Mac Computer Has Been Hacked

How to remove 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' from Mac?

It is not easy to tell if your computer has been hacked but it is extremely unlikely for any Mac to get hacked because they have the best security of all personal computers in the world. The only likely way to hack your Mac would be if you allowed. May 05, 2015  How can I tell if my Mac computer has been hacked and my FB profile? - Answered by a verified Mac Support Specialist. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them.

  1. Jun 28, 2020  Signs that your computer has been hacked. If you think your computer has been hacked, and have Norton installed on your computer, the best option to rule out a threat infection is to perform a full system scan. However, there may be instances where the scan did not detect any threat, or you cannot perform a scan.
  2. Jan 18, 2012  I have a strong suspicion that my Macbook has been hacked. My concerns are as follows: (1) My laptop has been running slow for several months. (2) If my laptop is closed and left in standby mode for several minutes with the wifi left on, files will open up. I have opened my computer before.

What is 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked'?

'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' is a scam promoted by deceptive websites. As the title implies, the scheme claims that users' devices have been compromised and were accessed without authorization. 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' promotes other scams, which endorse untrustworthy and possibly malicious software. Typically, users access deceptive webpages via redirects caused by intrusive adverts or by PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications), already infiltrated into the system. These apps do not need express user consent to be installed onto their devices.

When a site running this scheme is accessed, it presents visitors with a pop-up window. The text presented in the pop-up, states that users' iPhone has been hacked. Therefore, their actions are supposedly being tracked by cyber criminals. The scam informs users that they need to take immediate action. Once this window is closed, users are presented with various other scams that promote fake anti-virus software, adware, browser hijackers and other PUAs. However, it is not unlikely that the schemes may endorse trojans, ransomware, cryptominers and other malware. Therefore, trusting 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' and the scams it promotes - can result in system infections, financial losses, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. Additionally, users should note that no website can actually detect threats present on a device; hence, any that make such claims are scams.

Aside from force-opening deceptive/scam, sale-oriented, rogue, compromised and malicious sites, PUAs can have other/additional abilities. They can run intrusive advertisement campaigns. These ads diminish the browsing experience. Furthermore, once clicked on - they redirect to untrustworthy/malicious websites and some can even stealthily download/install unwanted software. Other types of PUAs can hijack browsers by making modifications to their settings and restricting/denying access to them - in order to promote illegitimate search engines. The latter are rarely capable of providing search results, so they redirect to Yahoo, Google, Bing and other legitimate search engines. Most PUAs can track data. They can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This vulnerable data is often shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), intent on misusing it for profit. To ensure device integrity and user safety, all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed without delay.

Threat Summary:
Name'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' pop-up
Threat TypePhishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake ClaimScam claims users' iPhones have been hacked
Promoted Unwanted ApplicationScam promotes various dubious apps
SymptomsYour Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methodsDeceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
DamageInternet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information.
Malware Removal (Mac)

To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner.
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To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited three days free trial available.

'Apple Rewards Program', '(3) Viruses has been detected', 'Your Apple iPhone is severely damaged by 19 viruses!' and 'Your Apple iPhone is severely damaged by (6) viruses!' are a few examples of other scams targeting iPhone users. Online schemes can use various scam models. Popular models include (but are not limited to): alerts that the device is infected or at risk, notifications concerning outdated or missing software, fake prize giveaways, ludicrous deals, etc. Regardless of what these scams state, request, offer or demand, the end-goal is the same - to generate revenue for their designers. Therefore, users are advised to exercise caution when browsing.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Some PUAs have 'official' download webpages, which are often promoted by deceptive/scam sites. These apps can also be downloaded/installed alongside other software. 'Bundling' is the term used to define this false marketing method of pre-packing ordinary products with unwanted or malicious additions. Rushed download/installation processes (e.g. ignored terms, skipped steps, etc.) - increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system. Intrusive ads proliferate PUAs as well. Upon being clicked, they can execute scripts designed to download/install PUAs without user permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

All products should be researched before download/installation. It is recommended to always use official and verified download channels. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders - commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content; therefore, they are advised against use. When downloading/installing, it is important to read terms, study all possible options, use the 'Custom/Advanced' settings and opt-out from supplementary apps, tools, features, and so on. Intrusive adverts typically appear legitimate and harmless, however they redirect to highly questionable pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and others). Should users experience such advertisements/redirects, they must check the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins from it. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Can

Text presented in the 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' scam:

Your iPhone Has Been Hacked

All your actions on the device are tracked by a hacker.

Immediate Action Is Required!

Close

To enable pop-up blocking, fraudulent website warnings, and remove web browsing data in mobile Apple devices, follow these steps:

First, go to 'Settings', and then scroll down to find and tap 'Safari'.

Check if the 'Block Pop-ups' and 'Fraudulent Website Warning' toggles are enabled. If not, enable them immediately. Then, scroll down and tap 'Advanced'.

Tap 'Website Data' and then 'Remove All Website Data'.

Instant automatic Mac malware removal:Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for MacBy downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited three days free trial available.

Quick menu:

  • STEP 1. Remove PUA related files and folders from OSX.
  • STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
  • STEP 3. Remove rogue add-ons from Google Chrome.
  • STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

Potentially unwanted applications removal:

Remove potentially unwanted applications from your 'Applications' folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select 'Applications'. In the applications folder, look for 'MPlayerX','NicePlayer', or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Combo Cleaner checks if your computer is infected with malware. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited three days free trial available.

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up related files and folders:

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder.

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder. bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgentsdownload microsoft 365 for mac free


In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder:

In the Go to Folder. bar, type: /Library/Application Support


In the “Application Support” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, “MplayerX” or “NicePlayer”, and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for adware-generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents folder:


In the Go to Folder bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder:


In the Go to Folder. bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons


In the “LaunchDaemons” folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”, 'com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure your system is not infected run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file double click combocleaner.dmg installer, in the opened window drag and drop Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates it's virus definition database and click 'Start Combo Scan' button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays 'no threats found' - this means that you can continue with the removal guide, otherwise it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' pop-up removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Computer

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up related Safari extensions:

Open Safari browser, from the menu bar, select 'Safari' and click 'Preferences.'.

In the preferences window, select 'Extensions' and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the 'Uninstall' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the 'Open Menu' (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose 'Add-ons'.

Choose the 'Extensions' tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Remove' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

How To Tell If Your Mac Computer Has Been Hacked

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up related Google Chrome add-ons:

Open Google Chrome and click the 'Chrome menu' (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose 'More Tools' and select 'Extensions'.

In the 'Extensions' window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Trash' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Signs your Apple ID has been compromised

Your Apple ID might be compromised if you receive an account notification from Apple for a change you didn't make, or if you notice account details or changes you don’t recognize. For example:

  • You receive an email or notification that your Apple ID was used to sign in to a device you don't recognize or did not sign in to recently (for example, 'Your Apple ID was used to sign in to iCloud on a Windows PC').
  • You receive a confirmation email from Apple that your Apple ID password was changed or your account information was updated, but you don’t remember making any changes.
  • Your device was locked or placed in Lost Mode by someone other than you.
  • You see messages you didn't send, or items you didn’t delete.
  • You see charges or notices for purchases that you didn't make. Learn what to do if you see an unfamiliar iTunes Store or App Store charge on your credit or debit card statement.
  • Your password no longer works, or it might have been changed or locked.
  • You don't recognize some or all of your account details.

If you received an email, text message, or phone call that you're not sure is valid or you think might be phishing, here are some tips to help determine its legitimacy.

Gain control of your Apple ID

If you think your Apple ID is compromised, use these steps to gain control of it and review your account information:

  1. Sign in to your Apple ID account page. If you can't sign in or you receive a message that the account is locked when you try to sign in, try to reset or unlock your account.
  2. Change your Apple ID password and choose a strong password.
  3. Review all the personal and security information in your account. Update any information that isn't correct or that you don’t recognize, including:
    • Your name.
    • Your primary Apple ID email address.* If you need to change your email address, update the features and services that you use with Apple ID, so that each one is using your updated Apple ID.
    • All alternate email addresses, rescue email addresses, and phone numbers.
    • The devices that are associated with your Apple ID, if you've already set up two-factor authentication.
    • Security questions and answers. If you think they might be easy to guess, you should change your security questions.
  4. Check with your email address* provider to make sure that you control every email address associated with your Apple ID. If you don't control the email addresses associated with the Apple ID, you should change the password for the email address or use a different email address.
  5. Set up two-factor authentication for your Apple ID. This additional security feature is designed to prevent anyone from accessing your account, even if they know your password.

* In China mainland and India, you can use your phone number as your Apple ID.

If you completed the steps above and think your account might still be compromised, contact Apple Support.

Know which Apple ID is signed in to your device

If you're signed in on your device with an Apple ID that you don't recognize, use these steps to sign out, then back in with a different Apple ID. To make sure that you're signed in to Apple IDs that only you control or trust, you can check the following settings on each of your devices:

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

  • Settings > [your name]
  • Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store
  • Settings > Messages > Send & Receive
  • Settings > FaceTime

Mac:

  • System Preferences > Apple ID
  • System Preferences > Internet Accounts
  • Messages > Preferences > Accounts
  • Facetime > Preferences > Settings
  • Mail > Preferences > Accounts
  • Calendar > Preferences > Accounts

You should also check iCloud for Windows, your AirPort Time Capsule or other AirPort Base Station, and your Apple TV (for iCloud Photos or Home Sharing).

My Mac Computer Has Been Hacked

Make sure your Apple ID is secure

My Mac Has Been Hacked

Because you use your Apple ID for so many Apple products and services, you should make sure that your Apple ID is as secure as possible. You should be the only person who knows your password and can sign in with your Apple ID. If someone you don’t know or don’t trust can sign in with your Apple ID, your account is not secure.

Can A Mac Be Hacked

Your Apple ID might not be secure for the following reasons:

What To Do If You Think Your Mac Computer Has Been Hacked

  • Someone else created an Apple ID on your behalf, or you’re using an Apple ID that was already signed in when you received your device.
  • You’re sharing an Apple ID with family or friends. Your Apple ID is your personal account. If you want to share purchases with a family member, use Family Sharing. With Family Sharing, you can share a calendar, photos, reminders, and more without sharing your Apple ID.
  • You don’t recognize the Apple ID that is signed in on your device.
  • You shared your password with someone else intentionally or unintentionally. For example, someone else selected your password for you, you told someone your password, or you entered your password on a phishing site.
  • You don't have control of the email address or phone number associated with your Apple ID.
  • Your password is weak or is compromised.
  • You share your devices with someone else, your devices are not protected by a passcode, or your passcode is easy to guess.

Mac & hacks series. If any of the above are true, you should reset your password as soon as possible and review your account information.