HT203987: Stop pop-up ads in Safari

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Mary Lizard

Q: After installing yosemite last night. My computer now acts like it has a virus. I can't get online without being attacked by adds and pop-up tabs of claims that I have a virus. Didn't have this problem before. Whats going on? I have already set my securit

After installing Yosemite I can't get online without being barged by pop-ups and websites claiming I have a virus. All of my security options are in place, but aren't working..Whats the deal?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Aug 20, 2015 7:50 AM

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Q: After installing yosemite last night. My computer now acts like it has a virus. I can't get online without being attacked by adds ... more

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  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Aug 20, 2015 10:51 AM in response to Mary Lizard
    Level 8 (49,737 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 20, 2015 10:51 AM in response to Mary Lizard

    You likely installed adware that is redirecting you to scam sites that have a JavaScript ransom stack embedded.

    Stop pop-up ads and adware in Safari - Apple Support

    Or simpler, http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Aug 20, 2015 11:09 AM in response to Mary Lizard
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Aug 20, 2015 11:09 AM in response to Mary Lizard

    Your problem is most likely not caused by a "virus." It's a Web scam that only affects your browser, and only temporarily. There are several ways to recover.

    1. If you're running Safari 8.0.7 or later and you see a dialog with the message “Don’t show more alerts from this webpage,” check the box and click OK.

    2. If no other tabs or windows are open, or if you don't mind losing those tabs or windows, force quit Safari. Relaunch it by holding down the shift key and clicking its icon in the Dock.

    The following steps may enable you to keep the state of other open tabs and windows.

    3. Press the key combination command-W to close the tab or window. A huge box will pop up. Press the return key and both the box and the page will close. If that doesn't happen, continue.

    4. Press and hold command-W. You may hear repeating alert sounds. While holding the keys, click the OK button in the popup. A different popup may appear, which you can cancel out of as usual.

    5. From the Safari menu bar, select

              Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Security

    and uncheck the box marked Enable JavaScript. If the Preferences menu item is grayed out, go to Step 2.

    After closing the malicious page, select from the menu bar

              Safari Preferences... Privacy Remove All Website Data

    to get rid of any cookies or other data left by the server. Open your Downloads folder and delete anything you don't recognize.

  • by Pgzzd96,

    Pgzzd96 Pgzzd96 Aug 20, 2015 11:57 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 20, 2015 11:57 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Hey Linc Davis, Im trying to post you a question but i don't know where. What happens it's that everytime I open safari, avast start popping lots of viruses and the URL of the safari even appear. I read a post from you that Avast suck and you linked a link of how to uninstall it but when i try to open that link on google chrome it comes and error "No data received ERR_EMPTY_RESPONSE", and this problem its not only with that link also with every link of my university every link that is .itesm doesn't open and it's the URL here. The curious thing is that i can open .itesm links on my house but not on the WiFi from here.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Aug 20, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Mary Lizard
    Level 8 (48,549 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 20, 2015 12:16 PM in response to Mary Lizard

    You may have inadvertently installed adware. You do not need to download or install anything to fix it.

     

    For a description of how this may have occurred, how to avoid it in the future, and for Apple's recommended actions read How to install adware. Apple's instructions are linked in the Recovery Procedure near the end of that document. Read and follow them carefully. Pay particular attention to the easily overlooked passages directing you to restart your Mac when required.

     

    Review your Gatekeeper settings: OS X : About Gatekeeper - Apple Support. Gatekeeper is designed to help prevent you from inadvertently installing garbage software.