Remove IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam Virus From Mac OS

Easy Steps To Delete IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam PUP

IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam is a social engineering trick executed by potent cyber hackers in order to deceive Apple product users into calling on a fake tech support number. This scam is promoted by various deceptive websites and claims that their Apple devices are infected. Users are also stated that they need to call the “Apple technical Support” number in order to prevent any damage. We highly advise to ignore these fake messages as this just a scam and has no relation with the real Apple Inc. Some people visit these precarious web portals intentionally however, most of the users get redirected to such domains by malicious ads or PUPs that are already installed inside the machine.

Text Presented In The Pop-up Window:

*IOS /MAC  Defender Alert **

Dear IOS User, The Website you have recently visited may have downloaded the Malware and Virus on your Apple Mac Device. IOS  Defender is Suspicious about your MAC System Security.Please do not try to shut down or restart your computer. Call Apple technical Support Immediately at +32 78 25 11 40 .

It may lock your computer permanantly or erase your hard disk .

Call Apple  technical Support Immediately at +32 78 25 11 40 .

Your TCP Connection Was Blocked by Your IOS  Security System. Your Mac Device and internet connection has been locked untill we may hear from you to immediately fix this issue.

Call Apple technical Support Immediately at +32 78 25 11 40 .

More About IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam:

Once you land on a page that is promoting IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam, you are displayed a pop-up window. The pop-up states that your Apple device is infected with virus due to visiting a dubious site recently. Rebooting the machine or shutting down may lead to system being permanent locked or hard drive being erased. The device and internet connection have already been blocked to lower these risks. Then after, the pop-up convinces you to call the deceptive tech support number. The message in the background page is almost very identical. The only major difference is that the fake virus is specified as the “Zepto” virus.

You should understand that there is no website which is capable of detecting viruses/issues present on your machine, and the ones promoting the IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam are not an exception. Such scams are designed to exploit users’ trust. While the helplines numbers are often presented as “free”, they can be very expensive. This is possibly the only or primary way that these scams earn profits. Usually, scammers try to gain access to people’s devices under the guise of providing technical support.

The initial access can then be employed to infect the machine with malware, such as Remote Access Trojans (RATs) that can be utilized to ensure unlimited and stealthy access/control of the system. Moreover, victims are asked to pay for the scammers’ “services” as they are not free. The “fees” are generally paid via deceptive payment portals, which can collect any data entered into them. Your sensitive information relating to banking and other financial details can be misused for generating illicit revenues or for fraudulent transactions.

Threat Details

Name: IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam

Type: Mac virus, phishing, scam, PUP

Symptoms: Unwanted redirects, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Short Description: Claims users’ Apple device is infected and blocked and asks them to call on a fake tech support number, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Scammers’ contact number: +32 78 25 11 40

Related Domains: rika02.club

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool.

How Does PUP Enter Your System?

Potentially unwanted applications are often spread via download/installation setups of other programs. This illusive marketing technique of packing normal components with spiteful supplements is called “bundling”. Ignoring terms, using pre-set options, etc. while download/installation processes only increase the risk of accidentally allowing unwanted or dangerous additions into the machine. In addition, the PUAs also have “official” pages from where they can be downloaded. Malicious adverts can also execute scripts to download and install PUAs without your approval.

Tips To Avoid PUA Intrusion:

You should research any software before downloading and installing them. You should choose official and verified channels to download any application. Avoid using untrustworthy sources, like: unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders as they usually offer misleading or bundled content. When downloading/installing any software, it is important to read terms, explore all possible options, use the “Custom/Advanced” settings and opt-out the contents that look suspicious. Intrusive advertisements may look authentic, however they redirect to dubious sites like pornography, gambling, adult-dating, etc. But at the moment, you must remove IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam virus from the Mac PC immediately.

Remove Files and Folders Related to IOS /MAC Defender Alert 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 IOS /MAC Defender Alert 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 IOS /MAC Defender Alert 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 IOS /MAC Defender Alert POP-UP Scam. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.