tomasr

Q: My MBP will not reboot with Control-R for a reinstall of OCX.

My 2012 MBP with OSX 10.10.5 has a virus (I was told in the rootkit - ??) that can't be found by my antivirius (Webroot and then tried AVG).  I was told it is best to restore an earlier system, so I've tried but I cannot get past step one.  I tried 1) restart, holding Control-R between the gray screen and the Apple logo.  But I do not get any reinstall options after that - only a normal start-up follows, no matter how I try to time the Control-R restart.

 

Is this an issue with Yosemite?  My "old" MacBook Pro?  Me?

 

Suggestions?

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Sep 8, 2015 6:52 AM

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Q: My MBP will not reboot with Control-R for a reinstall of OCX.

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  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 8, 2015 7:31 AM in response to tomasr
    Level 6 (8,035 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2015 7:31 AM in response to tomasr

    if you AV is telling you that you have a virus it is most likely a false positive. AVG is reportedly a botched application for Mac and AV as a whole on the Mac is generally more trouble than it is worth at this time.

    remove all traces of any AV and any "Clean my Mac" applications you may have

     

    since you most likely do not have a virus your system does not need to be restored. Whoever told you that you do have a virus will need to back up that statement with some proof. Is your computer in a place where someone other than yourself could sit at it and install a rootkit from directly on the keyboard or over a remote session with your credentials? Have you given someone your credentials? have you knowingly installed a rootkit recently?

     

    While I don't fully endorse it you may want to try this to get a second opinion and ONLY if you answered yes to any of the questions I asked in the paragraph above. Again this is not a piece of software I use on the mac but historically have used on Windows and have some faith in the manufacturer. To that extent I do not claim to know the full extent of how well it works on mac or if there would be further ramifications by installing it. I offer it a something to mull over and make your own decision after doing some research.

    http://www.eset.com/int/support/rootkit-detector/

     

     

    if the system is exhibiting signs of problematic behavior you may submit an etrecheck report to determine what the actual cause may be

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

     

    In the mean tine if a problem persists with system functionality.

    reset your SMC

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

    rest your PRAM

    How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by tomasr,

    tomasr tomasr Sep 8, 2015 8:51 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 8:51 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    Hello Jimmy -

    The problem is pornographic images and ads popping up when I am using Safari, on the internet, followed by a full-screen ad for a Mac Cleaner.  I found cookies for that site, and deleted the cookies.  The cookies reappeared later, as did the same ads.  (The sites I was visiting when this happens had absolutely nothing to do with pornographic mat'l, nor have I ever visited a pornographic mat'l site, ever.)  The Mac Cleaner ad, I suspect, is a counterfeit and I have not clicked anywhere on that page - I shut down Safari to stop the intrusion.

     

    That recurrent irritation led my friend to suspect a virus buried in a rootkit (she thought I had a PC, not a Mac).  Her advice was to restore the OS back to a clean and safe date.

     

    Can you think of why I can't get to a restore option at all, after restarting with Control-R?

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 8, 2015 8:51 AM in response to tomasr
    Level 6 (8,035 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2015 8:51 AM in response to tomasr

    you need to clean safari and reset it

    http://www.macissues.com/2015/06/22/how-to-fully-reset-safari-on-your-mac/

     

    you likely have a simple browser hijack, not anything else.

     

    if you use a different browser does it exhibit the same behavior?

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 8, 2015 8:52 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 6 (8,035 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2015 8:52 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    CMD+R is the key sequence, but I don't think you need to get to this yet, try cleaning Safari first.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 8, 2015 11:23 AM in response to tomasr
    Level 9 (72,512 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 8, 2015 11:23 AM in response to tomasr

    Safari/Browsers - Eliminating browser redirects and advertisements

     

    Safari/Browsers - Eliminating browser redirects and advertisements (2)


    Safari – Popup takes over


    Force quit Safari from the  menu and reopen with the shift key held down. If that doesn’t work, disconnect from the Internet, open Safari, and then reconnect to the Internet. See link for other suggestions.

     

    ou can also check for malware. Manual method:

     

    Malware – Adware removal – Apple Support

     

    Or download this program which was written by Thomas Reed, a long time poster. The program will do the work for you which makes it easy. If you are uncertain about downloading programs, try the manual method.


     

    Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac      10.7 and later

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Sep 8, 2015 11:44 AM in response to tomasr
    Level 6 (10,497 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2015 11:44 AM in response to tomasr

    You have a scam: quit or forcequit Safari. the restart safari while holding the Shift key. Then in Safari menu "Clear History and Website Data".

    You have been infected with adware: download AdwareMedic and run it: http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

    You must uninstall all AntiVirus apps; they don't remove the problems on the mac and interfere with the OSX.

    To start in the Recovery Partition you hold CMD+R while starting (not ctl+R).

    Lex

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 8, 2015 11:50 AM in response to tomasr
    Level 9 (50,861 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 8, 2015 11:50 AM in response to tomasr

    tomasr wrote:

     

     

     

    Can you think of why I can't get to a restore option at all, after restarting with Control-R?

    Because that is the wrong command. Use Command-R

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Sep 8, 2015 12:03 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 6 (10,497 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2015 12:03 PM in response to Csound1

    haha C I was a sec earlier...

    Lex

    Ciao

  • by tomasr,

    tomasr tomasr Sep 8, 2015 12:15 PM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 12:15 PM in response to Lexiepex

    Yes, I know to use and always do use Command when I should.  I did use Command - R, and the machine insists on booting up as usual.  I also almost always say "Control" when I mean Command, to my wife's continuing confusion.  I'm sorry.  A habit, maybe, from PC days.

     

    The rest of your suggestions, and the others from the others, I need to study...

     

    Thank you, so far...

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Sep 8, 2015 12:35 PM in response to tomasr
    Level 6 (10,497 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 8, 2015 12:35 PM in response to tomasr

    Do the three things I posted. You can check in numerous threads here that it will solve your issues.

    Lex