Virus scam on Macbook Air

The group helped me with a similar question last week-- dialog screen plus web page, plus audio warning that freezes Chrome and won't let me close the tab or the browser. Can't screenshot it but this is URL: http://www.systemalertz.net/mac-alert.html?traffic_source=2858
Last time I was able to force quit Chrome but this time I can't shut Chrome down. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!

Remove Browser Pop-up Problems
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     remove adware that displays pop-up ads and graphics on your Mac

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HT1338 can I harbor a virus on my Macbook Air?

Can I have a virus on my Macbook Air? Are there any?

You can possibly harbour a Windows virus received in an email, but there are no viruses that can affect OS X.
Other forms of malware are another matter. For full details:
You will find this User Tip on Viruses, Trojan Detection and Removal, as well as general Internet Security and Privacy, useful:
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435
The User Tip (which you are welcome to print out and retain for future reference) seeks to offer guidance on the main security threats and how to avoid them.
More useful information can also be found here:
http://www.reedcorner.net/mmg/

HT4650 virus protection on macbook air?

I just purchased a MacBook Air. Do I need to install virus protection? Thanks.

If you run Microsoft Windows on your MacBook Air, yes, you'll want malware protection.
OS X works nicely out of the box.
But it's possible to install stuff that can or will cause problems.
There's very little malware stuff that'll hit you unexpectedly; what's been around lately has targeted Oracle Java or Adobe Flash vulnerabilities, or it's malware that's managed to convinced the user to install it on behalf of the attacker - examples of the "install me" stuff include various (free) "anti-virus" tools, "video players", "Flash Player updates" (those not from Adobe) or other "software updates", or (unnecessary) "performance optimizers" or "cache cleaners", etc.
On OS X, learn to install from the main distro sites only (eg: if you use Flash, only install it by going to Adobe's web site), learn to ignore the Facebook malware warnings ad campaigns, ignore the rest of the advertising pop-ups that are around the net and the rest of the OMG YOU'RE INFECTED!!!! stuff, don't install something that you didn't expressly go looking for, either don't install Oracle Java (and it's not installed by default on 10.8) or keep Java disabled until and unless you're actually using it (and that's Java, which is very different from Javascript), and either don't install the Adobe Flash Player tool or remove it and if you have it installed keep it current and yourself get a Flash blocker for Safari or whichever browser you're using.
And the usual advice: keep your OS X and add-on tools current.

Have a pop-up virus on my MacBook Air how do I remove it ?

For the past two weeks or so my MacBook Air got a virus. I get pop ups all the time. I also get this add warning that pops up on my screen saying I have a spyware virus and to call this 800 number. Is there a way to fix my laptop myself?

Hi Kimberly ...
Use the removal tool here > The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide
More about malware > The Safe Mac » Mac Malware Guide

Virus on my macbook air!

How do I remove a malware/virus that is causing problems on my Macbook air OSX 10.9.5? I have run the test through terminal, but do not know how to use the info that resulted. The problems are preventing me from closing the google Chrome browser and doing a shut down. Was hoping I would never see the day my mac got a virus

JMPC wrote:
There's only one way to solve the problem: you need to shut down your mac MANUALLY!
After that, turn it on and go directly to disk utility! Run every procedure to make sure disk utility repairs every data it need.
After that, simply restart your Mac and problem solved! :-)
Actually, that shouldn't solve the problem at all. Disk Utility has no role at all in solving this problem, and a force-shutdown of your Mac is a very unfriendly thing to do that should be used rarely, if at all.
Proper procedure is outlined here:
http://www.adwaremedic.com/kb/scampopups.php
(Fair disclosure: I may receive compensation from links to my site and software, in the form of buttons allowing for donations. Donations are not required to use my site or software.)

Do i install an anti virus on my MacBook Air ??

I just want to know that whether it is necessary to install an anti virus for my Mac ??
If yes then which one is recommended ?

You do not need any software installed for protection from virus.
Install all System, Applications and Security updates released by Apple.
For more on this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11432
http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg-antivirus/
Best.

I have a virus on my macbook air WHAT DO I DO?

Okay, so when I was in Brazil... i used netflix online and i would download pictures online from tumblr and stuff. Then a week or two after I got to Brazil my FaceTime, app store, itunes, and mail wouldnt work. My photo booth would be very slow as well. I told my mom to check and see what was wrong with it becasue she works in computers, and she said that I many have a virus on my mac...honestly i don't know how this happened I thought macs werent supposed to get viruses?! PLEASE HELPP.
P.S. my one year apple care warranty isnt up yet...

Its extremely unlikely you have a Mac Virus, there arent any out there spreading amongst Apple computers.
You said----FaceTime, app store, itunes, and mail wouldnt work.
What changed in Brazil? I assume a much slower internet connection.
You can take Lincs expert advice on your mac running slow on this thread:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4520221?start=0&tstart=0
No worries about any virus.

I have obtained an advertising virus on my macbook air called safekeep and it creates numerous pop-ups when I use the internet regardless of the site or browser. I have unistalled and deleted it from my finder but it didn't go away

I have downloaded different browsers thinking that I could escape it but nothing has worked. I was wondering if anyone else has had a run-in with this?

You installed the "SaveKeeper" adware. To remove it, please take the steps below.
Malware is constantly changing to get around the defenses against it. The instructions in this comment are valid as of the date it was posted, as far as I know. They won't necessarily be valid in the future. Anyone finding this comment after a few days from now should look for more recent discussions or start a new one.
1. From the Safari menu bar, select
Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Extensions
Uninstall any extensions you don't know you need. If in doubt, uninstall all extensions, including any with the name "RightCoupon," "SaveKeep," or similar. Do the equivalent for the Firefox and Chrome browsers, if you use either of those.
2. In the Applications folder, there may be an item with the name "SaveKeeper" or similar. Move it to the Trash and empty. If you get a warning that the item is in use, force it to quit, then try again.

Macbook Air Virus?

my macbook air just froze on me while viewing a photo gallary on the internet. I turned it off, and restarted it. However, all I see is a blank gray screen. I tried Command + R, which prompts a message of Apple searching on Internet, but in less that 5 seconds freezes as well. Did my Mac has a virus now?

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a boot failure is to secure your data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since your last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to boot. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
a. Boot into the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.”
b. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, boot the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
c. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
Sometimes a boot failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 3
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to boot, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can boot now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
If you've booted from an external storage device, make sure that your internal boot volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Step 4
Boot in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled on some models, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you boot in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, your boot volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 5.
If you can boot and log in now, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on your boot volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Check that you have at least 9 GB of available space, as shown in the window. If you don't, copy as many files as necessary to another volume (not another folder on the same volume) and delete the originals. Deletion isn't complete until you empty the Trash again. Do this until the available space is more than 9 GB. Then reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the boot process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 5
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select your startup volume, then run Repair Disk. If any problems are found, repeat until clear. If Disk Utility reports that the volume can't be repaired, the drive has malfunctioned and should be replaced. You might choose to tolerate one such malfunction in the life of the drive. In that case, erase the volume and restore from a backup. If the same thing ever happens again, replace the drive immediately.
This is one of the rare situations in which you should also run Repair Permissions, ignoring the false warnings it may produce. Look for the line "Permissions repair complete" at the end of the output. Then reboot as usual.
Step 6
Reinstall the OS. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 7
Repeat Step 6, but this time erase the boot volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically reboot into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer your data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 8
This step applies only to older Macs (not current models) that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery. Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a boot failure. Typically the boot failure will be preceded by loss of the startup disk and system clock settings. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
Step 9
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine tested. If you can't get to an Apple Store, go to another authorized service provider.

Macbook air virus protection

what is a good virus protection for the macbook air?

1. This comment applies to malicious software ("malware") that's installed unwittingly by the victim of a network attack. It does not apply to software, such as keystroke loggers, that may be installed deliberately by an intruder who has hands-on access to the victim's computer. That threat is in a different category, and there's no easy way to defend against it. If you have reason to suspect that you're the target of such an attack, you need expert help.
OS X now implements three layers of built-in protection specifically against malware, not counting runtime protections such as execute disable, sandboxing, system library randomization, and address space layout randomization that may also guard against other kinds of exploits.
2. All versions of OS X since 10.6.7 have been able to detect known Mac malware in downloaded files, and to block insecure web plugins. This feature is transparent to the user, but internally Apple calls it "XProtect." The malware recognition database is automatically checked for updates once a day; however, you shouldn't rely on it, because the attackers are always at least a day ahead of the defenders.
The following caveats apply to XProtect:
It can be bypassed by some third-party networking software, such as BitTorrent clients and Java applets.
It only applies to software downloaded from the network. Software installed from a CD or other media is not checked.
3. Starting with OS X 10.7.5, there has been a second layer of built-in malware protection, designated "Gatekeeper" by Apple. By default, applications and Installer packages downloaded from the network will only run if they're digitally signed by a developer with a certificate issued by Apple. Software certified in this way hasn't necessarily been tested by Apple, but you can be reasonably sure that it hasn't been modified by anyone other than the developer. His identity is known to Apple, so he could be held legally responsible if he distributed malware. That may not mean much if the developer lives in a country with a weak legal system (see below.)
Gatekeeper doesn't depend on a database of known malware. It has, however, the same limitations as XProtect, and in addition the following:
It can easily be disabled or overridden by the user.
A malware attacker could get control of a code-signing certificate under false pretenses, or could find some other way to bypass Apple's oversight, or the oversight could fail in a particular case due to human error.
For most purposes, applications recognized by Gatekeeper as signed, including App Store products, can be considered safe. Note, however, that at least one trojan for iOS (not for OS X) was briefly distributed by a developer in Russia through the iTunes App Store. That store is under the same oversight by Apple as the Mac App Store, so the protection shouldn't be considered absolute. App Store products may prompt for access to private data, such as your contacts. Think before granting that access. OS X security is based on user input. Never click anything reflexively.
4. Starting with OS X 10.8.3, a third layer of protection has been added: a "Malware Removal Tool" (MRT). MRT runs automatically in the background when you update the OS. It checks for, and removes, malware that may have evaded the other protections via a Java exploit (see below.) MRT also runs when you install or update the Apple-supplied Java runtime (but not the Oracle runtime.) Like XProtect, MRT is presumably effective against known attacks, but maybe not against unknown attacks. It notifies you if it finds malware, but otherwise there's no user interface to MRT.
5. Beyond XProtect, Gatekeeper, and MRT, there’s no evidence of any benefit from other automated protection against malware. The first and best line of defense is always your own intelligence. With the possible exception of Java exploits, all known malware circulating on the Internet that affects a fully-updated installation of OS X 10.6 or later takes the form of so-called "trojan horses," which can only have an effect if the victim is duped into running them. The threat therefore amounts to a battle of wits between you and the malware attacker. If you're smarter than he thinks you are, you'll win.
That means, in practice, that you never use software that comes from an untrustworthy source, or that does something inherently untrustworthy. How do you know what is trustworthy?
Any website that prompts you to install a “codec,” “plug-in,” "player," "extractor," or “certificate” that comes from that same site, or an unknown one, is untrustworthy.
A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. (Some reputable websites did legitimately warn visitors who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.)
Pirated copies or "cracks" of commercial software, no matter where they come from, are unsafe.
Software of any kind downloaded from a BitTorrent or from a Usenet binary newsgroup is unsafe.
Software that purports to help you do something that's illegal or that infringes copyright, such as saving streamed audio or video for reuse without permission, is unsafe. All YouTube "downloaders" are in this category, though not all are necessarily harmful.
Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. If it comes from any other source, it's unsafe.
Even signed applications should not be trusted if they do something unexpected, such as asking for permission to access your contacts or your location for no apparent reason.
6. Java on the Web (not to be confused with JavaScript, to which it's not related, despite the similarity of the names) is a weak point in the security of any system. Java is, among other things, a platform for running complex applications in a web page, on the client. That was always a bad idea, and Java's developers have proven themselves incapable of implementing it without also creating a portal for malware to enter. Past Java exploits are the closest thing there has ever been to a Windows-style virus affecting OS X. Merely loading a page with malicious Java content could be harmful.
Fortunately, client-side Java on the Web is obsolete and mostly extinct. Only a few outmoded sites still use it. Try to hasten the process of extinction by avoiding those sites, if you have a choice. Forget about playing games or other non-essential uses of Java.
Java is not included in OS X 10.7 and later. Discrete Java installers are distributed by Apple and by Oracle (the developer of Java.) Don't use either one unless you need it. Most people don't. If Java is installed, disable it — not JavaScript — in your browsers.
Regardless of version, experience has shown that Java on the Web can't be trusted. If you must use a Java applet for a task on a specific site, enable Java only for that site in Safari. Never enable Java for a public website that carries third-party advertising. Use it only on well-known, login-protected, secure websites without ads. In Safari 6 or later, you'll see a lock icon in the address bar with the abbreviation "https" when visiting a secure site.
Follow the above guidelines, and you’ll be as safe from malware as you can practically be. The rest of this comment concerns what you should not do to protect yourself from malware.
7. Never install any commercial "anti-virus" or "Internet security" products for the Mac, as they all do more harm than good, if they do any good at all. If you need to be able to detect Windows malware in your files, use the free software ClamXav — nothing else.
Why shouldn't you use commercial "anti-virus" products?
Their design is predicated on the nonexistent threat that malware may be injected at any time, anywhere in the file system. Malware is downloaded from the network; it doesn't materialize from nowhere.
In order to meet that nonexistent threat, the software modifies or duplicates low-level functions of the operating system, which is a waste of resources and a common cause of instability, bugs, and poor performance.
By modifying the operating system, the software itself may create weaknesses that could be exploited by malware attackers.
8. ClamXav doesn't have these drawbacks. That doesn't mean it's entirely safe. It may report email messages that have "phishing" links in the body, or Windows malware in attachments, as infected files, and offer to delete or move them. Doing so will corrupt the Mail database. The messages should be deleted from within the Mail application.
ClamXav is not needed, and should not be relied upon, for protection against OS X malware. It's useful only for detecting Windows malware. Windows malware can't harm you directly (unless, of course, you use Windows.) Just don't pass it on to anyone else.
A Windows malware attachment in email is usually easy to recognize. The file name will often be targeted at people who aren't very bright; for example:
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥!!!!!!!H0TBABEZ4U!!!!!!!.AVI♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.exe
ClamXav may be able to tell you which particular virus or trojan it is, but do you care? In practice, there's seldom a reason to use ClamXav unless a network administrator requires you to run an anti-virus application.
9. The greatest harm done by security software, in my opinion, is in its effect on human behavior. It does little or nothing to protect people from emerging threats, but if they get a false sense of security from it, they may feel free to do things that expose them to higher risk. Nothing can lessen the need for safe computing practices.
10. It seems to be a common belief that the built-in Application Firewall acts as a barrier to infection, or prevents malware from functioning. It does neither. It blocks inbound connections to certain network services you're running, such as file sharing. It's disabled by default and you should leave it that way if you're behind a router on a private home or office network. Activate it only when you're on an untrusted network, for instance a public Wi-Fi hotspot, where you don't want to provide services. Disable any services you don't use in the Sharing preference pane. All are disabled by default.

Is it possible for macbook air to get some some viruses?

Is it possible that Macbook air can get viruses from downloaded sites.

I'm unclear on what you mean. If you accidentally downloaded something from a bad site, but dragged the file to the trash rather than opening it, then you're fine. If you opened the file first, then that may mean you have a problem, but that will depend on what the file was and where you downloaded it from.

Does my macbook air have a built in virus scan? how can I access and use it? also any recommendations of what software if this is not avail ?

does my macbook air have a built in virus scan? how can I access and use it? also any recommendations of what software if this is not avail ?

Contrary to what Geeks on Hugs is telling you, Mac OS X does indeed have a basic malware scanner. It is not a feature that is directly accessible to the user, and works a bit differently than every other malware scanner out there. Gatekeeper, which has been mentioned here, is entirely separate, and provides a different method for helping to protect you against malware.
The anti-malware scanner in Mac OS X is called XProtect. When you download an application (or any other kind of executable code), it is automatically "quarantined," so that when you open it you're asked if you really want to do that. I'm sure you're very familiar with this aspect of Mac OS X if you have ever downloaded any apps from outside the App Store. What you don't know, though, is that each time you try to open a new app, that app is checked by XProtect. If it is identified as malware, you will not be allowed to open it, and will be warned that it's malware.
At this time, there is no known malware that can infect a properly up-to-date Mac. All current malware will be blocked by one or more methods.
For more information, see my Mac Malware Guide.
(Fair disclosure: I may receive compensation from links to my sites, TheSafeMac.com and AdwareMedic.com.)

Frozen rogue image on macbook air: synced iphone, was asked to download from itunes, to restart, did this. when restarted there was photo of chocolate saying 'love you'. never seen image, it will not delete, the techs at work tried too. No luck.Virus?

frozen rogue image on macbook air: synced iphone, was asked to download from itunes, to restart, did this. when restarted there was photo of chocolate saying 'love you'. never seen image, it will not delete, the techs at work tried too. No luck.Virus? any ideas?

I'm an applications developer and also run a part-time videography business. As such, I require more than 3.12GB of RAM. That is the physical limitation of a 32bit system. Pointless to stay on 32bit if you plan on having more than that much RAM.
I'm also not about to pay someone to fix my PC when I can do it myself. I was originally hoping for someone who had experienced the problem before to point me in the right direction so I didn't have to spend so much time trying to figure out what the issue was for myself.
Basically, in the end the problem was caused because right at the point in time when I chose to uninstall, and reinstall; Apple released a new version of iTunes. This version in turn had a requirement of iOS 4.2 to sync with the iPhone. This is a pretty embarrassing for Apple that they would release software reliant on other software before said software was released.
Had I realised I was downloading a newer version at the initial point of installation, this wouldn't have been an issue. I could've easily have rolled back iTunes to the previous version and gotten on with my life.
Another issue is that iTunes is not actually a 64 bit application. It masquerades as one to allow installation on the 64 bit platform.

What is the preferred anti-virus/malware software for MacBook Air

What is the preferred anti-virusmalware software for MacBook Air?

None is required.
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Protection
An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.
See these Apple articles:
          Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection
          OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
          About file quarantine in OS X
If you require anti-virus protection I recommend using VirusBarrier Express 1.1.6 or Dr.Web Light both from the App Store. They're both free, and since they're from the App Store, they won't destabilize the system. (Thank you to Thomas Reed for these recommendations.)
From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:
The facts are:
1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.
2. There is no anti-malware that can detect anything targeting the Mac because there
     is no Mac malware in the wild, and therefore, no "signatures" to detect.
3. The very best way to prevent the most attacks is for you as the user to be aware that
     the most successful malware attacks rely on very sophisticated social engineering
     techniques preying on human avarice, ****, and fear.
4. Internet popups saying the FBI, NSA, Microsoft, your ISP has detected malware on
    your computer is intended to entice you to install their malware thinking it is a
    protection against malware.
5. Some of the anti-malware products on the market are worse than the malware
    from which they purport to protect you.
6. Be cautious where you go on the internet.
7. Only download anything from sites you know are safe.
8. Avoid links you receive in email, always be suspicious even if you get something
    you think is from a friend, but you were not expecting.
9. If there is any question in your mind, then assume it is malware.

Do i need to install and anti virus software on my macbook air? if yes, which one should i install?

Do i need to install and anti virus software on my macbook air? if yes, which one should i install?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
OS X has got its own security systems, so you don't need any antivirus. Furthermore, they will only slow down your computer. If you want more information, read > http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg
If you want an antivirus, install ClamXav, but you don't need an antivirus

Virus scam on Macbook Air

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