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 Laspoxaroumeni,

    Laspoxaroumeni Laspoxaroumeni Jun 27, 2015 1:31 PM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 27, 2015 1:31 PM in response to DanaOJoy

    I am a new user (i bought the laptop 2 days ago) and few mins ago this thing pop up on my screen!

    I called the number on my screen and was an indian guy try to tell me what to do!!!! so after few mins he was like i will have to let a technician do it for u because u have a lot of viruses mam and is impossible to fix it that simple. We ll have to charge u 180+ dollars.

    I was like wait WHAT? no no no i will have to discuss about it with my husband sir! thats a lot of money and its impossible to get so many many virus for just surfing on Pinterest. He told me that if i go to the mac store they will still have to charge me! i was like is ok sir i will call u back when i come in a decision with my husband. AND HE HANG UP ON ME!!

    thank God i found this post!!!

  • by Don Rex,

    Don Rex Don Rex Jun 27, 2015 2:16 PM in response to Laspoxaroumeni
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 27, 2015 2:16 PM in response to Laspoxaroumeni

    Also, download and run the Apple recommended, free application called Adware Medic. It can help!

  • by CiaoCiao,

    CiaoCiao CiaoCiao Jun 28, 2015 4:00 PM in response to Don Rex
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 28, 2015 4:00 PM in response to Don Rex

    I tried the steps as described but the error message came back. Do I need to download the Adware Medic to get rid of the virus?

  • by Don Rex,

    Don Rex Don Rex Jun 28, 2015 5:37 PM in response to CiaoCiao
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 28, 2015 5:37 PM in response to CiaoCiao

    It certainly can't hurt. Try it.

  • by Mas the Mash,

    Mas the Mash Mas the Mash Jul 2, 2015 9:43 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 2, 2015 9:43 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    Hello

    Same thing happened to me today - of course it's a scam.  If this happens to you - DO NOT CALL- DO NOT GO TO WEBPAGE!! Instead, force quit Safari or restart your computer.

    I have my Safari prefs set to purge history on quitting - so I did the force quit Safari.  When I did that the popup disappeared and Safari then started normally.

    I also started a virus scan with Sophos Antivirus, free antivirus software www.sophos.com. My Safari extensions are turned off just in case it tried to establish an extension.   Don't forget to search your cookies occasionally for stuff like this and delete it.  Safari Preferences - Security - Cookies and other website data  - Details button.  Opens a window with all the cookies in Safari - there's  lot of them - delete the ones you don't recognize - worst that can happen is that it takes longer for websites to load and you get another cookie.

     

    Opened firefox and entered the address - DO NOT DO THIS AT HOME - http://mac-protecton - (note the screwy spelling) into firefox and there was no webpage.  No popup either.  Scam confirmed.

     

    So - Don't Panic - Force Quit safari - keystrokes or click on desktop, Apple menu, Force Quit, SAfari, Force quit.  Or - restart the computer by holding the power switch or key until restart happens.

    No reason to panic - easily taken care of.  DO NOT CALL OR E-MAIL THEM!!  They can't access your computer until you give permission - DON'T give permission.

     

    Happy Day All!! - Americans - Happy Independence Day!! The USA is 216 Years Old on July 4.  Canadians - happy Belated Canada Day!!

  • by sophia810317,

    sophia810317 sophia810317 Aug 2, 2015 1:21 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 2, 2015 1:21 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    OMG ..... I GOT TRAPPED BY THEM....   feel so stupid.......

     

    So here is what happened in the end of the story:

    I gave them my credit card info before realizing that it is a scam....

    After they charged my card, I told them that I would like to cancel this service and get refund back, but they told me they can only give me $90 back (total charge is $150).....

    I thought that it was very unreasonable and I argued with them a bit but still accept it.

    So the guy told me he will have to transfer to their billing department and it will take an hour long. Would I still want to wait?... (I take that)

    After a while, he told me.... oh they cannot refund me today.....  (!!!!!! I was so mad at that point!!!!!!)

    I told them I will call my credit card company.

    They said "I will see you at court" ?!!!! Are they serious?!!

     

    Can you guys help me on this??

    I called boa and they said i will have to call the boa billing/dispute on Monday.

    I am not sure if I can get my money back because I did provide them my info and consented them to charge my card...

    However, I totally feel that this is a trap and I am just too naive to realize that earlier....

     

    What should I do ><!!!.... should have seen this post earlier

     

    Any comment would help !

  • by dazeja,

    dazeja dazeja Aug 4, 2015 12:04 PM in response to sophia810317
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2015 12:04 PM in response to sophia810317

    Just go to the (or call) the billing department of BOA. they will refund the charge and file a claim on your behalf. I would then block any charges from them on your account. It's actually pretty easy to get your money back from them.

  • by sophia810317,

    sophia810317 sophia810317 Aug 4, 2015 1:18 PM in response to dazeja
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 4, 2015 1:18 PM in response to dazeja

    Thanks dazeja for the response. I called the billing department of BOA and they said they will take care of it . I also asked for a new credit card number.

  • by Cass_Renee,

    Cass_Renee Cass_Renee Aug 17, 2015 11:46 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 11:46 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    This scared me to death when it popped up on my computer!

     

    So glad I found these helpful instructions when I did, because I don't know what I would have done. I did end up calling the number that popped up (it was two numbers, the first one was: 1-844-685-4476, and after I hung up the VERY Indian man called me again from this number: 202-923-2589 [which is a DC number]). Part of the reason I hung up was because I couldn't understand the person I was speaking to. Another reason was  the man told me his name, he didn't identify himself with Apple. And when I've worked with Apple in the past, they are very proud to be identified with Apple.

     

    I'm very thankful for these instructions and I was able to get my Safari working correctly again!

  • by Keml27,

    Keml27 Keml27 Aug 17, 2015 12:36 PM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 12:36 PM in response to DanaOJoy

    Thanks so much fixed it right away!

  • by tireddogracing,

    tireddogracing tireddogracing Aug 18, 2015 4:18 AM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 4:18 AM in response to DanaOJoy

    This totally worked - thank you!

  • by AnibaeAsh,

    AnibaeAsh AnibaeAsh Sep 7, 2015 2:25 PM in response to DanaOJoy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 7, 2015 2:25 PM in response to DanaOJoy

    Before realizing this was a scam I called the number, the woman said that she would have to share my screen and I asked her if this was the extra warranty I paid $300 dollars for (I just bought my laptop) and she became very angry and told me to hold. As soon as she put me on hold I hung up. Will she still be able to be inside my computer? I didn't enter any pin codes or anything like that. I didn't give her the chance to give me a pin code or ask for my credit card info. Am I safe?

  • by Skhubani,

    Skhubani Skhubani Sep 21, 2015 11:28 AM in response to sophia810317
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 21, 2015 11:28 AM in response to sophia810317

    I'm kicking myself about it, but I just did the same thing as you today! I wish I had seen this thread earlier, but the guy on the phone was very persistent and wouldn't let me get off the call!

     

    I ended up giving them my credit card info (so naive), but called back and thee said they'd give me a full refund. Somehow, don't buy it and I'm afraid my credit card information has been compromised and I'm nervous about the access they had to my computer before.

     

    I wanted to know what ended up happening in your case? Any suspicious activity with your computer after that? Or fraudulent charges on your credit card? PLEASE let me know, I'm freaking out...

     

    Thanks!

  • by sophia810317,

    sophia810317 sophia810317 Sep 24, 2015 9:56 AM in response to Skhubani
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 24, 2015 9:56 AM in response to Skhubani

    I am surprised they are willing to give you the full refund back! I ended up canceling my old credit and get a new one. Everything seems to work normally now after downloading some anti-virus software.

  • by bruceh11,

    bruceh11 bruceh11 Sep 26, 2015 11:54 AM in response to propita
    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.

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