marlenefromdenver

Q: Safari-Alert ?scam?

I was browsing Safari on my IMac today when I suddenly got a dialogue box supposedly from Apple Security called Safaro-Alert. It claims suspicious activity detected. Your browser might have been hijacked and then it gives a number to call 1-866-782-9808 (Not Apple)

Since then I cannot quit Safari on the IMac and when I force quit it returns as soon as I open it.

Anyone else had this experience. Bob (Using my wife's MacBook)

iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Sep 3, 2014 3:29 PM

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Q: Safari-Alert ?scam?

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  • by MochiMaddness,

    MochiMaddness MochiMaddness Apr 26, 2015 12:50 PM in response to marlenefromdenver
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 26, 2015 12:50 PM in response to marlenefromdenver

    The same thing just happened to me, I had this number pop up with the "Phishing attempt" box and I would not get rid of it even after restarting my computer.  1-877-899-1824.  They told me someone form Arizona had hacked into my computer.  I gave them control of my mac and they installed "Clean my mac" software and this all took about 1.5 hours as I was on the phone with them.  I gave them my name, address and phone number and they had me electronically sign some "agreement" that I would pay with a check and send it out in the mail.  $300.00 for 1 year of protection.  I have not paid anyone yet and will not, but now I'm scared that these people have my personal information, and still have control of my computer somehow.  What do I do now??  Can I take my mac to an apple store and have them look at it and get rid of whatever they put on my computer, (if anything)?  Please give me some advice!

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Apr 26, 2015 1:06 PM in response to MochiMaddness
    Level 5 (7,842 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 26, 2015 1:06 PM in response to MochiMaddness

    bad news. I expect thomas_r will chime in shortly...

     

    The Safe Mac » Tech support scam pop-ups

    www.thesafemac.com/tech-support-scam-pop-ups/

     

    Jan 6, 2015 - I shut down and restarted and the pop-up was still there so I stupidly called the number 1-877-899-1824 and reached someone name Harry in ...
  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Apr 28, 2015 6:29 AM in response to MochiMaddness
    Level 7 (30,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 28, 2015 6:29 AM in response to MochiMaddness

    The fact that you gave them remote access to your computer is bad. They may have left some little nasties around, like a backdoor to get back in to your system in the future or a keylogger to steal your passwords. They may also have accessed any of the unencrypted data on your hard drive.

     

    To start, erase the hard drive and reinstall everything from scratch:

     

    How to reinstall Mac OS X from scratch

     

    Alternately, if you use Time Machine (or something similar) for backups, you can restore your whole system to a point in time prior to giving them access.

     

    Once you have a clean system, you need to start doing things to protect yourself. Change all passwords for all online accounts. If you have any sensitive financial data in unencrypted form on your computer, such as credit card or bank account numbers, notify the company/bank of the potential breach in each case.

     

    These people may also have enough information at this point to effectively steal your identity, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to sign up for a credit monitoring service, like LifeLock. (I don't actually know if LifeLock is any good or not, and don't recommend for or against them; that's just the one that most people recognize, so I used it as an example.)

     

    DO NOT send the check!

     

    (Fair disclosure: I may receive compensation from links to my sites, TheSafeMac.com and AdwareMedic.com.)

  • by citipunk,

    citipunk citipunk Apr 29, 2015 2:45 PM in response to marlenefromdenver
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 29, 2015 2:45 PM in response to marlenefromdenver

    I'm new to mac and had same problem. I typed same website address to firefox and when I closed dialog window firefox asked me if i want to open next dialog window (i ticked that don't) Website is www. applealert .co.uk/popup (no spaces- do not open it in safari )

    what works is to delete safari cash file, turn off internet, open safari, close problem tab/window, then turn internet again.Zrzut ekranu 2015-04-29 o 22.38.40.png

     

    att image is firefox screenshoot and its inspector tab.

     

    THX thedb84 for tip

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC Apr 29, 2015 3:10 PM in response to citipunk
    Level 5 (7,842 points)
    Notebooks
    Apr 29, 2015 3:10 PM in response to citipunk

    citipunk

     

    Welcome to ASC - for a new Mac user, pretty spiffy problem solving! I predict a bright future here helping folks. Keep it up.

     

    buenos tardes

    ÇÇÇ

  • by Crivellone,

    Crivellone Crivellone May 9, 2015 11:24 AM in response to marlenefromdenver
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 9, 2015 11:24 AM in response to marlenefromdenver

    This just happened to me in Google Chrome. I had no idea what to do so I called the 877 number that was referred on the popup... I'm pretty sure the number is affiliated with the popup and is part of the scam. The guy basically hijacked my computer and kept asking for more and more information. I know enough about IT to know when I'm getting jacked around by someone, so I kept asking questions and making suggestions but he ran me in circles like I was stupid. Finally when he told me I would have to pay 200$ and let him work on my computer for 30 minutes I was like YEAH RIGHT and told him I couldn't pay him for that and hung up. Just shut your computer off, unplug it or hit the button whatever you can do shut it down. Then when you open up the page will say you'll need to resubmit because it's timed out. Just close the tab and you should be fine. I changed my passwords and things too because he made me download something called Rescue.Me and I wasn't sold on it being safe and I'm keeping an eye on my bank accounts since I shop online sometimes.

    Just don't call the number, they just want money and you can fix the issue yourself.

  • by ChitlinsCC,

    ChitlinsCC ChitlinsCC May 9, 2015 11:51 AM in response to Crivellone
    Level 5 (7,842 points)
    Notebooks
    May 9, 2015 11:51 AM in response to Crivellone

    Crivellone

     

    You did good = EXCEPT you DOWNLOADED what they told you!

     

    Consider your Mac compromised.

     

    See the replies in Anybody hear of Geek Technical Support? They seemed to know what they were doing, but their business practices were suspicious. - especially the ones from etresoft and thomas_r

     

    ÇÇÇ

  • by khaviles,

    khaviles khaviles May 15, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 15, 2015 9:30 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Soo SOO helpful! just saying.....

     

    thank you!

  • by liverpool idave,

    liverpool idave liverpool idave May 16, 2015 6:56 AM in response to mattglen
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 16, 2015 6:56 AM in response to mattglen

    Thanks this worked a treat!!

  • by cicero2,

    cicero2 cicero2 May 19, 2015 4:33 PM in response to marlenefromdenver
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 19, 2015 4:33 PM in response to marlenefromdenver

    Thank you, thank you Linc Davis.

  • by krh2015,

    krh2015 krh2015 Jun 2, 2015 9:43 AM in response to marlenefromdenver
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 9:43 AM in response to marlenefromdenver

    So I called the number and gave them my email and name. When they asked to access my computer I hung up. I found this chat room and read through everything. I deleted my downloads and my website data. Is there anything else I need to do? I am just worried they have access to my computer. But they can't do that with my name and email can they?

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Jun 2, 2015 10:01 AM in response to krh2015
    Level 7 (30,924 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2015 10:01 AM in response to krh2015

    If you didn't download and install something to give them remote access, they can't have taken it. You're fine.

  • by cicero2,

    cicero2 cicero2 Jun 2, 2015 11:44 AM in response to marlenefromdenver
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 2, 2015 11:44 AM in response to marlenefromdenver

    Yes, this should be fine. Apple had me close down and restart. When you see the gray screen hold down "shift" and that will get you to a safe screen so you can delete everything.  You could also go to Safari -Preferences - Security - and disable Java Script; leave the Preferences Dialogue open. Close the malicious window. Re-enable Java Script.

  • by beener0701,

    beener0701 beener0701 Jun 2, 2015 7:44 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 7:44 PM in response to thomas_r.

    Hello. So I'm not the most tech savvy person and I fell victim to this scam. It was on my IPad. I called the number and fell for everything they were telling me. They asked for my phone number, email, and credit card number. They sounded so helpful and I completely fell for it! I never dow loaded anything they said. They just said that they could help me and it would cost me $30. Now I'm a college student and am living with my parents. My mother after hearing this immediately told me that we need to take action. So we froze my credit card, called them and terminated my credit card account. Everything seems to be fine now. Nothing seemed to be taken. And even though they never asked for computer access, I made sure to call a legit support company and they said nothing thankfully was in our computers. This whole ordeal has made me so anxious just because I feel as though they will be angry about not getting the money, but I know now that they just wanted to get a quick $30. Everyone please be careful out there. Use me as an example of you must

  • by beener0701,

    beener0701 beener0701 Jun 2, 2015 8:16 PM in response to beener0701
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 2, 2015 8:16 PM in response to beener0701

    OH also, the next morning I went to Apple, told them what happened and we were able to basically deactivate my iPad and then deactivate it as if it were a new iPad. Just in case they were able to get into the iPad. I also did this with my iPhone. I dont think I can do anything else except be more aware correct?

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