"Your system is infected with (3) Viruses” when opening a Safari tab

This message came up when I was opening a new window in the Safari browser and makes all sorts of threats if I don’t call Apple Support at 1-866-726-**** and follow Virus removal procedure immediately. I’m always wary of these things and just want to know if anyone else has run across this particular warning.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Mar 20, 2018 9:38 AM

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Question marked as Apple recommended

It's spam. Read here > Avoid phishing emails, fake 'virus' alerts, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support


Your Mac is ok.

Posted on Mar 20, 2018 9:40 AM

1,218 replies

Aug 4, 2022 5:41 PM in response to kalea126

kalea126 wrote:

It says I have 3 viruses on my phone what do I do


If it’s the pop-up website “scanner” telling you you have viruses…


Congratulations on having no viruses.


None.


Your iPhone or iPd or Mac is fine.


Advertisements with sketchy claims or lies are common.


Here, an advertiser seeking to panic readers into loading an app unneeded, used words intended to cause fear and panic…


“VIRUS VIRUS VIRIS HACKER HACKER HACKER”


…in an effort to profit from a lie; from an app you don’t need, but that will be profitable for the advertiser, and for the app vendor.


You got lied to.


Websites which cannot scan your iPhone or iPad or Mac.


Your iPhone or iPad or Mac is fine.

Aug 6, 2022 9:27 AM in response to laylah91

laylah91 wrote:

i Have 3 viruses how do I get rid of them??!!


If it’s the pop-up website “scanner” telling you that you have viruses…


Congratulations on having no viruses.


None.


Your iPhone or iPd or Mac is fine.


Advertisements with sketchy claims or lies are common.


Here, an advertiser seeking to panic readers into loading an app unneeded, used words intended to cause fear and panic…


“VIRUS VIRUS VIRIS HACKER HACKER HACKER”


…in an effort to profit from a lie; from an app you don’t need, but that will be profitable for the advertiser, and for the app vendor.


You got lied to.


Websites which cannot scan your iPhone or iPad or Mac.


Your iPhone or iPad or Mac is fine.

Aug 9, 2022 6:35 PM in response to Garrison123Q

Garrison123Q wrote:

I have three virus what take up 33.9% of my iPad how to fix for free because I have no money


You are reading an advertisement making false claims, and your iPhone has no viruses. The advertiser is lying.


Nothing wrong with your iPhone, either. Not from this advertisement, and not detected by this advertisement, and certainly not related to the bogus “scan” cartoon animation most of these advertisements claim to perform. But cannot.


see the previous seventy-some pages for other folks that have met with these same advertisments.

Aug 9, 2022 7:31 PM in response to Garrison123Q

Garrison123Q wrote:

Thanks 😁 I’m happy know I fought I had a virus


Be skeptical about anything you might read that includes the words “virus” or “hacker”.


Far too often, the words “virus” and “hacker” are used to lie or scam, to entertain, or as the equivalent to “something different happened and I don’t know what or why. Please help me.”


For details from Apple about common scams: Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support


Aug 17, 2022 7:49 AM in response to Skjsnsjsjsjs

Skjsnsjsjsjs wrote:

What kind of virus is this


One that an advertiser uses to infects users—users, us, and not our computers, which are fine and are uninfected—with a desperate desire to compromise our own security and privacy, or to waste our money buying junk apps.


Our computers are fine, it’s us themselves that are the target. Us.


Advertisers routinely use their skills to convince users (us) to acquire unnecessary stuff, these particular advertisers merely believe themselves freed from the shackles of regulations around business practices and truthfulness.


There are many variations of these scams. Here are a few more: Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support


"Your system is infected with (3) Viruses” when opening a Safari tab

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