DisneyFan1928

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

Close

Q: ***Security Code F8TXXODBJ34 popped up randomly

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by K Shaffer,Solvedanswer

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jul 1, 2016 11:29 AM in response to DisneyFan1928
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 1, 2016 11:29 AM in response to DisneyFan1928

    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!

  • by DisneyFan1928,

    DisneyFan1928 DisneyFan1928 Jul 1, 2016 11:33 AM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 1, 2016 11:33 AM in response to K Shaffer

    Thank you, so much. I was so worried! It was probably a false popup. Thanks again!

  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jul 1, 2016 7:13 PM in response to DisneyFan1928
    Level 6 (14,249 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 1, 2016 7:13 PM in response to DisneyFan1928

    Another item that may be helpful (and has been used safely by Mac users, was created by a

    contributor to the ASC discussions, plus is free) is the report generating utility Etrecheck. It

    also can help remove some Adware. You can read about it, & see what the maker's site has

    to say about how to use it & what it does. And get it free from the maker's site.

     

    • About Etrecheck: what it is, what it does, how to use it:

    http://etrecheck.com/#about

     

    If you do use it to look into the status (as far as it goes) of your Mac's OS X, you can upload

    an Etrcheck report into ASC discussion, direct from your Mac to a reply window in your post.

     

    There are other helpful safe methods to remove adware, that can be useful; a free item

    that used to be known as 'Adware Medic' by Thomas Reed is now a product you can get

    (there also is a retail version; the free one for Mac can help find & remove most Adware)

    from maker's site: https://www.malwarebytes.com/antimalware/mac/ -it does not prevent

    malware; it helps remove it. -- Does not run in the background, so isn't wasting CPU time.

     

    I've tried both of these; and have the latest versions. Can say that they were not necessary

    in my instance because I've had no Adware or malware so far. And I don't run antivirus due

    to the fact that little or nothing gets past a current updated Mac OS X. Never had an issue.

    In part due to being somewhat vigilant and careful when I browse the web.

     

    For in depth looking into your OS X you may find some of Linc Davis' methods of looking

    direct using your GUI and not a downloaded product can be enlightening. Most of the use

    ful features of an app sometimes act on or control already present system files; so if you

    learn how to use the Mac OS X, it does more than just look nice. Behind the scenes.

     

    If you did not find the cause of the pop-up or remove the browser history or shut down the

    extensions that may have been responsible for what you saw, there still may be evidence

    of it that could be removed. I'd check in any case to be sure; and become familiar, too.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by DisneyFan1928,

    DisneyFan1928 DisneyFan1928 Jul 1, 2016 7:18 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Jul 1, 2016 7:18 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Thanks! I used both of which you gave me and it turns out that everything is O.K. Someone wanted to scam me. Thanks so much for getting my worries off my chest! Have a great day!