I received an email (copied below) from MacPaw. It is the company that owns CleanMyMac. I didn’t know they were a company based in Ukraine, and thus I had no concern that in some way the Russians might be able to hack into my computer if they managed to take over the company headquarters.
This is the app I have used for years to check for malware and clean files to make my Mac run more efficiently. I regularly receive emails from them. This is the part of the email I received Sunday . It is meant to reassure users of the app about the security of their data:
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MacPaw was founded and operated primarily in Kyiv, Ukraine. For us, the security of our team members is paramount. We've prepared various assistance programs and launched an emergency plan to ensure the safety of our peers based in Ukraine.
What does this situation mean for our users?
With regards to the use of our products – nothing. We at MacPaw have been preparing for these circumstances and were already mainly working remotely to ensure no disruptions in the support and development of our products.
We’ve been enjoying working for you all these years and appreciate all the trust you've put into our company. We won't disappoint your expectations.
Although our office is located in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, we securely host all of our infrastructure and user data on Amazon Web Services. The cloud service server's physical location is outside Ukraine.
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Paddle, the payment provider MacPaw works with, operates from the United Kingdom. The company treats user payment details with great care and complies with world data privacy and security standards.️
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Here's the text of the entire email (I couldn’t remove the blank spaces below):
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MacPaw was proudly founded and operates primarily in Kyiv, Ukraine. On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. We ensure the safety of our peers based in Ukraine and no disruptions in the support and development of our products but a lot of human lives are put on the line now.️
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We urge you to stand with Ukraine as it is shielding freedom, common values, democracy, and security of Europe and the world.️
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What is currently happening in Ukraine
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Russian air forces and artillery are shelling Ukrainian cities, military bases, and command centers, attacking civilian neighborhoods and buildings with rockets, using methods of ecological terrorism. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, 352 civilians have been killed, 1,684 injured, children among them, more than 370,000 people have fled the country, while many are displaced and forced to bomb shelters.️
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The Ukrainian army is successfully repelling attacks by the Russian invasion troops. We’re staying strong and united in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.️
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Find out the truth about the events in Ukraine️
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Oleksandr Kosovan, Founder and CEO of MacPaw on the current situation in Ukraine️:
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What does this situation mean for our users?
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With regards to the use of our products – nothing. We at MacPaw have been preparing for these circumstances. We securely host all of our infrastructure and user data on Amazon Web Services. The cloud service server's physical location is outside Ukraine.️
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Werner Vogels, CTO of Amazon, confirms your data is secure.️
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Paddle, the payment provider MacPaw works with, operates from the United Kingdom. The company treats user payment details with great care and complies with world data privacy and security standards.️
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Learn more about MacPaw’s Operations amidst the Russian Aggression against Ukraine️.
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How you can support Ukraine
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MacPaw team members are donating blood, money, and providing assistance to Ukrainian charities supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We also actively spread the word about what’s happening in Ukraine and share information about ways to help Ukrainians in the war started by Russian Federation against Ukraine.️
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Your help will be of great value! Here are ways of how you can help Ukraine from any place in the world right now.️
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Donate and Assist️
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Sign the petition for a no-fly zone over Ukraine️
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Civilian populations are in the line of fire and residential buildings, schools and hospitals have already been hit by missiles and bombardments from the aggressor’s vastly superior air capabilities. A no-fly zone is necessary to limit civilian casualty.️
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Sign the petition now️
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#StandWithUkraine️
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Follow and use this hashtag on your social media to indicate your support and drive the world's attention to the cause.️
Your MacPaw Team
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This is the article by the CEO and founder of MacPaw: MacPaw’s Operations amidst the Russian Aggression against Ukraine
This is the link to their website about the Russian attack:
Not to impugn their motives but it should be noted that they stand to benefit monetarily from this effort if people avail themselves of the year long free trial and then decide to purchase an additional year for $39.95. This is from the bottom of the page of this website (their bold in the last paragraph):
To the media who tirelessly provide truthful coverage of the war in Ukraine
We are deeply grateful to each and every one of you. In this crucial time for democracy and freedom, we are humbled by your dedication to work so hard, often in bad conditions and dangerous situations.
We want your devices to work as flawlessly as you do and be protected from malware. That’s why we are providing a free year of subscription to CleanMyMac for your devices.
We invite all media currently covering the war in Ukraine to please contact pr_team@macpaw.com with your name, a number of licenses you need, and the name of your media outlet to get a promo code for your free year of CleanMyMac X.
I would rather that they’d have left this promotion of their app out. It may just be a personal quirk but I think that there are times when companies should just do the right thing and not throw in something that can be constructed by cynics like me to suggest they want to sell their products even if it is in the guise of offering a free trial for a year.
Addendum:
Is CleanMyMac X Worth it? (The Truth) Full Review | 2021
2022 TechJury
See my comments for more.
