Top selling Mac App Store adware scanner stole browsing history without permission
Users of the Mac App Store that have downloaded software based on how popular it is, take note. A popular piece of security software was just delisted for stealing information from those who downloaded it.
Adware Doctor, the highest grossing app on the 
Mac App Store in the Utilities category, had been collecting the browsing history of its users without any consent or notice. At the time of delisting, the app had over 7,200 reviews and a total rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. The app was discovered to have siphon this data a few weeks ago, but had continued to be at the top of the highest grossing Utilities list.
As Adware Doctor was anti-malware software, there are many alternatives. However, that does not change that this app, according to security researcher Patrick Wardle, whose findings were backed by 
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, had bypassed 
macOS's app sandboxing in order to steal browsing data from users of 
Safari, 
Google Chrome, and 
Mozilla Firefox.
According to TechCrunch, when pressed for comment, Apple did not respond.
Additional coverage:
Engadget
TechCrunch
VentureBeat
The Verge
Adware Doctor
- Paid • Proprietary
- Mac
Adware Doctor prevents malware and malicious files from infecting your Mac. It will be helpful if: • The system is slow and hangs. • The web browser is hijacked and get redirected constantly. • Popups are opening all the time with advertisement and scams.
❯ Alternatives to Adware Doctor