You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

DanaOJoy Author

Level 1

17 points

Safari locked out by Malicious Virus Attack...

Today my Safari was locked out and this warning popped up on my screen. "

Critical Security Warning! Your Mac is infected with a malicious virus attack.

Please contact tech support at +1-888-307-2735 and provide error code WBACK7917 to scan and resolve any potential threats to your personal and financial information, which was being tracked by suspicious connection.

Consequently we are performing additional security checks to verify the source of the attack and have halted all your system resources in order to prevent any additional damage to your system and information."

I called the number but the rep didn't identify herself only stated that they work with Apple & Safarii to help reduce these problems, then proceeded to ask for permission to enter my laptop remotely. I colorfully told her where she could go. So my Safari is locked out, MacKeeper hasn't identified the problem and the Safari app doesn't show in Mackeeper for me to uninstall the entire application. Please help me get rid of Safari then load a brand new one without the Debbie does Dallas getting her sticky fingers in my MaBbook Pro (17-inch) OS X updated 10.10.1 Yosemite.

How can I uninstall Safari on my MacBook Pro when it is entwined into the OS X operating system? Then reinstall a clean version.

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Jan 22, 2015 11:39 PM

Top-ranking reply

DanaOJoy Author

Level 1

17 points

Posted on Jan 23, 2015 5:51 AM

Thank you Dominic23. I realized it was not on the up and up. I may not be a Techie but

I am definitely not gullible, when she asked to remotely access my MacBook I told the rep

to go _-_- herself and reported the issue to Apple, Safari and MacKeeper/Kromtech, but

that didn't solve my issue of unlocking my Safari and getting rid of the popup warning. My

ext tech support warranty ran out in June 2014. Guess it is time to get a new MacTop this

one is 4 1/2 years old, can you say dinosaur.

Thank you again

1. Force Quit- Safari

2. Turn off Wifi

3. Hold Shift Key, relaunch Safari (All previous windows try to open, I closed the windows and cleared the history)

4. Turned on Wifi, selected network

5. Relaunched Safari (Safari opened just fine, no warning, no lock)

View in context

71 replies

bruceh11

Level 1

0 points

Sep 26, 2015 11:54 AM in response to propita

as info...

i called the number...spoke to someone with a heavy indian accent...he did not introduce the company by name. i had to ask three times. he told me to look up the OS X version and then proceeded to tell me he needed to have access to diagnose. i asked if this was going to cost money and he said he needed to diagnose first. i asked why his company number popped up and he said they were the recommended vendor...

hmmmmmm

i asked where his company was located and he said bakersfield ca...this is what the website said when i googled it ....

funny how the adware that locks you up is the number that will fix it.....dont fall for it.

gaspyder

Level 1

0 points

Sep 26, 2015 1:51 PM in response to DanaOJoy

This is the scam msg I received today on my iPad.

pinkstones

Level 5

4,228 points

Sep 26, 2015 2:05 PM in response to sophia810317

You don't need anti-virus software. Uninstall it. They are resource hogs that do nothing. All it is doing is giving you false peace of mind.

Sep 28, 2015 7:55 AM in response to sophia810317

Could you please tell me how you get your money back? I have the same problem...Today I go to boa, but they tell me they cannot blocking my card because I told my account number to the scam company. So what I should do? I really need help. Thank you

petermac87

Level 5

7,447 points

Sep 28, 2015 7:58 AM in response to zhifromallston

Cancel your card and change all passwords. Report it to the Police. But most likely kiss the money goodbye.

Pete

Oct 4, 2015 8:01 PM in response to DanaOJoy

What do I do if I gave them permission to access the mac. I said yes typed my name that figured it out. I hung up based my safari history and web content but I'm not sure what steps to take now. Is my computer infected?

Oct 12, 2015 12:30 PM in response to DanaOJoy

I have the same problem but it wont let me force quit or anything. Is there another way to force quit? I'm desperate for help right now!

pinkstones

Level 5

4,228 points

Oct 12, 2015 12:59 PM in response to robinfromvictoria

Applications --> Utilities --> Activity Monitor

Find Safari, select it, then press the button that is a stop sign with an X in it. That will force quit the application.

Oct 20, 2015 8:47 AM in response to Mas the Mash

You mention setting Safari prefs set to purge history on quitting.

How do you do that ?

Oct 30, 2015 2:20 AM in response to propita

hi i m using iphone 4, me also affected by the same problem plz help me how to get out from this scam

dominic23

Level 10

83,952 points

Oct 30, 2015 2:43 AM in response to dhinafromtirunelveli

1. Reset the iPad/iPhone

Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on your iPad.

Simultaneously press and hold down the “Home” button” until the screen turns off.

Turn it back on.

2. Clear information from your device

iOS 7

Tap Settings > Safari > Clear History > Clear Cookies and Data Clear

iOS 8 and later

Tap Settings > Safari >“Clear History” and then tap “Clear History and Website Data ”.

Tap “Clear”.

Nov 9, 2015 2:48 PM in response to DanaOJoy

This helped me. I started getting something called macosguard.com (doesn't exist) telling me I had a virus and wanting me to click on something that would help me remove it. Obviously I knew it wasn't legitimate but it froze Safari and kept popping up if I turned it back on after doing the Force Quit. Thank you for this solution. I don't understand it but it worked!!

Dec 21, 2015 11:10 AM in response to DanaOJoy

I have had exactly the same issue. I called them and the same thing wanting access to my computer. I followed the steps in this post and seems to have worked and I am using safari again.

Thank you so much for that.

Dec 21, 2015 12:02 PM in response to DanaOJoy

Be careful with the phone call too. You were smart not to allow access or give a credit card number but sometimes the phone call itself can incur a charge. I would check with your provider.

Jan 13, 2016 2:31 AM in response to DanaOJoy

Resolved! Thank you.

Safari locked out by Malicious Virus Attack...