Avoid downloading software from topoffert.com

What is topoffert[.]com?

topoffert[.]com is a deceptive website, which operates by claiming that the visitor's device is infected and recommending an application for removal of the 'detected' threats. It endorses Solid VPN, MyProtect VPN, and other, similarly dubious apps. Note that no site can find issues/threats present on devices.

Any claims to this effect cannot be trusted. The same extends to the content they promote. Few users enter web pages such as topoffert[.]com intentionally - most are redirected by Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) already infiltrated into their browsers.

This scam is designed to primarily target iPhone users, however, redirects to topoffert[.]com might also occur in other Apple products. Once accessed, visitors first see a pop-up window, which informs them that their device has allegedly been damaged by two viruses (the background page provides identical text).

The web page claims that it had detected damage at 28.1%. The fake viruses have supposedly infected the system due to recently-visited adult-themed websites. Users are warned that the threats will soon affect the phone's SIM card and corrupt contacts lists, photos, applications, and other data.

If the virus is not removed immediately, the device is supposedly at risk of suffering serious damage. The topoffert[.]com site then gives instructions about how to fix this problem. Step one instructs users to press the button ("REPAIR FAST NOW") and install a free application.

Step two instructs them to run the app, thereby fixing and enhancing the speed of the browser. Following these instructions leads users to web pages advertising Solid VPN or MyProtect VPN (and possibly others). As mentioned, all claims made by topoffert[.]com and similar sites are deceptive.

None of the "detected" threats are actually present within the system. Therefore, you are expressly advised against downloading/installing or purchasing apps advertised on such web pages.

As well as opening deceptive/scam sites like topoffert[.]com, PUAs can also cause redirects to sale-oriented, untrustworthy, compromised and even malicious websites. These unwanted applications can also run intrusive advertisement campaigns. I.e., they deliver undesirable and harmful ads (e.g. pop-ups, surveys, banners, coupons, etc.).

Ads of this kind are more than just an annoyance, they are a threat to device health. When clicked, they might redirect to dubious and dangerous web pages, and some can execute scripts to stealthily download/install PUAs. Most apps under this classification have data tracking abilities, which they employ to spy on users' browsing activity.

They record browsing habits (URLs visited, web pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This sensitive data can then be shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to generate revenue by misusing it.

Therefore, PUAs can lead to infiltration and infections, financial losses, serious privacy issues, and even identity theft. To ensure device and user safety, remove all suspicious applications immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	topoffert.com pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Fake Claim	This website claims that the visitor's device is infected.
Detection Names	Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	165.227.26.65
Promoted Unwanted Application	Solid VPN, MyProtect VPN
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.

Deceptive/scam websites typically use social engineering and scare tactics to encourage visitors into performing specific actions (downloading, installing, and purchasing software or updates, etc.). They alert users that their devices are infected, at risk, or lacking a crucial updates, and then offer a solution (usually, an application).

Note that safebrowsing.network, safari-extension.com, and manualchecker.com are just some other scams similar to topoffert[.]com.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

PUAs mainly proliferate through download/install set-ups of other products. This deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted or malicious content is called "bundling". Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. skipping steps and sections, using pre-set options, etc.) increases the risk of potential system infiltration and infections.

When clicked, intrusive ads can execute scripts designed to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are strongly advised to research all content, prior to downloading/installing. Use only official and verified download channels. Do not use unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.), or other third party downloaders - as they are untrusted.

When downloading/installing, read the terms, explore all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, functions and so on. Intrusive ads commonly seem legitimate and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography and others).

If you experience ads/redirects of this type, inspect the device and remove all suspicious applications without delay. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

topoffert[.]com background page:

Text presented both in the pop-up window and in the background page:

Your system is heavily damaged by Two viruses!

We detect that your Apple iPhone is 28.1% DAMAGED because of Two harmful viruses from recent adult sites.
Soon it will damage your phone's SIM card and will corrupt your contacts, photos, data, applications , etc.
If you do not remove the virus now , it will cause severe damage to your phone . Here's what you need to do (step by step ):
Step 1: Tap the button and install App for free!

Step 2: Open the App to speed up and fix your browser now!

REPAIR FAST NOW

Promotional pages of Solid VPN:

Promotional page of MyProtect VPN

To enable pop-up blocking, fraudulent website warnings, and to 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 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 "topoffert[.]com"?
• 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.

Remove adware-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/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 exact 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 exact 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 correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure 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 the 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 its virus definition database and click the "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.

Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers

Remove malicious Safari extensions:

Open the 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 regular browser operation.

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

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

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

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

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

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