Virus or Phishing Scam???

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Hello Everyone,
I have been a Mac user since 2007. This is my second mac book and the other day I got a pop up that said I got a Virus. I Xed it out and went about my business. Thinking it was a trick. Today I got the same thing and it took me to http://macupdate.com-apple.support.

I think this is a SCAM. I was under the impression I am virus free? Help please.
Thanks,
JM
 

Raz0rEdge

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Macupdate is a site that provides applications and they have their own updater for apps installed through their site.

So not a virus or phishing scam, just a routine update of an app you have installed..
 
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I am saying that is a scam. Look at the web address http:/macupdate.com-apple.support

The address does not look legitimate to me either Look -> macupdate.com-apple.support

I did click on it and got a blank page. And no Mac's do not get viruses as 99% are written for Windows.

I googled it and it seems this is a popup that is plaguing a lot of people. I suggest downloading AdwareMedic and running it.

Would not hurt to clear your browser history either.

Lisa
 
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Here's another one Mac Users will fall for...

"How Do I Get My Free Scan?

If you own a Mac computer and it's over 6 months old then you are eligible for a free antivirus scan.

Step 1: Get your free copy of the software which is available for limited time.

To maintain peak performance of your computer all you need to do is run a scan about every 30 days. It roughly takes 5 minutes and will fix any errors on your hardrive or web browser. Right now this can be downloaded for free by clicking here.

Even if you have a new computer or your old machine is running ok, we would recommend you try ScanGuard™ to analyze your PC.. Simply run the free 30 second scan and see for yourself. We think you’ll be surprised just how powerful the tool really is and in a matter of days will wonder how you ever managed without it."
 
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Clicking on your link jhigga15, ScamZapper tells me it is a frauduent site so what has been said is correct.
 
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Rod


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I am saying that is a scam. Look at the web address http:/macupdate.com-apple.support

The address does not look legitimate to me either Look -> macupdate.com-apple.support

I did click on it and got a blank page. And no Mac's do not get viruses as 99% are written for Windows.

I googled it and it seems this is a popup that is plaguing a lot of people. I suggest downloading AdwareMedic and running it.

Would not hurt to clear your browser history either.

Lisa

Thank you Lisa, I have been trying to think of the name of the old version of Malwarebytes for a week (AdwareMedic).
 
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And thnks for ScamZapper recommendation, Randt!
 
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And thnks for ScamZapper recommendation, Randt!

ScamZapper's is a nice, free product for Safari. It was mostly designed to block the type of pop-up ad that makes it seem as if your browser is frozen, making it appear that you are trapped and can't escape (sometimes asking for a ransom, or for you to call a phone number where the scammers will try to con you into giving them access to your computer via remote control).
https://sites.google.com/site/appleclubfhs/downloads/scamzapper-info
This type of pop-up is a bit of JavaScript often known as "scareware".

See this article to learn all about scareware:

Scary Internet Scam Becoming Disturbingly Common
http://tidbits.com/article/15777

However, ScamZapper is unnecessary if you upgrade to Safari 9.1 or later (the latest being Safari 10, which comes with Sierra and which can be downloaded for El Capitan and Yosemite from the Mac App Store).

Safari 9.1 and later already have been updated to keep your browser from being apparently frozen if you encounter scareware.
See:
http://tidbits.com/article/16360
"...prevents JavaScript dialogs from blocking access to other Web pages"

Safari also already has technology that will protect you from malicious Web sites. That technology, oddly enough, comes from Google, and it is called Google Safe Browsing. In fact, Safari, Firefox and Chrome all have Google's "Safe Browsing" technology built-in. Google's Safe Browsing protects you from poisoned Web sites, drive-by downloads, and phishing sites, etc..
http://www.macworld.com/article/137094/2008/11/safari_safe_browsing.html
Google Safe Browsing uses a database that is very frequently updated. Sometimes multiple times a day.

Which is all a long-winded way of saying that instead of downloading ScamZapper, you can simply update your copy of Safari to 9.1 or later and you will be protected from malicious Web sites.
 

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Thanks for that update Randy. I've run Scamzapper in the past. Nice to know that the current edition of Safari makes that pretty much superfluous. I usually run with as few browser extensions as possible.

The most recent version of Safari seems to do a pretty good job of avoiding the shareware. I think I have only gotten one of those recently and I was easily able to close the window.
 
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Personally, I no longer trust them as a source for software downloads.

Unfortunately I have encountered the same thing with some downloads from source forge, but seldom from MacUpdate, and maybe it due to the method or being a member.

The source forge download came complete with MacKeeper that really astounded me. I thought they were legit, but I guess all can get hit.





- Patrick
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Which is all a long-winded way of saying that instead of downloading ScamZapper, you can simply update your copy of Safari to 9.1 or later and you will be protected from malicious Web sites.

Interesting and thanks.

I just checked and found I had two versions of Scamzapper installed, v. 1.3.4 and v. 2.0. I didn't know and couldn't figure out what they might actually be doing but I guess they can go as I'm using Safari v. 9.1.3. Both versions said there was an update available.
 
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Unfortunately I have encountered the same thing with some downloads from source forge...

That's really disappointing, because SourceForge is a vital source for open source software.

The problem is that now that Apple has the Mac App Store all of the other software download sites are getting less traffic and less ad revenue. It's very tempting for them to take the money to include adware with download packages.

So, if one wants to be really careful, the only safe places to download software from are the Mac App Store and directly from developers' own Web sites.
 
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That's really disappointing, because SourceForge is a vital source for open source software.


I just tried a google search in case my experience was an exception — apparently NOT!!! :(
https://www.google.ca/search?client...&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=4GMzWIyyE8re8Aecpr7YBw

With hits like:
http://www.howtogeek.com/218764/warning-don’t-download-software-from-sourceforge-if-you-can-help-it/

But maybe fixed and clarified with this May 17, 2016 post — maybe:
SourceForge now scans all projects for malware and displays warnings on downloads
https://sourceforge.net/blog/source...r-malware-and-displays-warnings-on-downloads/


Regardless, it doesn't take much to take a quick look inside any downloaded opened package or app in case one is concerned, but I will admit that I don't always do that myself!!! :Mischievous:





- Patrick
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