glassydame

Q: How do I remove a virus from my iMac?

My computer has a virus.  I don't know what to do about it.  MacKeeper was downloaded when I tried to update a Flash player.  Now I'm having lots of problems and pop-ups.  I trashed it and securely emptied the trash but I'm now getting messages that I have probably 2 viruses.  I don't trust where this information is coming from and wonder how I can get rid of the viruses.  I don't want to give anyone access to my computer to fix it online when I don't know who they are.  Can I take it to an Apple Store or an Apple authorized dealer?  Please help!

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Mar 5, 2015 9:07 AM

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Q: How do I remove a virus from my iMac?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Allan Eckert,Solvedanswer

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Mar 5, 2015 9:09 AM in response to glassydame
    Level 9 (53,640 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 5, 2015 9:09 AM in response to glassydame

    You don't have virus.

     

    You most likely have adware, you can try  http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

  • by glassydame,

    glassydame glassydame Mar 5, 2015 9:24 AM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Safari
    Mar 5, 2015 9:24 AM in response to Allan Eckert

    I keep getting a pop up that says my computer has been infected with Rootkit.spyware and Trojan.malware.  It seems to be affecting Safari, but not Firefox.  How do I get rid of these?  Will the link you gave me before work on them?

     

    Thanks!

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Mar 5, 2015 9:34 AM in response to glassydame
    Level 8 (37,837 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 5, 2015 9:34 AM in response to glassydame

    Different problem. These are scam pages that lock Safari to that page. You aren't infected with anything, despite what the page claims. Nothing was even download to your Mac. It's a JavaScript trick to keep Safari stuck to that page.

     

    Force quit Safari. Hold the shift key and relaunch it.

  • by glassydame,

    glassydame glassydame Mar 5, 2015 9:45 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Safari
    Mar 5, 2015 9:45 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    For Alan and Kurt,

     

    Thank you so much for your help.  What a relief.  I used the link http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php and it cleaned everything out in less than a minute.  It had commandeered my Home Page, but I got that back now and so far no pop ups. 

     

    ~~Margo

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Mar 5, 2015 11:13 AM in response to glassydame
    Level 9 (53,640 points)
    Desktops
    Mar 5, 2015 11:13 AM in response to glassydame

    You are welcome. Glad we could help.

  • by redkelpie,

    redkelpie redkelpie Oct 24, 2015 6:37 PM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 24, 2015 6:37 PM in response to Allan Eckert

    Mate , you are a GENIUS ..ive been so depressed ..thinking my beautiful iMac was dead ….with an increasing number of pop ups that started taunting me with what they knew about my Mac's inner secrets ,,like my ISP etc …and NOW …after a few minutes it all looks like its GONE ..so i hope that is the last i will ever have this experience again. PHEW !!!!    you did such a great service ..Thank you ….

    Greetings from Downunder   

     

    redkelpie

  • by tomholly97,

    tomholly97 tomholly97 Feb 8, 2016 1:54 PM in response to glassydame
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2016 1:54 PM in response to glassydame

    I have a virus that disabled Safari and a window popped up wanting me to call a 1800 scam to have it removed.  My mac seems unharmed but safari is disabled.  I ran a Mcaffy virus scan and it doesn't see it.  How do I get rid if this sucker so I can use Safari again?  Is Chrome more resistant to this crap? Thanks!

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Feb 8, 2016 2:07 PM in response to tomholly97
    Level 8 (37,837 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 8, 2016 2:07 PM in response to tomholly97

    Explained above. You don't a virus or any type of malware.

     

    These are scam pages that lock Safari to that page. You aren't infected with anything, despite what the page claims. Nothing was even download to your Mac. It's a JavaScript trick to keep Safari stuck to that page.

     

    Force quit Safari. Hold the shift key and relaunch it.

     

    No. Chrome, Opera, Firefox or any other browser is not immune. The only way to completely prevent it is to turn JavaScript off in the browser's preferences. But if you do that, much of the web doesn't work.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Feb 8, 2016 3:24 PM in response to tomholly97
    Level 9 (53,640 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 8, 2016 3:24 PM in response to tomholly97

    The reply you posted in this certainly reflects that you failed to read the thread prior to posting here. Just a little bit of reading on your part would have saved you the trouble of posted because the question you posted has already been answered.

  • by tomholly97,

    tomholly97 tomholly97 Feb 8, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Allan Eckert
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 8, 2016 4:03 PM in response to Allan Eckert

    Allen,  Don't be a snob... I'm literate and graduated with an advanced degree from a top institution.  I read the thread and after pushing shift and quitting Safari the JavaScript is still there with the scam and Safari is frozen.  I'm in the operating room all day and not behind a computer.  Sorry, I know I'm inferior to you making $300k a year.  Have a good day

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Feb 8, 2016 4:20 PM in response to tomholly97
    Level 8 (49,226 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 8, 2016 4:20 PM in response to tomholly97

    Please read Phony "tech support" / "ransomware" popups and web pages for a description of, and the solution to, this common scam.

     

    Uninstall "McAfee" according to its instructions. Do not use such garbage on Macs. Please read Effective defenses against malware and other threats.