Pop-up window: "your system is infected with 3 viruses"

Is it a scam & how do I get rid of it?

MacBook Pro running Ventura 13.1 w/ M1 chip

MacBook Pro 15″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Jan 22, 2023 10:07 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 22, 2023 10:20 AM

It is a scam for certain, generally tied to a browser.


See if you have unknown Profiles.

To remove a configuration profile in macOS:

  1. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences....
  2. From the View menu in System Preferences, select Profiles.Note:
  3. Profiles won't be visible until you have at least one profile installed.
  4. Select the profile you want to remove, and then press the - (minus) button. Click Remove to remove the profile.
  5. softwater


User level: Level 5 (5,557 points)


Feb 16, 2020 3:04 AM in response to sukwaria

If your browser prefs are locked down, you'll probably find the reason in System Preferences > Profiles. 


Remove all profiles you don't recognize, then run something like DetectX to clear out the persistence agents. 


https://sqwarq.com/detectx/


Disclaimer: DetectX is a utility I develop; you do not need to pay for it to use it to use it. It does not collect your data or require any form of subscription/login.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 22, 2023 10:20 AM in response to Tundra_Tim

It is a scam for certain, generally tied to a browser.


See if you have unknown Profiles.

To remove a configuration profile in macOS:

  1. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences....
  2. From the View menu in System Preferences, select Profiles.Note:
  3. Profiles won't be visible until you have at least one profile installed.
  4. Select the profile you want to remove, and then press the - (minus) button. Click Remove to remove the profile.
  5. softwater


User level: Level 5 (5,557 points)


Feb 16, 2020 3:04 AM in response to sukwaria

If your browser prefs are locked down, you'll probably find the reason in System Preferences > Profiles. 


Remove all profiles you don't recognize, then run something like DetectX to clear out the persistence agents. 


https://sqwarq.com/detectx/


Disclaimer: DetectX is a utility I develop; you do not need to pay for it to use it to use it. It does not collect your data or require any form of subscription/login.

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Pop-up window: "your system is infected with 3 viruses"

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