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Virus Alert Warning

Since the new year I have been getting an increasing number of pop-ups on my MacBook Pro which progressed to MacKeeper pop-ups every few minutes. Today, I have received a Virus Alert Warning from what seems to be a non-Apple source. The link to the warning read http://max-sim.in. The link included a number to call for assistance with the problem. When I called the number, I lost the call and then proceeded to receive calls back from 3 different numbers within a couple minutes (I did not answer these). What steps should I take to figure out what the problem is?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5), 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5

Posted on Feb 17, 2015 9:46 AM

Reply
19 replies

Feb 17, 2015 12:56 PM in response to shaneh20

There is no need to download anything to solve this problem. You may have installed a variant of the "VSearch" ad-injection malware. Follow Apple Support's instructions to remove it.

If you have trouble following those instructions, see below.

Malware is always changing to get around the defenses against it. This procedure works as of now, as far as I know. It may not work in the future. Anyone finding this comment a few days or more after it was posted should look for a more recent discussion, or start a new one.

The VSearch malware tries to hide itself by varying the names of the files it installs. To remove it, you must first identify the naming pattern.

Triple-click the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:

/Library/LaunchDaemons

In the Finder, select

Go Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

A folder named "LaunchDaemons" may open. Look inside it for two files with names of the form

com.something.daemon.plist

and

com.something.helper.plist

Here something is a variable string of characters, which can be different in each case. So far it has always been a string of letters without punctuation, such as "cloud," "dot," "highway," "submarine," or "trusteddownloads." Sometimes it's a meaningless string such as "e8dec5ae7fc75c28" rather than a word. Sometimes the string is "apple," and then you must be especially careful not to delete the wrong files, because many built-in OS X files have similar names.

If you find these files, leave the LaunchDaemons folder open, and open the following folder in the same way:

/Library/LaunchAgents

In this folder, there may be a file named

com.something.agent.plist

where the string something is the same as before.

If you feel confident that you've identified the above files, back up all data, then drag just those three files—nothing else—to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator login password. Close the Finder windows and restart the computer.

Don't delete the "LaunchAgents" or "LaunchDaemons" folder or anything else inside either one.

The malware is now permanently inactivated, as long as you never reinstall it. You can stop here if you like, or you can remove two remaining components for the sake of completeness.

Open this folder:

/Library/Application Support

If it has a subfolder named just

something

where something is the same string you saw before, drag that subfolder to the Trash and close the window.

Don't delete the "Application Support" folder or anything else inside it.

Finally, in this folder:

/System/Library/Frameworks

there may an item named exactly

v.framework

It's actually a folder, though it has a different icon than usual. This item always has the above name; it doesn't vary. Drag it to the Trash and close the window.

Don't delete the "Frameworks" folder or anything else inside it.

If you didn't find the files or you're not sure about the identification, post what you found.

If in doubt, or if you have no backups, change nothing at all.

The trouble may have started when you downloaded and ran an application called "MPlayerX." That's the name of a legitimate free movie player, but the name is also used fraudulently to distribute VSearch. If there is an item with that name in the Applications folder, delete it, and if you wish, replace it with the genuine article from mplayerx.org.

This trojan is often found on illegal websites that traffic in pirated content such as movies. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.

In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.

Then, still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked

Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)

or

Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)

if it's not already checked.

Feb 17, 2015 1:01 PM in response to shaneh20

I would suggest that you DO download AdwareMedic. It is a very quick download and when opened will run very quickly. Suggesting that a download is more complicated or will take longer than following the multistep procedure advocated by Linc Davis should be viewed as an erroneous inference.


Unlike Linc Davis' narrowly focused suggestion, AdwareMedic is designed to identify numerous possible problem makers. Therefore it will not be only easier to use but the chances for a successful resolution are much improved. In addition, the complicated procedures advocated by Linc Davis, by comparison, invites the possibility of unnecessary errors and mistakes.


So keep it fast and simple, use AdwareMedic. If there is no success, then by all means try the cumbersome procedure posted by Linc Davis. But the chances are that you will not need to.


This post is not under copyright and can be used in part or whole without attribution.


Ciao.

Feb 17, 2015 1:51 PM in response to Linc Davis

I suggest you focus on two simple facts:

1. Apple has provided a solution for your problem. It does not recommend, and you do not need, any program to remove adware.

2. You can't trust any stranger on any website who tells you to download and run any unknown software, merely because he says it's safe. That's the mistake that caused the problem in the first place. Whether the software is safe or not is something you must decide for yourself on the basis of your own research.

Feb 17, 2015 3:07 PM in response to shaneh20

By all means do research the virtues of AdwareMedic andyou can do so on these forums. You will find that many, many users have used it with success and have been grateful for the advice.


What has not been mentioned is that some users have had AdwareMedicrecommended by Apple telephone support and technicians at some Apple store genius bars.


It is very simple, the quicker and more comprehensive solution is AdwareMedic, the more complicated one is outlined in the previously mentioned support article


Ciao.

Feb 17, 2015 3:34 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc Davis wrote:



2. You can't trust any stranger on any website who tells you to download and run any unknown software, merely because he says it's safe. That's the mistake that caused the problem in the first place. Whether the software is safe or not is something you must decide for yourself on the basis of your own research.

In that case Linc, nor any stranger who gives you advice on digging around and deleting items from System folders or giving out what may be destructive Terminal commands. I see little difference. But by your opinion and advice then these Forums are of absolutely no value to any poster as any of us could be posting destructive advice.


Gets a little tiresome this Linc against others re AdMedic and Etrecheck. Those tools seem to have given a better outcome to many than long, drawn out and seemingly complicated instructions and terminal commands, especially to those who are obviously not as technically adept as yourself.


Pete

Feb 17, 2015 4:04 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc Davis wrote:


I should add that, the more eager the anonymous strangers are for you to ignore Apple's instructions and follow theirs instead, and the more bizarre and irrelevant their arguments are, the more suspicious you should be.

I do not understand what prompts you to make such a statement. Neither Kappy nor I are recommending that the Apple support article be ignored. Kappy lists it in his recommendations to the OP and I simply suggest using AdwareMedic first and if unsuccessful, the follow the other avenues presented.


And should doubt the veracity of the recommendations by Apple employees of AdwareMedic, you might find this of interest;


User uploaded file

🙂


Ciao,

Aug 23, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc Davis wrote:


I should add that, the more eager the anonymous strangers are for you to ignore Apple's instructions and follow theirs instead, and the more bizarre and irrelevant their arguments are, the more suspicious you should be.

This post appears to have no basis in fact, it is in fact entirely speculative, thus it is a breach of the TOU for the site. I shall report it for that breach.

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