Any Mac Users?

QuickThumbsQuickThumbs
in Help Wanted!
earlier today I visited some new sites and got a tall pop up which said my iMac may be infected. It was impossible to close the window, so I was forced to pull the plug and reboot. The computer SEEMS to be working fine, but is this anything I should be concerned with? Am a little hesitant to transfer files to my MacBook, which has to be done fory witing.

Comments

  • LastCatLastCat
    Not specifically a mac user here but some times certain pages create pop ups that are almost impossible to close down. If you have some kind of antivirus installed on your computer and do a full scan. Also make sure to back up your files just in case. Also, use Ad Block Plus when possible.
  • GBC CollectorGBC Collector
    Originally posted by: LastCat



    Not specifically a mac user here but some times certain pages create pop ups that are almost impossible to close down. If you have some kind of antivirus installed on your computer and do a full scan. Also make sure to back up your files just in case. Also, use Ad Block Plus when possible.



    I'm going to are with lastcat here because it seems to be the case, but run a check to be sure and grab ad block just do you don't worry yourself over this again

     
  • th0rpeth0rpe
    You're fine. I've actually had it happen to me twice this week. Just close the browser through other means (pc user here, shut down the process tree in task manager), and don't click on or download anything it says. It CAN take over your computer, but not if you shut it down fast enough.
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28
    I'm a Mac user (although currently stuck at work on a PC) and it sounds like you may want to grab some virus/malware software and give your system a quick scan before letting that system interact with any others in your house/network/etc. You *probably* don't have anything to worry about, but the fact that you said it was literally impossible to shut down that window says to me that you should be cautious. Quickly right clicking or left clicking and holding the mouse button on the open app in the dock at the bottom should give you the option to close it, as should clicking the Apple icon in the upper task bar then selecting "Force Quit," picking the offending app/browser and clicking the "Force Quit" button that appears. If none of those options worked and you literally had to yank the plug on the system (pushing and holding the power button should also have worked), I would play it safe. There are a lot of options to choose from, so I would pick whatever is available for free or free trial, install it, update it, and let it complete a scan before doing anything else with the system. You most likely don't have anything to worry about, but again, if your system completely seized up (and hasn't when displaying similar popups/ads previously), better to be safe than sorry. Good luck!
  • QuickThumbsQuickThumbs
    I don't know that it was a 'pop-up' as it advised me to contact Apple Support. Does that change people's opinions?

    Is it okay to swap files between computers or should I scan ASAP? What's a good one to download!free trial?
  • AaronEAaronE
    99% chance you're fine

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-8071
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28
    As AaronE said, you're probably fine. If you want to be absolutely sure, grab a freebie scanner and let it do its work before linking everything back up. You'll probably be ok if you don't, but if you want 100% certainty (or as close as you can get), you'll need/want to do a scan. I've got ClamXAV on my system, but there are also free packages from Avast!, Bitdefender, etc. If you've got any sort of common infection, any of those should be able to identify it after being installed and updated. If your system checks out as clean, feel free to either disable to remove the scanning software (if you don't want it to keep running in the background daily) and go back to your normal routine(s). Good luck!
  • LastCatLastCat
    Sometimes these windows appear telling you check for X operating system for viruses or something else. In this case the window that popped up was telling you that your iMac was infected but don't believe everything you see, browsers send information to websites such as Operating system, which browser you are using, etc therefore the software that is generating these pop-ups know that you are using Apple software and trick you into thinking that you might be legitimately infected. As always just to be sure run you antivirus software and make regular backups of your important documents on an external memory device.
  • Nes FreakNes Freak
    Originally posted by: QuickThumbs



    earlier today I visited some new sites and got a tall pop up which said my iMac may be infected. It was impossible to close the window, so I was forced to pull the plug and reboot. The computer SEEMS to be working fine, but is this anything I should be concerned with? Am a little hesitant to transfer files to my MacBook, which has to be done fory witing.



    ive worked on macs but  they rarly show up with viruses  avast makes an antivirus for mac OSX  you can run a boot scan on your mac with that.  also clear your browsing history cookies etc.
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