Have you ever wondered why your Mac is running slow? Does it freeze when performing even just the simplest of tasks? Does it take a while to launch and switch programs? Everybody has gone through this excruciating pain at least once.
Even though the Mac is known to be a high-performance machine, it disappoints us sometimes as it slows down over time. There are numerous reasons why this happens. The main reason is a full hard disk. The more available space your Mac’s hard disk has, the more efficient your Mac will operate.
You may ask why your hard disk runs low on space. One of the culprits could be your hard disk cache has become loaded with unnecessary files.
What is Cache?
Cache files are data saved by browsers, systems and applications on your hard disk to guarantee a smooth user experience. It is mostly used to speed up processes.
For instance, Safari will load images on a webpage and downloaded them to the cache so that the next time you visit the website, you don’t need to download them again because they can be retrieved from the cache. This reduces the wait time to load webpages.
As time goes by, the number of cache files increase considerably. Even though they are temporary and can be deleted, most people don’t bother to do so. In turn, these cache files start to take up storage space resulting in lowered system performance.
Cache files include system cache, app cache, browser cache, library cache and more.
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Although other operating systems store cache in different file locations, the Mac OS stores cache files in the cache folder.
How Does Cache Affect Your Mac?
Although the primary purpose of cache is to provide a smoother user experience, the constant build up of data leads to storage space issues on a Mac.
Cache files are small in size, however going a long period of time without cleaning the hard disk means that these cache files can increase to gigabytes in size, resulting in a system with a minimum of disk space to operate. It affects the smooth performance in which Mac computers are known for.
To avoid this from happening, it is recommended to clear your cache regularly.
How to Clear the Cache on your Mac Manually?
Mac systems are harder to clean compared to other operating systems as the destination is located within other folders and files. With the lack of knowledge on how to clean a Mac, the most inevitable question asked is: How to clear the cache on Mac?
Many people prefer opting for the longer route and cleaning the cache themselves. There are several types of cache files and each file is stored in different locations and cleared differently.
Here’s how different types of cache files can be cleared manually on your Mac:
User Cache:
User cache takes up the most space on your hard disk which is normally located in the User Cache folder “~/Library/Caches.”
Although a good cleaner locates and clears cache files well, manual deletion requires more work.
Reminder: User cache also includes sensitive data. Some users may encounter errors opening the files and system applications after clearing it entirely. It is recommended to perform a backup first.
To create a backup:
• Select “Go to Folder” in the Go menu of a File folder
• Type “~/Library/Caches” and press Enter
• Select all using ‘Ctrl+A’ and copy all folders and files
• Go back to Library and create a new folder ‘User Cache’
• Copy all data to the new folder
To remove user cache:
• Select “Go to Folder” in the Go menu of a File folder
• Type “~/Library/Caches” and hit Enter
• Go into each of the folders and delete every file
We recommend that you remove the files inside the folder, not the folder itself
After you have deleted all cache from the original location, you may delete the created backup as well.
System Cache and App Cache:
System cache is composed of files stored by system applications that run in the background of a Mac.
App cache consists of media files downloaded by the applications in order to speed it up, as well as system thumbnails, temporary downloads, and so on. Although useful, app cache takes up significant space over time and needs to be cleared.
To remove system and app cache:
• Type “~/Library/Caches” and remove the data inside of the folders with the app name.
One important thing is that not all app cache is safe to be cleaned. Applications are designed to keep essential data in some of the cache folders. To avoid mishaps, backing up cache data before cleaning is always a safe option.
In order to make sure no harm is done, you may delete the backup after some time.
DNS Cache:
The DNS cache is a type of system cache. These are old cache entries that translate internet domain names (e.g., drcleaner.com) into IP addresses on your Mac. Regularly clearing DNS cache ensures an uninterrupted connection to websites.
To clean the DNS cache:
For older Mac OS versions (before OS X 10.10.0):
• Open Terminal via Spotlight.
• Type into Terminal:
“sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder; say cache flushed”
• Enter admin password to complete.
For latest MAC OS versions (Mac OS X 10.10.0 and above):
• Open Terminal via Spotlight.
•Type into Terminal:
“sudo discoveryutil mdnsflushcache; sudo discoveryutil udnsflushcaches; say flushed”
• Enter your admin password to execute.
Browser Cache:
Internet browsing is the most commonly known activity on a device as well as a major source of income for many. While we browse from site to site, all activities result in a growing cache.
Browser cache consists of website data such as images, scripts, and so on, in order to speed up your browsing experience. It allows you to visit the same website faster with the use of the stored cache on the computer.
Aside from freeing space on your hard disk, clearing the browser cache accomplishes multiple purposes. It can secure privacy by deleting the browsing history. It can also potentially help to get rid of known errors such as error 404, 502, and so on, often caused by a corrupted cache.
Each browser stores cache differently, meaning, the process of clearing cache differs across browsers. As for the most commonly used browsers, Chrome’s cache location is in ‘Settings’, Safari stores it in ‘Privacy’, while Firefox’s location is under the History tab.
To Clear the Browser Cache:
For Chrome:
• Click the options icon at the top right corner of the Google Chrome browser
• Choose Settings
• Choose “More Tools,” in the left menu
• Click “Clear browsing data.” [Shortcut: ⇧⌘⌫]
• Select only Cached images and files and Browsing history
• Select ‘the beginning of time’
• Click “Clear browsing data” button
Restart Chrome
For Firefox:
• On the History menu, select ‘Clear Recent History’
• From the drop-down menu with a time range, select the desired range. To clear all the cache, select ‘Everything’
• Click the down arrow next to Details and choose only Cache
• Click ‘Clear Now’
• Exit and re-open the browser
For Safari:
• On the top menu, choose Safari
• Click ‘Preferences’
• Choose the ‘Advanced tab’
• Enable show ‘Develop’ menu in the menu bar
• Go to ‘Develop’ in the menu bar
• Choose ‘Empty Caches’
Restart Safari
For best results, make sure to empty Trash after clearing all the cache files.
To clear the trash, press control + click the Trash icon and select “Empty Trash.”
Reboot the Mac for a complete overhaul which leads to the Mac creating new cache files.
Manually cleaning junk files is a tedious task. Not only does it threaten deletion of important files but also takes up significant time and effort.
There are alternatives to manual cleaning that clean the system much more effectively and quickly, such as using Dr. Cleaner.
Why Dr. Cleaner?
Dr. Cleaner was voted as the best cleaning app for Mac OS in 2017. It guarantees seven times more freed up hard disk space than any traditional hard disk cleaning methods.
Dr. Cleaner offers a free and effective way to clear cache on the Mac. It removes all unnecessary files that slow down your system in one click.
Providing a one-stop solution for Mac OS maintenance, Dr. Cleaner removes every junk file including app cache, browser cache, library caches, log files, iTunes and iOS temporary files, and so on.
Manual methods remove the majority of browser junk, but browsers also store data in other folders.
‘If you want to remove all of the browser caches at once, there’s a more efficient method to clear them ‘— use Dr. Cleaner.
Not only does Dr. Cleaner offer features such as Memory Free, Disk Clean, and Uninstall App. It also includes Clear Cache to fully optimize your Mac. And the best part? It’s free!
Additionally, some of the app caches are sensitive. App developers store important data in cache folders.
To prevent any problems, Dr. Cleaner works with a Safety Database and knows how to clear app cache safely. Not only does it protect precious data but it ensures more free space than manual methods.
In addition, Dr. Cleaner also monitors your system storage continuously to prevent significant buildup of unwanted files. Here’s a list of features Dr. Cleaner exclusively offers to Mac users for free:
Memory Free
Disk Clean
Junk Files Cleaner
Big Files Scanner
Duplicate Finder
Intelligent App Manager
System Monitoring
Uninstall Applications
How to Clean Cache and other Junk Files with Dr. Cleaner?
Dr. Cleaner’s brand new user interface makes it very easy to clear cache and remove all the junk files from your Mac. Just follow the steps below to quickly clear cache:
1. Open Dr. Cleaner on your Mac
You will see the main dashboard window with several options, such as Junk Files, Big Files, and Disk Map, and so on
2. Choose ‘Junk Files’
3. Click ‘Scan’
Dr. Cleaner will scan for all the junk files that are safe to delete, including application caches, application logs, iTunes Temporary Files, and so on
You may also perform a quick disk clean up. Go to the status bar menu of your Mac to perform this task.
Is Dr. Cleaner Safe?
Many users reported privacy concerns regarding the usage of other cleaning applications.
Dr. Cleaner is a smart cleaning utility that removes user files only after the user consents. The software scans and optimizes the system by deleting junk files that clog the system only. Also, it only proceeds by admin’s permission.
User feedback also illustrates how MacBook owners have used Dr. Cleaner effectively without compromising their private data. The application has managed to garner 4 million users in under 40 months. With an average rating of 4.8 stars, it can be safely assumed that Dr. Cleaner has emerged as the most reliable Mac optimization tool, and it also received many unbiased reviews with positive results ,for example Dr. Cleaner Review on SoftwareHow.
Related posts:
Learn why the Mac Cleanup Pro app is considered malicious, what it does to an infected Mac, and how to uninstall this pseudo system optimizer in a few steps.
Update: October, 2019
The nuts and bolts of hassle-free Mac usage involve periodic maintenance aimed at deleting software leftovers, Internet cache and other unneeded data the operating system and apps routinely generate. There are plenty of nifty tools out there that do the optimization trick. The utility called Mac Cleanup Pro, however, has nothing to do with junk removal done right. It deliberately reports low-severity or nonexistent macOS issues, flagging them critical and offering its paid performance enhancement service. No matter how well-tuned your system is and how scrupulously you’ve been keeping the hard disk space in optimal condition, this application will “detect” numerous issues regardless and emphasize the high improvement potential that can be allegedly squeezed out of the areas it purports to cover.
Speaking of the scan areas, the GUI of Mac Cleanup Pro lists the following: cache, logs, trash, extra languages, Internet history, login items, duplicates files, large files, and rogue apps. The latter, by the way, is really interesting because the program is outright scareware itself. Some insights into its genealogy reveal a direct relation to the most infamous family of bogus Mac optimizers as yet, which is also represented by such malicious heavyweights as Mac Auto Fixer, Advanced Mac Cleaner, Mac Tonic, and the recent one called Similar Photo Cleaner. Hailing from the same rogue cradle, Mac Cleanup Pro is backed by a sizeable distribution campaign that has allowed it to reach thousands of computers already and keep on spreading. Let’s look into one of these propagation tricks.
The unprincipled developers of the scareware in question are known to engage a framework of misleading web pages to push their digital culprit. One of these landing pages is parked at lp.superutils.co/adsph/2/ domain. The site includes a script that determines and displays the visitor’s country and IP address – this way, the users are more likely to fall for the deceptive tactic. A big giveaway, though, is that the “OS version” field says the victim uses OS Sierra, even if they visit the page from a Windows PC. Anyway, the site displays a warning that goes, “Your Mac Might Be Infected!” and provides some pseudo details, namely: “Your Mac might be infected by the latest viruses. If you do not remove them, they may damage your system files and slow down your Internet browsing speed.” (macOS Catalina 10.15 update: “helpermcp will damage your computer. You should move it to the Trash”). To get rid of the viruses (which aren’t there for real), the user is instructed to download and run Mac Cleanup Pro, which is dubbed “Mac Cleaner” on the phony page. Incidentally, another likely source of contamination is a site that renders a counterfeit alert saying “Your Mac is infected with 3 viruses”.
There are two possible ways that Mac users end up on lp.superutils.co/adsph/2/ domain. One is via redirect activity bolstered by a PUA (potentially unwanted application) that infects one’s web browser and forces hits to the misguiding site. In this case, the user needs to get rid of the troublemaking browser add-on or plugin, which may be a nontrivial objective due to obfuscation and persistence mechanisms of these pests. The other way is through hacked websites or online ads that lead to the scareware’s landing page.
Special Offer Mac Cleanup Pro may re-infect your Mac multiple times unless you delete all of its fragments, including hidden ones. Therefore, it is recommended to download Freshmac and scan your system for these stubborn files. This way, you may reduce the cleanup time from hours to minutes. Download NowLearn how Freshmac works and get insights into its Terms of Use. If the utility spots malicious code, you will need to buy a license to get rid of it.
Mac Cleanup Pro is often accompanied by extra threats that allow the attackers to add one more layer of monetization to their fraudulent activity, aside from the scare tactic alone. The infections that typically arrive in the same bundle include TechSignalSearch and TechNetSearch, the former being more common. In fact, both of them share identical characteristics and goals. The objective is to hijack Safari, or whichever browser is the victim’s default one, and redirect their web traffic to Yahoo or Bing via a series of disreputable ad networks. In some cases, the infected users keep visiting tech support scam sites that display fake alerts about Mac health and security problems that aren’t actually there. The shenanigans of TechSignalSearch virus may also result in Internet connectivity issues, where the wireless and LAN connection goes missing at certain intervals, usually every couple of minutes.
Obviously, this type of offending code is subject to immediate removal, but this turns out to be easier said than done. First of all, although the TechSignalSearch.app entry can be found in the infected Mac’s Applications folder, moving it to the Trash only yields a temporary effect and the pest will reappear shortly. Secondly, the rest of the files may be hidden in the LaunchAgents folder, which is a place not every Mac user knows how to access. With that said, a special security procedure is required to spot and completely delete all the elements of the follow-up nasties.
Whereas Mac Cleanup Pro can arrive by means of different techniques, it behaves in the exact same fashion when on board any Mac. It pops up out of the blue and triggers system scans that return really unsettling results over and over. The app thus attempts to persuade the victim that their machine has hundreds of performance issues, ranging from superfluous cache to unused languages that take up a great deal of disk space. It will also notify the user how much space can be recovered in just one click. Predictably, the cleaning feature can only be unlocked by activating the full version of the program, which is a matter of making a payment. This is precisely what the gist of the Mac Cleanup Pro virus is about. It frightens users into purchasing the full version. That’s a disgusting strategy, so there is, obviously, one reasonable way to treat the double-dealing program. Remove it now and mind what you download on untrustworthy websites further on.
Mac Cleanup Pro [helpermcp] virus manual removal for Mac
The steps listed below will walk you through the removal of this potentially unwanted application. Be sure to follow the instructions in the order specified.
Open up the Utilities folder as shown below
Locate the Activity Monitor icon on the screen and double-click on it
Under Activity Monitor, find the entry for Mac Cleanup Pro, select it and click Quit Process
A dialog should pop up, asking if you are sure you would like to quit the Mac Cleanup Pro executable. Select the Force Quit option
Expand the Go menu in Apple Finder and select Go to Folder.
Type or paste the following string in the folder search dialog: /Library/LaunchAgents
Once the LaunchAgents directory opens up, find the following entries in it and move them to Trash:
com.MacCleanupPro.agent.plist
com.MCP.agent.plist
com.MacCleanupPro.mcphlpr
com.MCP.mcphlpr
TechSignalSearch
TechNetSearch
Use the Go to Folder lookup feature again to navigate to the folder named ~/Library/LaunchAgents. When this path opens, look for the same entries (see above) and send them to Trash
Similarly, go to the ~Library/Application Support folder. Locate and move the following entries to Trash:
MacCleanupPro
helpermcp
hlprmcp
hlprmaccleanuppro
Click the Go button again, but this time select Applications on the list. Find the entry for Mac Cleanup Pro on the interface, right-click on it and select Move to Trash. If user password is required, go ahead and enter it
Now go to Apple Menu and pick the System Preferences option
Select Accounts and click the Login Items button. The system will come up with the list of the items that launch when the box is started up. Locate Mac Cleanup Pro, TechSignalSearch, TechNetSearch, or other suspicious entries there, put a checkmark next to each one, and click on the “-“ button
Use automatic tool to uninstall Mac Cleanup Pro virus from your Mac
When confronted with malicious code like the Mac Cleanup Pro virus on Mac, you can neutralize its toxic impact by leveraging a specially crafted system utility. The Freshmac application (read review) is a perfect match for this purpose as it delivers essential security features along with must-have modules for Mac optimization.
This tool cleans unneeded applications and persistent malware in one click. It also protects your privacy by eliminating tracking cookies, frees up disk space, and manages startup apps to decrease boot time. On top of that, it boasts 24/7 tech support. The following steps will walk you through automatic removal of the Mac Cleanup Pro infection.
Download Freshmac installer onto your machine. Double-click the Freshmac.pkg file to trigger the installer window, select the destination disk and click Continue. The system will display a dialog asking for your password to authorize the setup. Type the password and click Install Software.
Once the installation has been completed, Freshmac will automatically start a scan consisting of 5 steps. It scans cache, logs, unused languages, trash, and checks the Mac for privacy issues.
The scan report will then display your current system health status and the number of issues detected for each of the above categories. Click the Fix Safely button tto remove junk files and address privacy issues spotted during the scan.
Check whether the Mac Cleanup Pro popups issue has been fixed. If it perseveres, go to the Uninstaller option on Freshmac GUI. Locate an entry that appears suspicious, select it and click Fix Safely button to force-uninstall the unwanted application.
Go to Temp and Startup Apps panes on theinterface and have all redundant or suspicious items eliminated as well. The The Mac Cleanup Pro malware shouldn’t be causing any further trouble. malware shouldn’t be causing any further trouble.
FAQ
No, it’s not. Based on its unethical distribution practices and intrusive activity when on board a computer, Mac Cleanup Pro is flagged as a malicious application. Upon superficial inspection, it might seem that its makers are attempting to cash in on the growing demand for Mac optimization through third-party utilities. However, most users don’t even get a chance to familiarize themselves with its purported features prior to the installation, because the scareware infiltrates their systems in a stealthy way that has nothing to do with an informed decision. It mainly arrives as part of software bundles where the installation client’s default mode conceals the cross-promotion.
Aside from the surreptitious spreading, Mac Cleanup Pro deluges an infected Mac with pesky reports about performance issues that aren’t actually there. Fabricated scan results and follow-up alerts are the common symptoms of the attack.
Furthermore, the rogue optimizer additionally leaves a footprint in the victim’s web browser by redirecting the Internet traffic to fraudulent sites that say the Mac is infected and push a “cleaner” which is a virus in disguise. In summary, Mac Clean Up Pro is not legitimate. It is a fake system utility that does not belong inside your Mac.
Commonplace updates of the operating system and the installed software are actually accompanied by some degree of background maintenance. However, a more thoroughgoing cleanup would imply certain initiative on the user’s end. macOS Sierra and later versions go equipped with a feature called “Optimize Storage”. You can configure it to remove iTunes multimedia content you’ve already watched and handle email attachments in such a way that they won’t be automatically downloaded onto your hard disk. There is additionally an option to empty Trash automatically.
The system also allows you to empty caches and reduce clutter such as large files and the items you probably don’t need anymore. This type of optimization, though, relies on user involvement and cannot be scheduled or otherwise pre-assigned.
At the end of the day, Apple does perform some tidying as long as you configure your Mac appropriately, but a more tangible effect presupposes your action. One way or another, outsourcing this job to a program like Mac Cleanup Pro is a bad idea. You’re better off sorting through your junk files manually or downloading a trusted cleaner from the official store.
There is no on-demand virus scanner built into your Mac. Nevertheless, Apple delivers decent real-time protection against dubious apps you may want to install, plus its Gatekeeper module will generate an alert if a piece of third-party software has been covertly altered since it was last checked. Software updates also maintain an important layer of security through patches of the recently discovered vulnerabilities.
If you need to run a virus scan at will, though, this is doable with a specially crafted tool made by a reputable AV vendor. Be sure to download a security suite of choice from the official Mac App Store only, otherwise you may unknowingly expose your system to a rogue program like Mac Cleanup Pro.
Contrary to a common opinion, Macs aren’t flawless when it comes to self-optimization. You need to do quite a bit of the tedious cleaning work literally by hand to make sure the system runs smooth at all times. Therefore, a third-party app that automates the process of releasing disk space and boosting the Mac’s performance is more than welcome.
Thankfully, there are plenty of reliable Mac cleaners on the market. From where we stand, the apps called Combo Cleaner, Freshmac and MacBooster are among the top utilities in this niche. In addition to identifying and wiping memory hogs along with junk files you don’t need, these tools boast privacy and security essentials to keep your Mac experience both hassle-free and safe.