DuckDuckGo browser, iMac 24-inch A/O, using Malwarebytes Ultimate with VPN on. Can’t load https://mypay.dfas.mil/ website to get my W-2

RetiredANGHC116 wrote:

Uninstalled MalwareBytes on both our iMac and Dell with Windows, and both are working fine now, with easy access to the website I couldn't get to before. Thanks for your assistance! Let me know if the Host changes my Author username.

FYI, for the average user much of information in the link originally provided by @John Galt really applies to Windows systems as well these days as does the link provided by @dialabrain.

Unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's, school's or bank's servers, they provide false security from a privacy standpoint.  Read these articles:  Pubic VPN's are anything but private and Security Risks: The Dangers of Using Free VPNs (eccu.edu).    

Additionally a new study ("Apple Offers Apps With Ties to Chinese Military”) is specifically about VPN apps in Apple’s App Store.

I recommend uninstalling the VPN according to the developer's instructions. Then you can check to see if you've removed all of the supporting files by downloading and running the shareware app Find Any File  to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For the XXXX files you'd do the following search(es): 

1 - Name contains  xxxx

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  

If you get warnings that the file can't be deleted because it is in use or used by another app boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac, run Find Any File again and delete from there.

Note:  if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode.  This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will assure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

I tried going to the website you listed and got this notice:

Warning: I would not use Chrome or Edge. Chrome mines your user data as you explore the internet and sells the info to other companies.

I tried Brave browser on the same website and got the login page without a problem. Brave is a safe and fast browser. I use it when Safari fails.

I have Malwarebytes Ultimate installed for anti-virus and all kinds of protections as well. VPN is on.

Start by getting rid of all of it. Your Mac will never work properly otherwise. Follow their respective uninstallation instructions, assuming you can find them, and that they work. Otherwise contact their respective developers for uninstallation instructions.

For what it's worth I can load that site without any difficulty whatsoever.

Rule 1 of Macs is don't install junk.

Opera Browser

Please read Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community. It may be long but that's the point — there is no magic pill, and expecting one (or several) such magic potions to protect you and your Mac from harm is not only ineffective, it's irresponsible. Besides, they will prevent your Mac from working (as you discovered).

If not for such things traffic to this site would diminish by half, at least.

Unfortunately ridding your Mac of that "junk" can be tedious, time-consuming, and frustrating. Hence my oft-repeated advice to not install it to begin with. It's the first step in a well-worn path to misery.

The only vulnerability presented by posting to this site is your name, but it seems common enough to me that I would not be concerned. The Apple Support Community Terms of Use implores us not to divulge any personal information, and a name is arguably personal.

If you are concerned though, I can ask the site Hosts to change it.

Your computer does not need any third party protections. You do need to protect your personal/financial information. A phone call, message, or email asking you to give them your credit card number is not going to be stopped by MalwareBytes.

While the scammers are not that blatant on what they want from you, consider they all attempt to scare you into taking some action. NEVER give out any personal/financial information from a phone call and do not call a number or click a link in an email/message and give anyone that information. It makes no difference if they say they are Apple, another company, or even your Bank. There are always known contacts you can use to call a company for confirmation of anything that concerns you.

You should look at this as well…

Recognize and avoid social engineering schemes including phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support

Consider it done.

All we can do is ask, so it's in their hands now. If you continue to have trouble loading that site, by all means write back and you'll get the attention you need.

👍

Great news. Thanks for the update!

I use Malwarebytes free version for just scanning for malware. It's no invasive so it must have been the VPN that was causing the problem. Glad you got it sorter. 👍