Help finding a mysterious Installer.dmg file

[davestretch]

Hi all

I'm hoping you can help.

Every day I get a mysterious Installer.dmg appear on the Desktop.
Of course, I am not clicking on it as I don't know what damage it will do to my system.

What I need help with is finding the location of the file on the HDD so I can flush it once and for all.

How can I do this? Get Info gives me this:
/private/tmp/tmpinstallmc.dmg

I've tried using Spotlight to find a instatllmc.dmg file but no luck.

Thanks in advance!

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Finder --> Go menu --> Go to folder --> Type in "/private/tmp/"

Its a hidden system folder.

But as long as you don't type in your admin password, you're safe. So you might as well run the installer and see what it says. But otherwise, if you mena by "every day" that it appears upon a restart of the machine, you can probably just remove it in System Preferences --> Users --> Start up items.

 

[dyt1983]

edit: To remove personally identifying info not relevant to the conversation.

 

[simonsi]

....you might as well run the installer and see what it says...

Possibly the worst advice I've seen for a while, fine for you to do on your own machine but you will hardly be there to clear up any damage caused eh?

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

If it is a standard installer, then it will always ask for password before installing everything. I don't think you guys understand that there's a difference between running the installer, and then actually installing something using that installer.

 

[simonsi]

If it is a standard installer, then it will always ask for password before installing everything. I don't think you guys understand that there's a difference between running the installer, and then actually installing something using that installer.

Basic safe (even sensible) computing practice is to not run anything you don't know the source and purpose of and trust.

So it runs, looks innocent, asks for the admin password and.....?

 

[Julien]

If it is a standard installer....

....and if it's not?

 

[thewap]

Had the same problem - used adware removal tool (free) worked for me.

http://www.thesafemac.com/art/

 

[stapoz]

So is OSX going to need an antivirus same Windows? So far I didn't have any problems with ad/spy-ware
But there are many apps (mainly free) which install many things in many folders. It's very difficult to find and remove every components since OSX doesn't have uninstaler (the OSX idea was to have everything needed for an app in its boundle). The good example is dropbox client, I was removing it few hours searching its files thrown around whole disk

 

[Queen6]

Had the same problem - used adware removal tool (free) worked for me.

http://www.thesafemac.com/art/

Genieo follow the above

Q-6

----------

So is OSX going to need an antivirus same Windows? So far I didn't have any problems with ad/spy-ware
But there are many apps (mainly free) which install many things in many folders. It's very difficult to find and remove every components since OSX doesn't have uninstaler (the OSX idea was to have everything needed for an app in its boundle). The good example is dropbox client, I was removing it few hours searching its files thrown around whole disk

Look at this thread on AV and Malware detection, you can then make your own decision, if you need or don't need further protection than OS X offers.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1819739/

Q-6

 

[davestretch]

Fixed

Thanks for all the advice. I used http://www.thesafemac.com/art/ and it found the file which indeed was Genio!

 

[matt9013]

Thanks for all the advice. I used http://www.thesafemac.com/art/ and it found the file which indeed was Genio!

Had the same issue and it was indeed Genio for me as well. Got rid of it though.

 

[Kromn]

Thanks!

Just signed up to this forum to thank you guys! I was having the same problem as OP, and the adware removal tool found 3(!) adware programs on my computer!

 

[rob3r7o]

Thanks!!!

Just signed up to this forum too, to thank you guys!

 

[malfromcessnock]

Solution to Genieo Installer

I too had the same annoying installer bug my MBP. Everyday I'd get a msg asking for my password to update my system - though I hadn't downloaded anything to install.

After reading this thread I did a search on Genieo and found two text scripts which had found their way into my system.

I deleted them a week ago and the problem no long prevails.

I also dl the suggested FREE software that found other nasties.

This forum is GOOD - in general, DO what the informed users suggest.

Hugs, Mal

 

[shanghaislim]

Possibly the worst advice I've seen for a while, fine for you to do on your own machine but you will hardly be there to clear up any damage caused eh?

This actually an Apple installer that allows you to read and write to external drives that were formatted by a pc. I'm trying to find it on mine so I can move some folders to an external drive. I wish I had your problem as I can't find it on my machine. How do you find hidden files on Mac?