/virus, it seems it's Thomas A Reed or someone else related to him that change the wiki values, since they put a link to thesafemac to get some kind of stupid credit for it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Enigmatic666 (talk • contribs) 15:17, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

Dr. Web, Avast, F-Secure, Trend Micro Housecall and GData.[10] as well as Intego. Why are your own opinions superior to theirs ?. 'Most' isn't all, so it's fair that verified mention of the considerable criticism is left in place. 87.114.254.100 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 15:29, 27 November 2013 (UTC)

As well as Intego, and the 5 other flags for the Mac version shown at * https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/d0e6dde42506f5d2f7e926de20e88c8f75a430d23e4f079d3f3bbd1919230e83/analysis/ there are 7 for a Windows version with only one company/site in common. 146.90.251.97 (talk) 09:06, 28 November 2013 (UTC)
 * https://www.virustotal.com/en/url/f00c717bff2b7b1734f36bf8498686fcc56f46c7dda948938e737f83b4bfb9be/analysis/

It's clear from the links that user add to the Genieo page that he's associate with thesafemac.com and/or Thomas A Reed, and that he got some agenda of compromising Genieo's good name. Please, any Wikipedia Editors, remove those links, they aren't a reliable source of information, and does not contribute to the user that want to watch Genieo value.

Furthermore, he's stating Genieo is a malware/adware while only 5 out of 48 Anti-virus companies defined Genieo as such, so it's very misleading for the user to see Genieo as something bad. 192.173.147.121 (talk) 13:51, 28 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: per all the above. --Stfg (talk) 14:54, 28 November 2013 (UTC)

another possible source - I've no way of knowing if it's reliable. Surely, not all the above-mentioned Windows & Mac companies can be associated with safemac/Thomas Reed ? & yet there are 6 who flag it for Mac and another 6 (+ Intego?) for Windows. That's obviously far from a majority, but seems much more than something to be dismissed or ignored because Genieo say it's ok. Is wikipedia meant for "user that want to watch Genieo value." ?. The company can pay to advertise/promote elsewhere, no ?. 146.90.251.97 (talk) 20:14, 28 November 2013 (UTC)
 * http://www.protectmac.com/news/index_files/77a450d61e46497cf6d456c2ae50c708-77.html

Malware ? : a new section
I started a new section, since others have become confusing & accusatory in part.

The mac version is now shown as at least undesirable by 16 companies at https://www.virustotal.com/en-gb/file/f41fe0a11478663182c18c747f856f029f710046f723a8c810662e3ac1f11c0d/analysis/1393415274/

and by Intego : http://www.intego.com/mac-security-blog/another-sketchy-genieo-installer-discovered/

and by ProtectMac : http://www.protectmac.com/news/index_files/77a450d61e46497cf6d456c2ae50c708-77.html 87.115.181.73 (talk) 21:09, 26 February 2014 (UTC)
 * What action are you suggesting be taken wrt these sources? — Brianhe (talk) 05:01, 27 February 2014 (UTC)

We've agreed Genieo is an adware/malware, but not a trojan/virus or any of that sort? or you want to keep at it? if you state that 16 companies define as something, mention it in the form of 16/70 companies define x as y. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 5.29.193.59 (talk) 09:54, 27 April 2014 (UTC)

>> We've agreed Genieo is an adware/malwarenot a trojan/virus or any of that sort?

ClamAV : Osx.Trojan.Genieo-1

DrWeb : Trojan.Genieo.1

TrendMicro-HouseCall : TROJ_GE.34764AD7 ( presumably,TROJ is short for trojan)

Sophos : Category : Viruses and Spyware; Type : Trojan 146.200.141.163 (talk) 12:34, 30 April 2014 (UTC)


 * Dear IP 5.29.193.59: I note your powers of persuasive writing (We've agreed Genieo is an adware/malware, but not a trojan/virus or any of that sort? and …confusing & accusatory in part). Since your I.P. address traces to Israel (“Lookup” search results here,) (Tel Aviv to be specific) and since this is the home of the fine gentlemen who created Genieo (Sol Tzvi and Jacob Tenenboem), perhaps you might drive down the road a few kilometers and ask them what they call their products.


 * You know, because Genieo has an “…installer [that] masquerades as a necessary update to Adobe Flash Player and attempts to install Genieo.app without user interaction.” That last quote is from our own article and is cited to a reliable source: Intego. Since you gave this discussion thread its title (“Malware ? : a new section”), the short answer is this: Yeah, “malware;” pure and simple. Greg L (talk) 00:43, 6 August 2015 (UTC)


 * P.S. I would love it if someone with a bit more time than I would research why disseminating Genieo in a manner that affects computers in the United States would not be a violation of 18 U.S. Code § 1030 - Fraud and related activity in connection with computers. Hasn't that issue come up before in an RS? I note that the current version of the “Genieo” article has no section regarding lawfulness. Greg L (talk) 02:57, 6 August 2015 (UTC)

Removed content
I removed a line referencing Apple's now-inactive instructions on how to uninstall the Genieo malware. For posterity, the link was (archived at ). — python coder (talk &#124; contribs) 12:41, 27 April 2019 (UTC)