icloud hacked, macbook disabled, have to pay to unlock

So after coming back from a long trip I turn my macbook on and it comes up with a message about icloud and I click ok on the message, restarts my computer and boots up into a lock screen saying my macbook is disabled and a strange email address at the bottom.

I've read up on it and contacted apple, it appears to be the ransomware thing thats been happening, hacking my devices and asking for money to unlock it.

Anyway, I had an appointment with the apple shop and they can restore my macbook but for a LARGE fee! Shouldn't this be free and covered by apple since its a backfire of their security feature? I can't reformat or restore the macbook myself because the device is locked at a firmware level. It's really frustrating.

Posted on Jun 2, 2017 12:03 AM

25 replies

Jun 2, 2017 10:56 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

Bob that wasn't the popup that came up for me, I would never fall for a scam like that. It was someone who gained access to my icloud account and locked my macbook with the find my iphone feature.

Anyway some news, I decided to take the hard drive out of my macbook and connect it to a desktop and I was able to access all my files. So a bit of good news, all my files are still there and I can back them up. But the macbook is still disabled so it means the lock feature is coded into the chips of the macbook (hence its called a firmware lock), so it's pointless even wiping the drive and do a reinstall. It makes me even more frustrated now because it means the lock is kinda useless in protecting my data anyway and just a massive inconvenience because apple can't disable it either when I brought it to them, they said they would need to send it in and reset the whole laptop.

Yer_Man

Level 10

165,918 points

Jun 2, 2017 2:34 AM in response to artdesign-boy

with the apple shop

Which Apple shop?

etresoft

Level 9

56,338 points

Jun 2, 2017 4:44 AM in response to artdesign-boy

Hello artdesign-boy,

Are you sure you have kept the Mac up to date, haven't installed any unsigned software, and are still under warranty?

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jun 2, 2017 5:34 AM in response to artdesign-boy

In the future I advise you to read dialogs before pressing OK, maybe it is not OK and you would like to know that.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jun 2, 2017 6:08 AM in response to artdesign-boy

What is stopping you from erasing the your Mac and restoring your data, this is in no way insurmountable.

Jun 2, 2017 6:13 AM in response to Csound1

Csound1, like I answered in the previous reply, the mac is locked before even being able to boot from disks or going into recovery mode

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jun 2, 2017 6:15 AM in response to artdesign-boy

That article warns of an exploit that will activate April 7. It didn't activate on that or any other date, don't be so easily fooled in future.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jun 2, 2017 6:18 AM in response to artdesign-boy

If you choose too give up then you are right, it is locked enough to keep you out.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jun 2, 2017 7:45 AM in response to artdesign-boy

Apple are not asking you for money so you don't have to pay Apple.

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Jun 2, 2017 5:56 PM in response to artdesign-boy

For the last time it is NOT Apple, someone is trying (and apparently succeeding) to fool you.

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icloud hacked, macbook disabled, have to pay to unlock