Remove Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam from Mac OS

Know how to delete Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam

Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam is fake scam website which designed by the cyber scammers to deceive users into downloading and installing rogue software or questionable application. This deceptive fake message shows a pop-up window message which claims that user’s device may be infected with lots of nonexistent viruses and also states that antivirus software has to be updated. These types of schemes are designed to promote variety of untrustworthy or even dangerous software.

Furthermore, these scams commonly promote various PUAs like adware, browser hijacker, fake anti-viruses etc and in some cases they can invade malware like Trojan, ransomware and many more. Once Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam site is accessed, it displays several pop-up windows which inform visitors that their Mac may be infected and recommends users to scan their PCs. The fake scan will take 10 seconds. In this way cyber criminal tries to encourage users to install rogue application by clicking on the “OK” button to continue.

Once you click on the install button, then the third party rogue application getting start to download into the computer which may cause the infiltration of unwanted programs or infections. So, users are highly advice don’t trust on such type of messages and never try to download any rogue software program from untrustworthy site. In short, trusting on Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam, users can experience various problems relating to system infections, financial losses, severe privacy issues and even identity theft.

Distribution techniques of Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam:

Like other redirect virus and dubious infections, Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam enters into your machine using several deceptive methods. The most common and popular methods used by them are software bundling and intrusive advertising. In this technique, bundling is an undercover installation of unwanted programs that take place together with regular software. What’s the developers do is that they hide bundled apps behind custom or advanced options of installation processes and don’t reveal information about attached software. Thus, users rush and skip important crucial procedures and settings unchanged and often cause inadvertent installation of unwanted applications. Intrusive advertising also infiltrate these applications. Upon being clicked on those delivered ads, they can execute scripts that make silent installations of unwanted software.

Preventative measures

The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and reckless behavior of users therefore it is highly advised to review about software before downloading or installing it. Always use official and trustworthy pages and direct links to install any programs. Other download sources that seem untrustworthy should not be used as they commonly offer bundled content.

During download/installation of any programs, it is recommended to read terms and license agreements carefully till the end and never skip custom/advanced options as well as other settings and opt out for all additional attached apps with the chosen software. Thus, we can say that they key to system safety is carefulness.

Remove Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam

In order to keep your PC safe and secure, you are advised to remove Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam completely and safely from the infected system by using both manual and automatic process. You may also know that manual process is quite tricky and time-consuming so that it takes lots of time to detect and delete the threat. So, we suggest you to try Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS that has the ability to get rid of infiltrated malware automatically from the machine.

Quick Glance

Name: Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam

Type: Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus

Fake Claim: Scam claims users’ devices are infected and their anti-viruses are outdated.

Symptoms: Your Mac becomes slower than as usual, you see unwanted pop-up ads and pop-ups, and redirected to unreliable websites.

Distribution methods: freeware or shareware programs, pirated software, porn or torrent sites, harmful links, malicious websites and many others.

Damage: browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted adverts, redirects to questioning websites, loss of confidential information.

Removal: Both manual as well as automatic removal instructions have been discussed below under this article.  

Remove Files and Folders Related to Mac OS 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 Mac OS 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 Mac OS 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 Mac OS Alert POP-UP Scam. You can select such harmful files and folders and remove them immediately.