Q: ***Security Code F8TXXODBJ34 popped up randomly
While I was browsing the web (I was on Pinterest), I clicked on a pin and all of a sudden, a really log pop up appeared and said at the top:***Security Code F8TXXODBJ34 with a beeping noise in the background. It reported that I had malicious activity on my Mac. I began to quit when I got a message saying whether I wanted to stay on the page or leave it. This has never happened t one before and I have had my MacBook Air for almost a year now. I have never had any sort of problem with my Mac at all. What does this mean? What should I do? Is this a scam? Should I be worried? Thank you so much for you help!
MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)
Posted on Jul 1, 2016 1:47 AM
You likely have a false popup scam so you should force-quit Safari.
They appear as 'security' pop-ups and go to scams, usually.
The page may well be still loaded in the browser (as Safari does)
so on re-starting the browser, hold the shift key down to start w/o
extensions. You could be able to go into the settings in Safari if
you aren't getting the internet issue loading, to turn off extensions.
• Force an app to close on your Mac - Apple Support
• Stop pop-up ads in Safari - Apple Support
Depending on what you see, it may be a false ransomware phishing
attack where you do not act on the content, do not call phone numbers
and do not continue.
Phony "tech support" / "ransomware" popups and web pages
• Tech Support fake security scam removal - the safe mac:
http://www.thesafemac.com/tech-support-scam-pop-ups/
a general search, usually when not in trouble, can yield ideas to ponder
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=popups+safari+mac+force+quit&t=ffsb&ia=web
The 'phony tech support' page shows images of some that may appear.
And adware may also be involved; that from visiting tainted web sites or
from getting poor copies of software from non-maker sites, etc.
Good luck in this matter!
Posted on Jul 1, 2016 11:29 AM