anthonyitaliano
Level 1 (32 points)
Apple TV

Q: mac protector?

accidentally clicked a button and installed (but did not register) something called "Mac Protector". some sort of anti-virus software. was this put out by mac? should i not buy/register for it? is it a good thing? has it ever messed up someone's macbook/laptop?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 7, 2011 6:17 AM

by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer
Linc Davis Linc Davis
Level 10 (208,027 points)
Applications
A:

It's malware. Boot in safe mode (shift key down at startup.) Delete the MacProtector application, or anything else you don't recognize. Open the Accounts preference pane and delete any login items you don't recognize. Reboot as usual. If using Safari, open Preferences > General and uncheck the box labeled "Open safe files after downloading." Please learn to search the discussions before posting, as this subject has come up several times.

Posted on May 7, 2011 6:40 AM

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anthonyitaliano

Q: mac protector?

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  • by mwfanelli,Helpful

    mwfanelli mwfanelli May 7, 2011 6:38 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 1 (70 points)
    May 7, 2011 6:38 AM in response to anthonyitaliano

    You installed a vicious malware product. Never ever install something you know nothing about. Do a search for "MacProtector" and you'll find plenty of threads about it and how to get rid of it.

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 7, 2011 6:40 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 10 (208,027 points)
    Applications
    May 7, 2011 6:40 AM in response to anthonyitaliano

    It's malware. Boot in safe mode (shift key down at startup.) Delete the MacProtector application, or anything else you don't recognize. Open the Accounts preference pane and delete any login items you don't recognize. Reboot as usual. If using Safari, open Preferences > General and uncheck the box labeled "Open safe files after downloading." Please learn to search the discussions before posting, as this subject has come up several times.

  • by anthonyitaliano,

    anthonyitaliano anthonyitaliano May 7, 2011 7:04 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Apple TV
    May 7, 2011 7:04 AM in response to Linc Davis

    thank you. tried to search discussion but somehow missed it.

     

    i booted in safe mode, and moved it to trash from my applications folder, then secured the trash (emptied it). no longer on my computer, so THANK YOU.

     

    i also did what you said about safari and unchecked the box labeled "open safe files after downloading". please forgive me for asking this question if it has been answered in the discussion panel already, but what exactly did unchecking that box do? it would seem that after having trashed the macprotector, i WOULD want "open safe files". stupid question, but when i start up my computer from now on, will it be opening "unsafe" files?

     

    again, sorry for the stupid question. should i ever go back and re-check that box again in the future?

     

    thanks.

  • by WZZZ,Helpful

    WZZZ WZZZ May 7, 2011 7:23 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 6 (13,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 7, 2011 7:23 AM in response to anthonyitaliano

    Just means when you download something, it won't automatically open. You open it manually. That way it doesn't get to open and, perhaps, run without your approval. I would not trust your Mac to decide what is safe and what is not. Keep that box unchecked. Before you allow anything to run and install, be 150% sure it's OK. You can Google it and see what others may be saying.

     

    There are no Mac viruses. You don't especially need any AV software. The best protection against malware like this is to use your brains and be on the alert for scams.

     

    But read this.

     

    http://www.reedcorner.net/guides/macvirus/

  • by anthonyitaliano,

    anthonyitaliano anthonyitaliano May 7, 2011 7:27 AM in response to WZZZ
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Apple TV
    May 7, 2011 7:27 AM in response to WZZZ

    Thanks again. Not sure how I accidentally installed it. Didn't mean to. Think it did any harm to my computer in meantime? I never registered or gave credit card info. Noticed my MacBook started up a little slower upon restarting after having trashed it.

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ May 7, 2011 7:43 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 6 (13,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 7, 2011 7:43 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Noticed my MacBook started up a little slower upon restarting after having trashed it.

    Did you see if there was a Login Item in System Preferences>Accounts? If it's there, you remove it by clicking the minus button.

  • by anthonyitaliano,

    anthonyitaliano anthonyitaliano May 7, 2011 7:46 AM in response to WZZZ
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Apple TV
    May 7, 2011 7:46 AM in response to WZZZ

    all good. thanks again.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 7, 2011 7:48 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 10 (208,027 points)
    Applications
    May 7, 2011 7:48 AM in response to anthonyitaliano

    You must have visited a rogue website that caused an Installer package to be downloaded and opened automatically. Do you remember seeing an Installer screen? If so, did it prompt you to enter your password, and did you do so?

  • by anthonyitaliano,

    anthonyitaliano anthonyitaliano May 7, 2011 7:58 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Apple TV
    May 7, 2011 7:58 AM in response to Linc Davis

    think i was just checking my email, and somehow installer package downloaded and opened automatically. don't recall it prompting me for my password. don't think i put in a password. everything seems to be working fine now. can't thank you all enough.

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ May 7, 2011 8:04 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 6 (13,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 7, 2011 8:04 AM in response to anthonyitaliano

    email? Did you open an attachment or click on an embedded link to a site?

  • by anthonyitaliano,

    anthonyitaliano anthonyitaliano May 7, 2011 8:18 AM in response to WZZZ
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Apple TV
    May 7, 2011 8:18 AM in response to WZZZ

    honestly don't remember. i certainly don't remember opening an attachment. i know this sounds weird, but it's almost like i was just checking my email, and all of a sudden, this thing just popped up and started installing itself. i might be wrong. it really just seemed to happen so fast, and i was like..."what the **** is this"?

  • by chris277,

    chris277 chris277 May 7, 2011 9:23 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 7, 2011 9:23 AM in response to anthonyitaliano

    I have the  same problem and i rebooted in safe mode and the app is not showing up. So then I left safe mode and it showed up again and i keep going back and forth in this and it never shows up in safe mode, any help?

     

    P.S. I noticed that through all the threads everybody's been having this problem today on May 7th

  • by anthonyitaliano,

    anthonyitaliano anthonyitaliano May 7, 2011 9:43 AM in response to chris277
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Apple TV
    May 7, 2011 9:43 AM in response to chris277

    after i rebooted in safe mode, the app doesn't show up. go to your applications folder and look for it. find it in applications and drag it to the trash and empty your trash. everything wzzz told me to do seemed to work. then restart computer the usual way (not in safe mode). if you search for it (macprotector), it should be gone.

     

    don't get ****** wzzz, but on a totally different discussion, my macbook still has trouble finding my wifi every once in a while. problem occurs in spurts. searched this in discussion forum before, and found very complicated solutions. went to genius bar at mac store few months ago. genius changed some settings on my macbook, but still happens. have an easy solution for me? i know, i know... i'm sure this is solved somewhere in the forum, but not you have me trusting YOUR advice.

     

    thanks

  • by chris277,

    chris277 chris277 May 7, 2011 9:50 AM in response to anthonyitaliano
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 7, 2011 9:50 AM in response to anthonyitaliano

    oops i feel stupid our finder was squished together we didnt see it sorry thanks for the advice! we got it

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