samfromhernando

Q: IMac 10.9.1 Dual Core, 1 TB Mavericks, infected with virus?Trojan.FakeAV - -Rootkit.sirefef.spy in Safari! Help

I do not have AV and that is my mistake I guess. Please help as Safari is unusable. Each time I try I get a msg. "Suspicious Activity -You may have a virus".Then it re-directs to another page which says:" Rootkit.Sirefef.Spy  - - -  Trojan.FakeAV-Download"  Call 1800 247 9829 for immediate assistance in removing. Seems to me to be a scam but I can only Force Quit Safari tho everything else seems fine. Help an old disabled veteran if you can please!!!

Sam Sayger, Hernando, MS

iMovie '11, Mac OS X (10.6.7), 73 year handicap here!!

Posted on Aug 28, 2014 2:06 PM

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Q: IMac 10.9.1 Dual Core, 1 TB Mavericks, infected with virus?Trojan.FakeAV - -Rootkit.sirefef.spy in Safari! Help

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Aug 28, 2014 2:12 PM in response to samfromhernando
    Level 10 (271,794 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 28, 2014 2:12 PM in response to samfromhernando

    It is most likely a scam trying to get you to buy AV software or worse. Ignore.


    Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection

     

    An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.

    Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.

    See these Apple articles:

     

      Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection

      OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware

      OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware

      OS X Mavericks- Protect your Mac from malware

      About file quarantine in OS X

     

    If you require anti-virus protection Thomas Reed recommends using ClamXAV. (Thank you to Thomas Reed for this recommendation.)

     

    From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:

     

    The facts are:

     

    1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.

    2. There is no anti-malware that can detect anything targeting the Mac because there

         is no Mac malware in the wild, and therefore, no "signatures" to detect.

    3. The very best way to prevent the most attacks is for you as the user to be aware that

         the most successful malware attacks rely on very sophisticated social engineering

         techniques preying on human avarice, ****, and fear.

    4. Internet popups saying the FBI, NSA, Microsoft, your ISP has detected malware on

        your computer is intended to entice you to install their malware thinking it is a

        protection against malware.

    5. Some of the anti-malware products on the market are worse than the malware

        from which they purport to protect you.

    6. Be cautious where you go on the internet.

    7. Only download anything from sites you know are safe.

    8. Avoid links you receive in email, always be suspicious even if you get something

        you think is from a friend, but you were not expecting.

    9. If there is any question in your mind, then assume it is malware.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Aug 28, 2014 4:38 PM in response to samfromhernando
    Level 9 (50,379 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 28, 2014 4:38 PM in response to samfromhernando
    1. If Safari is running, force it to quit as you did before.
    2. Hold a shift key while launching Safari again.

     

    If the scam webpage continues to appear write back for additional instructions.

     

    1. Update OS X. Version 10.9.1 is quite old. Open the App Store and install all Apple recommended updates.

     

    I do not have AV ...


    This is a common misconception. Update OS X. It includes all the AV it requires. Don't use anything else.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 28, 2014 4:52 PM in response to samfromhernando
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Aug 28, 2014 4:52 PM in response to samfromhernando

    Quit the application. Force quit if necessary.

    Relaunch it by holding down the shift key and clicking its icon in the Dock. From the menu bar, select

              Safari Preferences... Privacy Remove All Website Data

    to get rid of any cookies or other data left by the server. Open your Downloads folder and delete anything you don't recognize.