Avoid downloading fake updates from check-apple-for-cleaning websites

What is Check-apple-for-cleaning?

Check-apple-for-cleaning is a group of deceptive websites promoting various scams and, by extension, dubious content. Redirecting to other rogue sites is also common behavior to websites owned by the check-apple-for-cleaning group.

They have been observed running "Adobe Flash Player is outdated" scams, which operate by claiming that Flash Player is out of date and offering bogus updates.

Fake updaters are often used to infiltrate untrusted software (e.g. adware, browser hijackers, etc.) into systems and infect them with malware (e.g. ransomware, trojans, etc.). Typically, users access these sites via redirects caused by intrusive advertisements or Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) already installed on the device.

PUAs typically seem legitimate and offer various "useful" functions, which are mostly nonoperational. By posing as genuine software, they can infiltrate devices. They also have various other distribution methods such as being disguised as software updaters, or packed with them - this is just one PUA promotional technique.

As well as causing redirects to deceptive/scam, sale-oriented, untrusted, rogue, compromised and malicious websites, the unwanted applications have dangerous capabilities. Adware-type PUAs run intrusive ad campaigns.

The delivered ads (e.g. pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, etc.) significantly diminish the browsing experience by reducing browsing speed and limiting web page visibility, however, they are far more than just a nuisance.

When intrusive advertisements are clicked, they can redirect to dubious and dangerous websites, and also execute scripts to stealthily download/install unwanted content (including PUAs). Other PUAs called browser hijackers modify browser settings, restrict or deny access to settings, and promote fake search engines.

Regardless of their type, most PUAs can track data. They can record browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information derived from it (IP addresses, geolocations and personal details). This sensitive data is often shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for profit.

To summarize, PUAs can cause browser and system infiltration/infections, lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft.

Therefore, to ensure device integrity and user safety, you are strongly advised to remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection. Additionally, all software must be updated with tools/functions provided by legitimate developers.

Threat Summary:

Name	check-apple-for-cleaning pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Fake Claim	The scam sites claim that Adobe Flash Player is outdated.
Related Domains	check-apple-for-cleaning20[.]info; check-apple-for-cleaning21[.]info
Detection Names (check-apple-for-cleaning20[.]info)	Kaspersky (Malware), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (check-apple-for-cleaning20[.]info)	5.8.35.135
Promoted Unwanted Application	The scam sites promotes various fake software updaters.
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.

worldofcontenting.info, therightwaytofindplayering.pro, and bestevervideoplayers.info are some examples of websites similar to those owned by the check-apple-for-cleaning group. There are countless deceptive websites on the internet.

Popular scam models include (but are not limited to) alerts that an essential piece of software is outdated/missing, warnings that the system is infected or at risk, prize giveaways, "amazing offers" and so on. The only purpose of these scams is to generate revenue for their designers at users' expense.

This goal is achieved by tricking users into downloading/installing and purchasing nonoperational, untrusted or malicious content, calling fake and expensive technical support/service lines, revealing personal information (e.g. communication/social and banking account credentials, credit card details, etc.), making monetary transactions (e.g. fake fees and payments), amongst many other tactics.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

PUAs proliferate through the download/installation set-ups of other software. This deceptive marketing technique of packing regular products with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

Rushing download and installation processes (e.g. ignoring or skimming terms, skipping steps and sections, using pre-set options, etc.) endangers devices with potential infiltration and infections originating from bundled content. Some PUAs have "official" download websites, which are often promoted by other deceptive/scam sites.

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

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

It is important to research products to verify their legitimacy, before download/installation or purchase. Use only official and verified download channels. Untrustworthy download sources such as Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.), free file-hosting websites and other third party downloaders can offer deceptive and bundled content.

When downloading/installing, you are advised to read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, features, etc. Software should be updated using tools/functions from genuine developers, as third party updaters are high risk.

Intrusive ads tend to seem normal and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious pages (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography and others).

If you encounter these advertisements/redirects, inspect the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browsing 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.

Appearance of a check-apple-for-cleaning scam (GIF) variant:

Appearance of another variant of the check-apple-for-cleaning scam (GIF):

Appearance of another variant of the check-apple-for-cleaning scam (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 check-apple-for-cleaning 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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