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Completer wants to make changes

I just got a pop up saying "Completer wants to make changes. The your password to allow this." Has anyone ever seen this?


Thanks

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Dec 18, 2014 5:41 PM

Reply
78 replies

Jan 7, 2015 3:18 PM in response to bobshot

You have the prerequisite to Genieo malware infection. So many Macs and people have this and few really do not know how to stop it. Here is what you need to do.


1. DO NOT Subscribe to any of these links posted trying to get you to download or buy some cleaner software. These people will give you something first and then charge you to get rid of it.

2. DO NOT provide your password as this will actuate the malware

3. Look at the top right of your screen at the icons and make sure you are not already infected

4. Go to Finder and then at the top navigate to your the Library Folder

5. From there, you will have to search all the sub folders and you will find a file or files in the launch folder or other folder that have file name ....genieo.plist . place this file or files in your trash. empty the trash and reboot

6. That will stop the nag from trying to trick you every day

7. Consider yourself lucky that it did not spread. This malware is forever being altered to trick people and make its eradication more difficult. You will see many good valid instructions on how to find the files in various OS versions but they are not always correct. It must have genieo in the file name. Start with your Library Folder and look everywhere and be methodical.

8. Get your downloads from iTunes and you will not have these problems.

Jan 7, 2015 3:27 PM in response to bmerkt

bmerkt wrote:


DO NOT Subscribe to any of these links posted trying to get you to download or buy some cleaner software. These people will give you something first and then charge you to get rid of it.


I'm not sure what you're referring to. I have never yet seen any such thing. To my knowledge, there are only two programs on the Mac that claim to remove adware, and neither one will install adware and then charge you to get rid of it. One is made by BitDefender, is totally free, and doesn't actually remove much. The other is AdwareMedic, which is also free. Although you can donate, those donations are not required, and you can remove as much adware as you like with it for free.


You will see many good valid instructions on how to find the files in various OS versions but they are not always correct.


The irony of this is that the instructions containing this statement are woefully incomplete. There are a number of files installed by Genieo that do not have the word Genieo in the file name.

Jan 7, 2015 4:15 PM in response to thomas_r.

I got the precursor to Genieo through an Adobe flash player update request in Safari. I normally use Chrome and probably opened Safari and thought this was a valid request because it has been a while. I've learned my lesson. If I get this in the future, I will go to Adobe directly and download the latest version from there.


Apple's instructions are very good and include many more files beyond those with "genieo" in the name. Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac - Apple Support

Jan 8, 2015 2:32 PM in response to bmerkt

This has solved my problem. I think the issue with a lot of people is that, if one does a search in finder for Geneio it only discovers files in Apps - one has to manually go through each Library folder to delete G and even then it can come back next time you download something from the internet. However, now `i have no problems at all. So many thanks

Completer wants to make changes

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