DanaOJoy
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: 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

by dominic23,Solvedanswer
dominic23 dominic23
Level 8 (42,122 points)
Mac OS X
A:

This is a scam.

 

1. Force Quit .

 

    Press command + option + esc keys together at the same time. Wait.

    When Force Quit window appears, select  Safari if not already.

    Press Force Quit button at the bottom of the window.   Wait.

    Safari will quit.

 

2. Relaunch Safari holding the shift key down.

 

3. Turn off wifi and turn it back on.

 

    Turn off Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi off”.

    Visit another website.

    You won’t have internet connection.

    Turn on Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi on”.

    Select your Network.

Posted on Jan 23, 2015 12:55 AM

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DanaOJoy

Q: Safari locked out by Malicious Virus Attack...

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  • by dominic23,Solvedanswer

    dominic23 dominic23 Jan 23, 2015 12:55 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 8 (42,122 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 23, 2015 12:55 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    This is a scam.

     

    1. Force Quit .

     

        Press command + option + esc keys together at the same time. Wait.

        When Force Quit window appears, select  Safari if not already.

        Press Force Quit button at the bottom of the window.   Wait.

        Safari will quit.

     

    2. Relaunch Safari holding the shift key down.

     

    3. Turn off wifi and turn it back on.

     

        Turn off Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi off”.

        Visit another website.

        You won’t have internet connection.

        Turn on Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi on”.

        Select your Network.

  • by DanaOJoy,

    DanaOJoy DanaOJoy Jan 23, 2015 5:51 AM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 23, 2015 5:51 AM in response to dominic23

    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)

  • by TonyLima,

    TonyLima TonyLima Apr 8, 2015 12:49 PM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 8, 2015 12:49 PM in response to DanaOJoy

    Just to add to the knowledgebase, this happened to me today on my Macbook -- both with Safari and Firefox.  It's not just a Safari problem.

     

    Thanks for the solution.  I'll try it right now.

     

    Best,

    Tony Lima

  • by Tamara C.,

    Tamara C. Tamara C. Apr 9, 2015 7:36 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 9, 2015 7:36 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    The same thing happened to me yesterday... and I almost allowed the guy to remote onto my computer!  He actually brought me through the steps to get me back into Safari... closing out and reopening with pressing the shift key.  But then he brought me to the same remote access screen that I've used for my job and I was like... wait a minute.  He kept insisting that I type in the number that would give him access, but not telling me it would.  When I began to question him and he grew hostile and impatient, I knew something was fishy.  He said "why would I lie, ma'am," with a thick Indian accent.  "We're on a recorded line and hired by Apple to handle this problem.  Your financial and private information is at risk."  I told him I wanted to check it out first to ensure this was legit and I'd call back.  He promptly hung up on me. 

  • by Tamara C.,

    Tamara C. Tamara C. Apr 9, 2015 7:39 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 9, 2015 7:39 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    My MacBook Air is only 6 months old, so I don't think your computer's age is an issue. 

  • by Don Rex,

    Don Rex Don Rex Apr 9, 2015 2:59 PM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 9, 2015 2:59 PM in response to dominic23

    dominic23,

     

    Your solution to  worked until I opened Safari again. I tried it several times, but the pop-up messages keep returning while locking the Safari screen.

     

    Any other suggestions?

     

    Don

     

    Safari locked out by Malicious Virus Attack

     

    1. Force Quit .

     

        Press command + option + esc keys together at the same time. Wait.

        When Force Quit window appears, select  Safari if not already.

        Press Force Quit button at the bottom of the window.   Wait.

        Safari will quit.

     

    2. Relaunch Safari holding the shift key down.

     

    3. Turn off wifi and turn it back on.

     

        Turn off Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi off”.

        Visit another website.

        You won’t have internet connection.

        Turn on Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi on”.

        Select your Network.

  • by Don Rex,

    Don Rex Don Rex Apr 12, 2015 5:28 PM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 12, 2015 5:28 PM in response to dominic23

    dominic23

     

    Re:

    Safari locked out by Malicious Virus Attack...

     

    You said...

    "This is a scam.

     

    1. Force Quit .

     

        Press command + option + esc keys together at the same time. Wait.

        When Force Quit window appears, select  Safari if not already.

        Press Force Quit button at the bottom of the window.   Wait.

        Safari will quit.

     

    2. Relaunch Safari holding the shift key down.

     

    3. Turn off wifi and turn it back on.

     

        Turn off Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi off”.

        Visit another website.

        You won’t have internet connection.

        Turn on Wifi. Click Wifi icon in the menu bar and select “Turn Wifi on”.

        Select your Network."

     

     

     

     

    Your solution worked until I opened Safari again. I tried it several times, but the pop-up messages keep returning while locking the Safari screen.

     

    Any other suggestions?

     

    Don

  • by Jtartamella96,

    Jtartamella96 Jtartamella96 Apr 14, 2015 6:30 PM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2015 6:30 PM in response to dominic23

    I Experienced this today not knowing it was a scam. He gave me a PIN without telling me he would have access to my computer. I entered the PIN and he was on my computer. I told him I was uncomfortable with that and that I want him off. He scanned my computer to check for viruses. what's he gonna do with my computer? Is this a credit card scam or something or did he just want my money? i got off as soon as I realized. Please help.

  • by Lady Kaldi,

    Lady Kaldi Lady Kaldi Apr 17, 2015 9:45 AM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 17, 2015 9:45 AM in response to dominic23

    This worked for me -- but I would like to know the source of the issue, how did it originate?

  • by SpacedCadet,

    SpacedCadet SpacedCadet Apr 17, 2015 2:24 PM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 17, 2015 2:24 PM in response to DanaOJoy

    It can also happen on chrome. I can say it's a scam, as apple would never do that. But if you want to recreate the issue, other than you being sent to it from a website, just copy/paste -> machelpforall.com <- (I'm not going to link it).

  • by Don Rex,

    Don Rex Don Rex Apr 18, 2015 7:17 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 18, 2015 7:17 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    Thank you Apple Care!

     

    They resolved my Adware problem with unwanted pop-ups... some that looked like Apple sites and said to call their toll-free number for help...only to try to sell their phony products...all a scam...to get your credit card info!

     

    Even though my laptop is 5yrs. old, Apple Care doesn't charge for resolving Adware problems.

     

    The Apple Care rep used a free (donation) application for eliminating adware....Adware Medic...www.adwaremedic.com...which found and deleted my popup producing adware files.

  • by Don Rex,

    Don Rex Don Rex Apr 18, 2015 8:33 AM in response to Don Rex
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 18, 2015 8:33 AM in response to Don Rex

    This is the scam message that pops-up. Another lists a different phone number.

     

     

    Scam.png

  • by tthames01,

    tthames01 tthames01 Apr 24, 2015 4:32 PM in response to Don Rex
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 24, 2015 4:32 PM in response to Don Rex

    Yep, same thing happened to me today. Not sure why it popped up when it did, but the instructions on how to fix it worked fine. Thx!!

  • by propita,

    propita propita May 5, 2015 8:25 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 5, 2015 8:25 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    I even called them on the phone!  At first, sounded legit, but then they started talking about warranty, etc.

     

    I got on my iPad, googled it, and got here.  I told the guys, thanks/bye, and cleared things up.

     

    thanks guys!

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