Remove Hacker Is Tracking You! POP-UP Scam from Mac PC

Effective measures to delete Hacker Is Tracking You! POP-UP Scam

Hacker Is Tracking You! POP-UP Scam is described as deceptive websites that are designed to deceive users into downloading and installing various potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). It operates by tricking users that their system is infected with a lot of viruses and they need to contact technical support provider to resolve this issues.

However, users do not visit such types of pages intentionally as they get opened through other sites of this kind, shady ads or by installed PUAs. This dubious website is designed to look like Apple security page because it specifically targets Apple iOS devices. Once installed, it displays pop-up windows which states that the Internet connection has been hacked and someone is tracking a device.

Moreover, it states that if users do not resolve this problems as soon as possible then hackers will reveal his/her identity and all the photos to all contacts, friends and relatives. In order to prevent this, this page encourages the users to click on the “Protect your connection” button and install the offered app. However, all such claims made by them are false and bogus.

Sites of this type can be used to promote legitimate applications that are available on App Store. Thus, pages of this kind cannot be trusted. It is common for PUAs to promote shady pages, generate advertisements and collect information. This app shows various intrusive adverts like as pop-up ads, banners, coupons or other ads and if clicked these ads redirect users to malicious websites. Also, they are designed to collect data.

The collected information includes IP addresses, viewed pages, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries etc. or even personal information. Developers behind this app sell all collected data with third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or misuse it in other ways to generate revenue. In one way or another, users who have this type of apps installed should remove them as early as possible.

How did PUAs install on my computer?

Most of the time, this type of apps downloaded and installed into your system without having your permission. It either causes through if you click on intrusive ads that are designed to execute scripts or downloaded any free software. Developers behind this use this tactic to deceive people into installing this application on computer by hiding information of bundled apps within Advanced, Custom or other similar settings of download/installation processes. However, users agree to download or install offered PUAs when they leave these settings unchanged.

How to avoid installation of unwanted apps?

Software should be downloaded and installed only through App store. It is not safe to use other sources to do so that includes unofficial pages, third-party downloaders and so on as it likely offers rogue apps. Further, ads that appear on malicious sites or pages should not be clicked in any cases. It is common that by clicking, users allow them to open other pages or start unwanted downloads or even installations. The most important thing is that always read terms and agreements carefully and select custom or advance options to opt out from additional unwanted apps, tools etc.

Remove Files and Folders Related to Hacker Is Tracking You! POP-UP Scam

Open the “Menu” bar and click the “Finder” icon. Select “Go” and click on “Go to Folder…”

Step 1: Search the suspicious and doubtful malware generated files in /Library/LaunchAgents folder

Type /Library/LaunchAgents in the “Go to Folder” option

In the “Launch Agent” folder, search for all the files that you have recently downloaded and move them to “Trash”. Few of the examples of files created by browser-hijacker or adware are as follow, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.Itvbit.plist”, installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, and “kuklorest.update.plist” and so on.

Step 2: Detect and remove the files generated by the adware in “/Library/Application” Support folder

In the “Go to Folder..bar”, type “/Library/Application Support”

Search for any suspicious newly added folders in “Application Support” folder. If you detect any one of these like “NicePlayer” or “MPlayerX” then send them to “Trash” folder.

Step 3: Look for the files generated by malware in /Library/LaunchAgent Folder:

Go to Folder bar and type /Library/LaunchAgents

You are in the “LaunchAgents” folder. Here, you have to search for all the newly added files and move them to “Trash” if you find them suspicious. Some of the examples of suspicious files generated by malware are “myppes.download.plist”, “installmac.AppRemoved.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist” and so on.

Step4: Go to /Library/LaunchDaemons Folder and search for the files created by malware

Type /Library/LaunchDaemons in the “Go To Folder” option

In the newly opened “LaunchDaemons” folder, search for any recently added suspicious files and move them to “Trash”. Examples of some of the suspicious files are “com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preference.plist”, “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist” and so on.

Step 5: Use Combo Cleaner Anti-Malware and Scan your Mac PC

The malware infections could be removed from the Mac PC if you execute all the steps mentioned above in the correct way. However, it is always advised to be sure that your PC is not infected. It is suggested to scan the work-station with “Combo Cleaner Anti-virus”.

Once the file gets downloaded, double click on combocleaner.dmg installer in the newly opened window. Next is to open the “Launchpad” and press on “Combo Cleaner” icon. It is advised to wait until “Combo Cleaner” updates the latest definition for malware detection. Click on “Start Combo Scan” button.

A depth scan of your Mac PC will be executed in order to detect malware. If the Anti-virus scan report says “no threat found” then you can continue with guide further. On the other hand, it is recommended to delete the detected malware infection before continuing.

Now the files and folders created by the adware is removed, you have to remove the rogue extensions from the browsers.

Remove Hacker Is Tracking You! POP-UP Scam from Internet Browsers

Delete Doubtful and Malicious Extension from Safari

Go to “Menu Bar” and open “Safari” browser. Select “Safari” and then “Preferences”

In the opened “preferences” window, select “Extensions” that you have recently installed. All such extensions should be detected and click the “Uninstall” button next to it. If you are doubtful then you can remove all the extensions from “Safari” browser as none of them are important for smooth functionality of the browser.

In case if you continue facing unwanted webpage redirections or aggressive advertisements bombarding, you can reset the “Safari” browser.

“Reset Safari”

Open the Safari menu and choose “preferences…” from the drop-down menu.

Go to the “Extension” tab and set the extension slider to “Off” position. This disables all the installed extensions in the Safari browser

Next step is to check the homepage. Go to “Preferences…” option and choose “General” tab. Change the homepage to your preferred URL.

Also check the default search-engine provider settings. Go to “Preferences…” window and select the “Search” tab and select the search-engine provider that you want such as “Google”.

Next is to clear the Safari browser Cache- Go to “Preferences…” window and select “Advanced” tab and click on “Show develop menu in the menu bar.“

Go to “Develop” menu and select “Empty Caches”.

Remove website data and browsing history. Go to “Safari” menu and select “Clear History and Website Data”. Choose “all history” and then click on “Clear History”.

Remove Unwanted and Malicious Plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox

Delete Hacker Is Tracking You! POP-UP Scam add-ons from Mozilla Firefox

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser. Click on the “Open Menu” present in the top right corner of the screen. From the newly opened menu, choose “Add-ons”.

Go to “Extension” option and detect all the latest installed add-ons. Select each of the suspicious add-ons and click on “Remove” button next to them.

In case if you want to “reset” the Mozilla Firefox browser then follow the steps that has been mentioned below.

Reset Mozilla Firefox Settings

Open the Firefox Mozilla browser and click on “Firefox” button situated at the top left corner of the screen.

In the new menu, go to “Help” sub-menu and choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the “Troubleshooting Information” page, click on “Reset Firefox” button.

Confirm that you want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to default by pressing on “Reset Firefox” option

The browser will get restarted and the settings changes to factory default

Delete Unwanted and Malicious Extensions from Google Chrome

Open the chrome browser and click on “Chrome menu”. From the drop down option, choose “More Tools” and then “Extensions”.

In the “Extensions” option, search for all the recently installed add-ons and extensions. Select them and choose “Trash” button. Any third-party extension is not important for the smooth functionality of the browser.

Reset Google Chrome Settings

Open the browser and click on three line bar at the top right side corner of the window.

Go to the bottom of the newly opened window and select “Show advanced settings”.

In the newly opened window, scroll down to the bottom and choose “Reset browser settings”

Click on the “Reset” button on the opened “Reset browser settings” window

Restart the browser and the changes you get will be applied

The above mentioned manual process should be executed as it is mentioned. It is a cumbersome process and requires a lot of technical expertise. And hence it is advised for technical experts only. To be sure that your PC is free from malware, it is better that you scan the work-station with a powerful anti-malware tool. The automatic malware removal application is preferred because it doesn’t requires any additional technical skills and expertise.

Download the application and execute it on the PC to begin the depth scanning. Once the scanning gets completed, it shows the list of all the files related to Hacker Is Tracking You! POP-UP Scam. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.