Prevent being scammed by applesupportofficial.com

What is applesupportofficial[.]com?

applesupportofficial[.]com is a rogue website designed to display fake alerts concerning 'detected threats'. Most users enter these sites unintentionally, since they are redirected by Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) or intrusive advertisements. PUAs do not need explicit user consent to infiltrate devices.

As well as causing redirects, they can deliver intrusive ad campaigns and track data relating to browsing activity.

applesupportofficial[.]com first displays a pop-up window. The message within states that users have been redirected to this "official" Apple Support web page due to the device being infected with an adware virus. It claims that the threat had originated from an untrustworthy download source.

Additionally, it alleges that there are multiple security issues, perhaps due to malware or spyware installed on the system. Note, however, that no website is capable of detecting such problems. Therefore, any site that makes similar claims cannot be trusted and most likely poses a safety risk.

The pop-up urges visitors to call the "Apple support" line. Once the pop-up is closed, a different page is shown, supposedly the technical support website. It provides the support telephone number and a chat window, which can be used to contact "technicians" who will apparently aid in resolving the detected issues.

This web page also lists products for which they can provide consultation. The bottom of the web page gives additional contact options.

The small print contains an applesupportofficial[.]com disclaimer, which states that this website is not affiliated with Apple Inc. and is in fact an independent software technical support service provider for a large variety of third party products, brands and services.

Therefore, applesupportofficial[.]com is not authentic and is deceptive. Do not trust this site or contact the developers. No support can be provided, as the threats detected are fake. Furthermore, communicating with the cyber criminals behind this scam will likely result in genuine issues.

For example, telephone numbers found on these rogue sites can have large call fees and/or lead users into paying for fraudulent services. Users might also be asked to grant remote access to their devices so that the "technicians" can remove (or help in the removal of) the threats.

In fact, should access be permitted, it can cause malware infections and similar unwanted or malicious content infiltration. To ensure device integrity and user safety, ignore all messages displayed by these sites. Close the web pages promptly and never returned to them.

If you have already contacted the cyber criminals behind applesupportofficial[.]com and given access to your device, perform a system scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.

Websites such as applesupportofficial[.]com are often force-opened by PUAs already present on the system. As well as generating redirects to sale-oriented, untrustworthy, scam and malicious web pages, they can run intrusive advertisement campaigns (pop-ups, banners, surveys, etc.).

These ads diminish the browsing experience by limiting browsing speed and site visibility (by overlaying web page content). They also cause redirects to similarly hazardous websites and can even execute scripts designed to stealthily download/install PUAs.

Some unwanted apps have data tracking capabilities, which they employ to monitor browsing habits (browsing and search engine histories) and gather users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations, and other details). This sensitive data is then shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) intent on misusing it for financial gain.

In summary, PUAs can cause browser and system infiltration/infections and lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss, and even identity theft. Due to the risks posed, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	applesupportofficial.com pop-up
Threat Type	Mac malware, Mac virus.
Fake Claim	The website states that it has detected an adware infection, as well as various system security issues, and encourages visitors to call a fake tech support line.
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Phishing), Full List (VirusTotal).
Serving IP Address	166.62.28.125
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet 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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are many similar fake alerts/scam websites online, including bestantius.com, securingchecknow, and security5service.com. These share many common traits with applesupportofficial[.]com. These scams typically use scare tactics to generate revenue.

They show alerts about bogus threats/issues and offer fake technical support services, endorse fraudulent and nonoperational software for purchase, etc. PUAs are similar in this regard, as their only purpose is to generate revenue for developers.

These apps may seem legitimate and offer "useful" and "beneficial" features, ranging from system cleaners to entertainment providers, however, these features are rarely operational. PUAs force-open unwanted and dangerous websites, deliver intrusive ads, hijack browsers, and collect vulnerable data.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

The most common mode of PUA proliferation is via the download/install set-ups of other programs. This false marketing method of pre-packing regular software with unwanted or malicious content is called "bundling".

Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing deceptive or bundled programs onto devices. Some PUAs have "official" download websites (which can be promotional or similar to applesupportofficial[.]com, warning of fake problems and offering apps for removal).

Intrusive advertisements also spread PUAs. Once clicked, they can download/install unwanted content without users' permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Research content to verify its legitimacy, before downloading/installing. Use only trustworthy and verified download channels. P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), unofficial and free file-hosting sites, third party downloaders and similar sources are untrustworthy and should not be used.

Treat download and installation processes with caution. Read the terms, study possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and decline download/installation of additional apps, tools, features, etc. Exercise caution when browsing.

Intrusive ads usually seem normal and innocuous, however, they can redirect to dubious websites such as gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and others. If you experience advertisements/redirects of this type, inspect the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins.

If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Text presented in the pop-up window:

Dear : Apple Customer,

 You have been redirected to Apple Support page because your Mac is infected with Popup Adware Virus due to download's from untrusted source.

 We have noticed excessive POPUP ADS or SECURITY ISSUES on your Mac computer!

 It could be because of a possible MALWARE or SPYWARE download.

 CHAT NOW WITH APPLE SUPPORT

 Please note your CASE ID is: AP11S50-qch8nt

 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED : CONTACT NOW

Screenshot of applesupportofficial[.]com second web page:

Text presented in this page:

Welcome To Apple Support
1-877-390-8999
We’re here to help. Call or chat with us
Support for following Apple® products

Apple Watch Support

iPhone Support

iPad Support

Mac Support

Apple ID Support

iTunes Support
Contact Expert Support
How can we help you?
Get support by phone, chat, or email, set up a repair, or make a Genius Bar appointment.
Call 1-877-390-8999 or Chat With Us
More ways to get support: Chat Now or Call 1-877-390-8999.
Disclaimer: * Apple® Mac and safari are a trademark of Apple® Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. applesupportofficial[.]com is an independent software technical support service provider for a large variety of third party products, brands and services. Any use of Trademarks, Brands, Products (ex. Apple®, HP®, Internet Explorer, Dell®) and Services is referential and applesupportofficial[.]com has no affiliation with any of these third-party companies unless such relationship is expressly specified. The services we offer may also be available on the brand owners' websites.
United States

Copyright © 2018 applesupportofficial.com | All rights reserved.

Appearance of applesupportofficial[.]com scam page (GIF):

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT 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 Mac By 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 seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is applesupportofficial.com pop-up?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

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