Q: Safari-Alert ?scam?

Read the advise on : Apple Support Communities  /  Mac OS & System Software  /  OS X Mavericks

use the link:  Re: detect recent installed unauthorized remote control applications

and follow the instructions of Linc Davis to get rid off any application they may have installed on your pc. It worked for me.

I had the same thing happen with the pop up and the number to call.  I did call the number out of desperation to fix the problem, was on hold for 30 minutes, and then spoke to someone.  I was suspicious if it was a legitimate apple number or not, so I asked and the 'tech" told me it was.  The "tech" asked for my computer make (MacBook Pro), my first/last name, my birthdate, and email/username.  This information I gave. He didn't ask for my social security # or password and I wouldn't ever give those anyways.  He also never asked me to buy anything and I don't believe anything was installed.  He told me to shut the computer down and hold the shift bar down and then log back on.  The pop-up remained after I did this.  I was put on hold again and eventually we were disconnected.  I went on this site on my iPhone and fixed the problem with help from here......A BIG THANKS!  I am worried now if I gave too much information to that number that I could now be a victim of identify theft.  Thanks for any help and advice on what to do now!

pressing command W worked.  I had a pop up that kept saying "macsecurity alert" and giving me a 1 800 number to call toll free - it was to some entity trying to sell anti virus protection.

Thanks man, that helped. i am just curious how did that happened and do we prevent it in the future?

Hi all,

Just got the problem on Yosemite this morning. First, this is clearly a SCAM, and a pretty frustrating one. As previously mentioned, legitimate company don't block your application/system in order to force you to call them and get your money. Also the domain name is NOT a legitimate apple domain name. The most significant information on a domain name is at the right (not at the left). So if it does not END with apple.com then beware.

The problem on Yosemite is a bit more resistant. None of the techniques above worked for me.

But I managed to escape anyway by combining multiple techniques.

• First, quit Safari. To do this, press COMMAND, OPTION and ESC keys together to bring the Force Quit windows. Select Safari in the list and press the Force Quit button.
• Second: disconnect your mac COMPLETELY from the internet (WiFi, Ethernet cable, anything).
• Third: erase the following file ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db
  • You can do this using
    • (a) a terminal windows that you can find under the utilities folder in the application folder.
      • Then type in the command rm ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db
        
    • (b) you can use the Finder window.
      • Go under <your home directory> and then select Go-->Go to Folder (in the menu bar)
      • Type in the following directory Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari and delete the Cache.db file.
• Four, restart Safari,
  • Then close ALL Safari windows except for the main window (keep only one Safari window).
  • In the Safari main windows, delete ALL tabs.
• Five, you can now restart your internet connection and continue browsing and have a normal life with ALL your money and pride intact.

Cheers !

/Stephane.

My wife just got it (again) now. To fix it without disconnecting the internet and without going "under the hood", I just restarted Safari while pressing the shift key then use the new "Clear history and Website Data..." in the Safari menu and selected clear the past hour. After restating Safari normally (not pressing the shift key), the problem is gone.

Edit: to quit Safari when the problem is there, I simply used Command-Q (no need for Force-Quit)

Hi Laurent, this is good that you were able to get rid of that nuisance just with the shift key. For me, the shift key did not do of any good; maybe that's because I am on Yosemite.

I am on Yosemite too, you may want to try the option key instead...

the same thing happen to me and I gave to them my card information for charge too,  and anyone could help me how to delete what they installed on my computer? and after that what should I do I really sacre to use my computer again.

This seemed to work for me, when I restarted the WiFi was off and it took some "really" quick closing the window that caused the problem, but it looks like it did the trick.  And just as promised, I continue browsing with both my pride and my money so thank you!

I just had this happen to me, i have Clean My Mac installed on my mac, and to fix i just disconnected from the internet, ran the cleaner, restarted my computer, cleared all website data. That worked for me, hope it works for anyone else having the issue, DO NOT give them what they want, they are not Apple.

CleanMyMac is a scam, and very likely did not help in solving this issue. Disconnecting from the Internet, then clearing all website data should have been sufficient.

I Disconnected and tried to clean data before running my program, it did not help, I'm not saying this will help everyone I sm saying what I did and it worked for me. CleanMyMac is a legit program. Not a scam, the real scam is whiever is doing this to get money.

I'm glad it worked for you, but I wouldn't want anyone else to download a scam when they've already been plagued with a pop-up scam.

You can see more discussions on CleanMyMac here: https://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?type=discussion&showAnsweredFirst=true &q=cleanmymac&sort=updatedDesc.

And here's a good particular one: Re: how to delete tuneupmymac (the title says tuneupmymac, but read MichelPM's comments about Cleanmymac).

When you say:

I Disconnected and tried to clean data before running my program, it did not help

How did you attempt to manually "clean data?"

I need to clarify, I didn't attempt to use download CleanMyMac, my scamdar went off as soon as I saw it.  I couldn't get the window prompting me to download it to dismiss.  There was an OK button which when clicked would simply re-prompt the message.  It was a brutal cycle that I couldn't even open Safai Preferences, change windows, dismiss or hide, Safari 8.0 BTW was trapped by this malicious prompt to call for a solution.

Stephisa's suggestion:

But I managed to escape anyway by combining multiple techniques.

• First, quit Safari. To do this, press COMMAND, OPTION and ESC keys together to bring the Force Quit windows. Select Safari in the list and press the Force Quit button.
• Second: disconnect your mac COMPLETELY from the internet (WiFi, Ethernet cable, anything).
• Third: erase the following file ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db
  • You can do this using
    • (a) a terminal windows that you can find under the utilities folder in the application folder.
      • Then type in the command rm ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/Cache.db
    • (b) you can use the Finder window.
      • Go under <your home directory> and then select Go-->Go to Folder (in the menu bar)
      • Type in the following directory Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari and delete the Cache.db file.
• Four, restart Safari,
  • Then close ALL Safari windows except for the main window (keep only one Safari window).
  • In the Safari main windows, delete ALL tabs.
• Five, you can now restart your internet connection and continue browsing and have a normal life with ALL your money and pride intact.

Work perfectly for me, with a Shift+Open Safari I was able to beat the page prompt cycle and close the window out, but only after deleting the Cache.db file.  Hope that clarifies.