I received a pop-up on my iPad saying that I've won a free iPad2 from apple consumer survey. Is this legit? I didn't click on "OK" thinking it is a virus, but my screen is locked up from safari. Thanks.

It's not legit and it's not a virus. Try resetting your iPad by pressing the home and sleep buttons until you see the Apple logo, ignoring the slider. Takes about 5-15 secs of button holding and you won't lose any data or settings.

You're welcome.

I had the same exact experience on my macbook pro. It happened twice, one day apart, and I had to kill my sessions to get rid of it. This is not part of Apple's description of how the malware infestation has been presenting, but I have to believe the inability to close the ad is a conscious design that enables some sort of download onto the targeted device. But I have yet to find an explanation for what these ads are doing.

This is what's happening on my iMac. I've tried force quit. I've restarted. I've turned the computer off. It's still there, and I can't use Safari. Any ideas, anyone?

I have the same problem with the same consumersurvey popup. I don't want to click OK on the popup and I can't get rid of it.

I'm having the same problem and am afraid I just junked my macbook pro. I came across it doing a google search for why all of the sudden Mac Mail can't seem to remember my Yahoo mail password. I clicked a link to a message board and this popup came up and locked Safari up tight. I can't access the preferences or cache, it has completely taken over Safari. It is not showing up as a virus on Sophos, I scanned Safari independently and it found nothing. Meanwhile what kind of data are these people mining off my computer? I can't even shut down the computer without just holding down the power button. But when I turn it back on it's still there.

HELP!

The Malware remover is not helpful...that is not what this is.

What happens when you click on Preferences and then try to clear your cache and history?

Everything is greyed out except for the O-kay button.

I ended up clicking the button because there seemed like no other option.

Pre Lion Safari always opened to my home page after a forced quit but now Safari always opens up at the last page viewed reguardless if it was a malware page or not.

So far I haven't experienced any unsual activity..

I can't click on preferences to clear my cache or change my settings. I've gone to System Preferences and unchecked the box that says "restore windows when quitting or restarting apps." I've tried option/comand/q...that shuts down the big safari window and makes the light under the safari icon in the dock go away but that popup is still there and won't let me shut the computer down without holding down the power button.

ETA: went through all those steps again but this time went against every fiber of my being and clicked "OK." Seems back to normal now, but am running Sophos and ClamXAV full scans over night. Will also be more vigilant in doing a Time Machine backup every week. I got a Mac to get away from this crap and had successfully avoided the fake antivirus thing even though that popup pops up all the time regardless of my popup settings too. 😟

It's very disappointing Apple seems to be AWOL on this. I guess they're tied up with the disastrous rollout of Lion.

AWOL on what? It is a browser hijacking, once they can get in and clear the cache and history it will be gone. They've been around for awhile and affect all types of computers and browsers. What is Apple supposed to do?

What "disastrous" rollout? Considering the huge change of selling it online, and the major shifts towards iOS, and the number of sales, I would say it went far, far better than it could have.

I've got the same issue on my wife's profile. Every time she launches Safari the free ipad2 popup is there and all the preferences option is greyed out. I have to force quit the application. I've not had such a problem with my Mac before, but 3 hours after installing Lion.....coincidence??

Any way to clear the cache without launching the safari app?

applechicken wrote:

Any way to clear the cache without launching the safari app?

On an iPad, on a Mac, or on a Windows system?

There is a lot of people getting this on their mac.

I call apple and spoke to a 2 level enginerr. They did not want to admit it was Malware, just a badly written app, but you are you fool'n

Anway. Deleted Cache folder contents

deleted preference folder contents

and in Lion, the Application Autosave folder contents.

I then delete Safari app, and restore the app from a good early TM backbup

reboot