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I want to check for viruses and/or malware on my imac

My imac ( 2008, 10.9.5) has been getting some strange notices that give me a phone no. to call to correct. Sounds bogus, but I called and was on hold until I hung up.Is there any thing out there that anyone is familiar with that requires you to call? Doesn't sound like mac to me, but could it be my I.P.? Any advice would be welcome , such as freeware that can detect any possible threat to my macs, as I also have a macbook pro (late 2011, 10.9.5).

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on Jul 27, 2015 7:57 PM

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3 replies

Jul 27, 2015 8:01 PM in response to terrydude

Never call the numbers.


If that happens agian, force quit Safari using the Command + Option + Esc force quit keyboard shortcut.



To check for malware, you can download and run Malwarebyyes Anti-Malware for Mac formerly known as AdwareMedic. It's free.


Make sure GateKeeper is enabled. Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General then select: Mac App Store and identified developers .


if you would rather not download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, you can remove the malware manually following the instructions here > Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac - Apple Support

Jul 27, 2015 8:01 PM in response to terrydude

Choose Force Quit from the Apple menu, close Safari, and then launch it with the Shift key held down. If the message reappears, disconnect the computer from the Internet for long enough to erase that site from the browser history. It's possible but unlikely that this issue is caused by adware; if so, download and run MalwareBytes for Mac, using a different web browser if needed.

(130877)

Jul 27, 2015 9:11 PM in response to terrydude

Don't use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" product on a Mac. There is never a need for it, and relying on it for protection makes you more vulnerable to attack, not less.

The notices are a scam. If you've seen them repeatedly on more than one website, please see below.

This easy procedure will detect any kind of ad-injection malware that I know of. Deactivating the malware is a separate, and even easier, procedure that doesn't involve downloading anything.

Some legitimate software is ad-supported and may display ads in its own windows or in a web browser while it's running. That's not malware and it may not show up.

Step 1

Please 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/LaunchAgents

In the Finder, select

Go Go to Folder...

from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. Press return. Either a folder named "LaunchAgents" will open, or you'll get a notice that the folder can't be found. If the folder isn't found, go to the next step.

If the folder does open, press the key combination command-2 to select list view, if it's not already selected. There should be a column in the Finder window headed Date Modified. Click that heading twice to sort the contents by date with the newest at the top. If necessary, enlarge the window so that all of the contents are showing.

Follow the instructions in this support article under the heading "Take a screenshot of a window." An image file with a name beginning in "Screen Shot" should be saved to the Desktop. Open the screenshot and make sure it's readable. If not, capture a smaller part of the screen showing only what needs to be shown.

Start a reply to this message. Drag the image file into the editing window to upload it. You can also include text in the reply.

Leave the folder open for now.

Step 2

Do as in Step 1 with this line:

/Library/LaunchAgents

The folder that may open will have the same name, but is not the same, as the one in Step 1. As in that step, the folder may not exist.

Step 3

Repeat with this line:

/Library/LaunchDaemons

This time the folder will be named "LaunchDaemons."

Step 4

Open the Safari preferences window and select the Extensions tab. If any extensions are listed, post a screenshot. If there are no extensions, or if you can't launch Safari, skip this step.

Step 5

If you use the Firefox or Chrome browser, open its extension list and do as in Step 4.

I want to check for viruses and/or malware on my imac

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