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"Apple- Security Warning" from "Apple System Security Center" with creepy computer voice

was doing a routine search on chrome, and this popped up (i have pop up blocker on)

assumed spam, so didn't listen to the computertized voice that warned me not to close or log out...

did so anyway.

Questions are:

  1. can you confirm that this is spam
  2. any validity to the specific threat they detected? how to safely search for
  3. what malware software do you recommend?


  1. thanks for any help!


[Edited by Moderator]

Mac mini

Posted on Aug 18, 2023 10:17 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 18, 2023 5:53 PM

  1. yes
  2. no
  3. NONE. Install nothing in reaction to such a scam. That's the real threat.


Read Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community. Just because some nonsense popup appears alleging something absurd does not mean you have to believe it.


Phony "tech support" / "ransomware" popups and web pages - Apple Community has a few examples of these scams. New ones appear every day.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 18, 2023 5:53 PM in response to creativekp

  1. yes
  2. no
  3. NONE. Install nothing in reaction to such a scam. That's the real threat.


Read Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community. Just because some nonsense popup appears alleging something absurd does not mean you have to believe it.


Phony "tech support" / "ransomware" popups and web pages - Apple Community has a few examples of these scams. New ones appear every day.

Aug 20, 2023 10:55 AM in response to creativekp

  1. It's not just spam – it's also a SCAM!
  2. The threat is from the scammers themselves. If you contact them, they will try to convince you to buy software that you don't need. To give them information that lets them empty out your bank accounts at their leisure. Or to install remote access software to let them get their grubby little hands into your computer.


An example of the lengths to which scammers will go to frighten and scam you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXRHb4sCM8c

These scammers made the mistake of calling someone in a Police department, who wasted their time as they ran through their whole bag of tricks …

Aug 18, 2023 10:25 AM in response to creativekp

Scams (e-mail, text messages, and phone calls) are getting very good at closely imitating true Apple communications (that one isn't even trying, it is so bogus). Always be cautious. These support articles have some guidelines:


About identifying legitimate emails from the App Store and iTunes Store --> Identify legitimate emails from the App Store or iTunes Store - Apple Support


Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support


Avoid scams when you use Apple Cash --> Avoid scams when you use Apple Cash - Apple Support


Apple 'How to identify, avoid, and report phishing' video--> https://youtu.be/SR3Z3fXXjfw


About Gift Card Scams --> About Gift Card Scams - Official Apple Support


If you are uncertain about a message and a resource provided in that message, do not click on any links in the message. Try to independently verify the resource by going to a support article page on apple.com and use the instructions in the article to verify though Apple itself, or your Apple device features such as Settings or an Apple app, what the message is claiming. To ask Apple start at this web page: Official Apple Support



Aug 18, 2023 10:25 AM in response to creativekp

Here's more, some of which is not in Apple's documents referenced in my previous post. I am therefore posting it separately since it is not part of Apple's official guidelines. However, it probably has more specifics to actually aid in identifying bogus messages.


- Apple e-mails address you by your real name, not something like "Dear Customer", "Dear Client", or an e-mail address*.

- Apple e-mails originate from @apple.com or @itunes.com but it is possible to spoof a sender address. "Apple email related to your Apple ID account always comes from appleid@id.apple.com." - About your Apple ID email addresses - Apple Support

- Set your email to display Show Headers or Show Original to view Received From. Apple emails originate from IP addresses starting with "17.".

- Mouse-over links to see if they direct to real Apple web sites. Do not click on them as this just tells the spammer they have a working e-mail address in their database. If you are unsure, contact Apple using a link from the Apple.com web site, not one in an email.

- Phishing emails may include account suspension or similar threats in order to panic you into clicking on a link without thinking. They may report a fake purchase in order to infuriate you into rashly clicking on a false link to report a problem. March 2018 post by Niel There was a fraudulent order on my apple … - Apple Community - "Emails saying that your Apple ID has been locked or disabled are always phishing. If one actually gets disabled, its owner will be told when they try logging into it instead of through email."

- Apple will not ask for personal information in an e-mail and never for a social security number.

- Scams may have bad grammar or spelling mistakes.

- Apple will not phone you unless it is in response to a request from you to have them call you.


* Exception: I got email saying my ID is expired! Does… - Apple Community


Forward email attempts as an attachment (in MacOS Mail use the paperclip icon) to: reportphishing@apple.com then delete it.


If this is with regard to a supposed purchase, this Apple article has relevant information and web links for checking if you really have made a purchase or paid for a subscription: If you see ‘itunes.com/bill‘ or an unfamiliar charge on your bank, credit card, or debit statement - Purchases made under Family Sharing might be charged to the organizer's card but will not appear under the organizer's purchase history or subscriptions. Ask family members about those or check your receipts. --> If you see 'apple.com/bill' on your billing statement - Apple Support Apple will email a receipt to the Family Organizer if a purchase is made on a card held by the Family Organizer. This will have the Apple ID of the purchaser, which you should recognize, but won't have specific about what was purchased.


Read this link "If you think your Apple ID has been compromised" --> If you think your Apple ID has been compromised - Apple Support


Also make sure you are using "Two-factor authentication for Apple ID" --> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support



"Apple- Security Warning" from "Apple System Security Center" with creepy computer voice

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