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Help, what have i done, have i got a virus.

Z

Z3man

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 19, 2012
803
402
UK
I just tried to download a live stream to watch the Arsenal vs Middlesbrough game. Not sure exactly what i did but i tried to download an add on the it said i had a virus. Since then when i am using safari to look at my usual bookmarked websites, extra websites keep opening by themselves, things like mackeeper and detoxmymac and loads more, i have cleared my cookies but it hasn't worked.

Does anyone know what has happened or can help with what i have to do to get rid of them.
 
Thanks but that hasn't worked.

I am in total panic mode, i haven't experienced anything like this before, there are extra web pages opening every time i try to open a web page. So i have wipe my hard drive in disc utility and am restoring from an earlier time machine backup from earlier today before i downloaded anything.

I hope this works, have i done the right thing?
 
m8, don't panic, its ok. :)

Just do what I have posted. Use EasyFinder. Type in Search there the name of MacKeeper, etc. Delete the entries found. Repeat with all other software you downloaded, just write down their names.

And check the extensions of your browser, if you find anything that was not there, uninstall. Write down the name and do as above in EasyFinder.
 
Z3man said:
I just tried to download a live stream to watch the Arsenal vs Middlesbrough game. Not sure exactly what i did but i tried to download an add on the it said i had a virus. Since then when i am using safari to look at my usual bookmarked websites, extra websites keep opening by themselves, things like mackeeper and detoxmymac and loads more, i have cleared my cookies but it hasn't worked.

Does anyone know what has happened or can help with what i have to do to get rid of them.
Click to expand...
No, you don't have a virus. Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 12 years ago. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which can be easily avoided by practicing safe computing (see below). 3rd party antivirus apps are not necessary to keep a Mac malware-free, as long as a user practices safe computing, as described in the following link.
​
Read the What security steps should I take? section of the Mac Virus/Malware FAQ for tips on practicing safe computing.

As others have suggested, you may have some adware, which is easily removed:

Remove unwanted adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac
Adware can be removed by using this tool: AdwareMedic
Z3man said:
I am in total panic mode, i haven't experienced anything like this before, there are extra web pages opening every time i try to open a web page.
Click to expand...
There's no need to panic, and you don't have to wipe your drive to get rid of adware or an unwanted app.

If you have installed MacKeeper or similar unwanted apps, the most effective method for complete app removal is manual deletion: Also, be sure to clear your browser's cache and cookies.

If you haven't already done so, try changing your DNS servers on your Mac and your router to OpenDNS servers. This will show you how: Why am I being redirected to other sites?
 
Thanks for the info guy's.

I probably over reacted a bit by doing a complete wipe and restore.

I will make a note of the info given in this thread so i know what to do next time, i will do some more research so i know what to expect and do next time if it happens again, i have never even heard of adware before.

Thanks for your help.
 
Z3man said:
Thanks for the info guy's.

I probably over reacted a bit by doing a complete wipe and restore.

I will make a note of the info given in this thread so i know what to do next time, i will do some more research so i know what to expect and do next time if it happens again, i have never even heard of adware before.

Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

It happens. ;)

Please consider using Adblock (https://getadblock.com) and install AdwareMedic (http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php) and as GGJstudios always says practice safe computing/browsing.
 
i guess ill install adware just incase i download something when watching online movies.
 
Not really bothered we got beat, need to concentrate on winning the championship.

I genuinely mean that, i didn't even want to beat Man City in the last round, but i really want to beat Birmingham on Wednesday night in the championship. Promotion to the premiership will bring in around 40 times more money in than winning the FA Cup, and give me 38 interesting games to watch next season.
 
Two bits of advice for the future.

First, don't ever use an administrator account for "surfing the web". Especially those "euro" web sites which have video poker and other gambling ads strewn about every square inch of their web pages. I'm a cycling fan, and I know which sites you're using to watch football (what us Americans call soccer). So many of those hacked relay websites have malware injectors, it's not even funny. Now, you know.

Second, sign up for DishWorld (the Sports package) or Sling TV. There's an app and a website that offers so many games to view. DishWorld just dropped their price to $10 per month - no contract. You're just daft if you don't sign up - after you clean up your hard drive, that is... :rolleyes:
 
campyguy said:
First, don't ever use an administrator account for "surfing the web".
Click to expand...
There is no disadvantage in using an admin account for the primary account. A non-admin account offers no protection that isn't available in an admin account.
 
GGJstudios said:
There is no disadvantage in using an admin account for the primary account. A non-admin account offers no protection that isn't available in an admin account.
Click to expand...
That's your opinion. I disagree. None of my employees or myself have ever had a sob story like the one found in this - and so many other - threads.
 
campyguy said:
That's your opinion. I disagree. None of my employees or myself have ever had a sob story like the one found in this - and so many other - threads.
Click to expand...

It depends really. If you try to install an application that needs admin approval, you will be prompted anyway, in which case a password entry will be required. I assume that many people will still do that without question, the point of trojans is the deception after all. As long as you pay attention whenever this happens and only obtain software from reliable sources, there is no disadvantage of using the admin account.
 
campyguy said:
That's your opinion. I disagree. None of my employees or myself have ever had a sob story like the one found in this - and so many other - threads.
Click to expand...
It's not opinion. It's fact. Name one instance in the real world where running a non-admin account provides any greater security than running an admin account.
 
'Download a live stream' smh...

You should probably take an internet safety course or something if you're falling for something like that OP.
 
What likely happened is you clicked one of the adverts on the stream website that was masquerading itself as a download or watch button.

Make sure you are able to distinguish from the content on the page and advert 'trick' images.

Also, understand that unless it's Sopcast or AceStream, you don't download a file to watch a 'stream' of a match.

campyguy said:
Two bits of advice for the future.
Second, sign up for DishWorld (the Sports package) or Sling TV. There's an app and a website that offers so many games to view. DishWorld just dropped their price to $10 per month - no contract. You're just daft if you don't sign up - after you clean up your hard drive, that is... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Bottom-right of the DishWorld website... 'DishWorld is only available in the US'.
 
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