Unable change to email password on imac

Computer hacked! Asking for money!

Tried changing email password in email accounts, internet account also tried changing in key chain.

Tried removing and reinstall

Keeps replying unable to verify password

Can anyone advise

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 17, 2022 1:07 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 17, 2022 1:40 PM

On a different, safe computer, log into you mail accounts using a browser and change the passwords there (if your old password lets you in). Make a paper note of your new password until you have disinfected your hacked Mac. Malware can be removed using Malwarebytes.

7 replies

Oct 17, 2022 2:09 PM in response to Solo33

First, there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  


There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   


Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.


There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  


It sounds as if you might have clicked on a link that installed some adware. Run the free version of Malwarebytes and see if there's anything it catches.


If that fails to detect untying download and run Etrecheck.  Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.


Copy the report



and use the Additional Text button to paste the report in your reply.


Then we can evaluate the report to see if we can determine the cause of the problem.


Oct 18, 2022 12:33 PM in response to Solo33

First, there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  


There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   


Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.


There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  


That being said uninstall CleanMyMac and TotalAV according to the developer's instructions CMM is considered by most of the experienced users in these forums as akin to malware.


Also uninstall Adobe Flash Player. It was dropped by Adobe around 2 years ago and can be a security risk. No legitimate website uses flash any more. It's all HTML5.



Oct 18, 2022 1:31 AM in response to Solo33

Morning Toad

Thanks for all

Carried out check using your recommendation 'Etrecheck' and found it very useful

No major issues except Adobe, some minor with recommendations which I have now removed

Excellent bit of kit...will continue to use

Highlighted below average performance which was a surprise....not sure what to do with that

I fully understand your comment on using third party antivirus but I'm not fully savvy around the computer so this was an easy choice. It does make it easier all in one place, will leave it running for now than remove in the future once I have secured all


Still have the problem of not changing my email password, there must be something on the computer preventing this?


Great help and much appreciated


Regards

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Unable change to email password on imac

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