Avoid getting scammed by sites claiming a "Hacker is tracking you!"
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is "Hacker is tracking you!"?
"Hacker is tracking you!" is a scam promoted on various rogue sites. This scheme urges visitors not to close the webpage because a hacker is monitoring them. It must be emphasized that this warning is fake; furthermore, no website can detect threats present on visitors' devices.
Scams of this kind usually push various fake anti-viruses, browser hijackers, adware, and other PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). Typically, users enter deceptive websites through mistyped URLs or redirects caused by untrustworthy pages, intrusive ads, or installed PUAs
"Hacker is tracking you!" scam overview
The scam claims the visitor's iPhone has been hacked. Allegedly, within two minutes, the cyber criminals will disclose the user's identity, send their browsing history and front-camera photos - to their entire contact list. Hence, the scheme urges the visitor not to exit the website, and it displays a countdown clock. The user is instructed to download/install the promoted app to avoid the previously mentioned threats.
The software endorsed through such scams - tends to appear legitimate and offers "handy" features, which rarely work (e.g., fake anti-virus tools). Furthermore, most PUAs have harmful abilities (e.g., adware, browser hijackers, etc.).
To summarize, trusting the "Hacker is tracking you!" scam and allowing the software it promotes into the device - can result in system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Hacker is tracking you! pop-up |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Fake Claim | Scam claims a hacker is watching the user via their iPhones. |
| Disguise | Scam is presented as an alert from Apple. |
| Related Domains | kilomeu[.]com |
| Detection Names (kilomeu[.]com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
Online scams in general
"Your iPhone Was Hacked", "Malware detected! iPhone need to be repaired", "MALWARE DETECTED Action Required", and "Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery" are some examples of scams similar to "Hacker is tracking you!".
The Internet is rife with deceptive and malicious content. Common scam models include - fake virus and error warnings, outdated/missing software alerts, hoax lotteries and prize raffles, bogus giveaways and ludicrous deals, etc. Due to how widespread dangerous websites are - it is strongly recommended to exercise caution when browsing.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
PUAs are proliferated using the "bundling" marketing technique - packing regular programs with unwanted/malicious supplements. Rushed downloads/installations increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system. Intrusive adverts spread PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user consent. PUAs may also have "official" promotional/download webpages.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to research software and only download it from official/verified sources. Untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and freeware sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - commonly offer bundled/harmful content.
When downloading/installing, it is advised to read terms, study available options, and use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings - to opt-out of all additions. Intrusive advertisements appear legitimate; however, they redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
If these ads and/or redirects are encountered, the system must be inspected and all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins - immediately removed. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
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 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 "Hacker is tracking you!"?
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a pop-up scam?
Essentially, pop-up scams are deceptive messages intended to entice or scare users into performing specific actions. For example, victims can be pushed into downloading/installing (likely untrustworthy or malicious) software, purchasing products, calling fake support lines, disclosing private and sensitive information, paying bogus fees, and so on.
What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?
Most pop-up scams have the same end-goal - to generate revenue for their designers. Cyber criminals can profit by abusing or selling private data, obtaining money through trickery, promoting dubious applications, proliferating malware, and so forth.
Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?
Pop-up scams are run on deceptive websites, which are typically accessed unintentionally. These sites can be forced-opened by harmful software already present on the system. They can also be entered via mistyped URLs or redirects caused by rogue webpages, browser notifications, or intrusive advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?
Combo Cleaner can scan every single website you visit and detect deceptive and malicious ones. Therefore, if you enter such a webpage - you will be warned immediately, and further access to the site will be restricted.
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