Your MAC might be at risk pop-up notification (Removal guide)

What is System Update – Your MAC might be at risk?

Your MAC might be at risk pop-up notification is a browser-based scam that masquerades as a system update that must be installed because the Mac might be at risk. This web-page is created by scammers and therefore cannot be trusted. This and similar fraudulent pages are created to distribute a variety of untrustworthy programs. The most common among these programs are PUAs (potentially unwanted applications), adware, browser hijackers and spyware. Security researchers found that the Your MAC might be at risk pop-up scam could be triggered by clicking on a misleading link or Adware.

Your MAC might be at risk is a scam similar to the YOUR IPHONE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED scam aimed at iPhone owners. The scam pages say that the visitor’s device is at risk and instructs victims to install programs that will help remove the virus, protect the device, and prevent identity theft. The design of such scam pages is similar to a system warning or a system update, but of course these web-pages have nothing to do with notifications from the operating system. Moreover, no web-page can instantly detect a virus/trojan infection. Therefore, users can safely ignore Your MAC might be at risk and similar fake messages and simply close them.

Text presented in the Your MAC might be at risk pop-up scam:

System Update
Your MAC might be at risk
Download and Install MAC Clean Booster to protect your computer.
Download Now
shield-icon
Your system might be at risk. This includes private data like apps, contacts, personal pictures and credit card information. It is highly recommended to download Mac Clean Booster in order to be protected.

Malicious files and scripts are a threat to your system. Thousands of computers get destroyed around the world every day. Protect yourself right now to avoid any loss of data and sensitive information.

Mac Clean Booster is the number one rated Mac security app. Download it for free today.
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Cyber security researchers have determined that users are redirected to the Your MAC might be at risk scam by Adware or from suspicious advertisements. Adware is considered by many to be synonymous with ‘malicious software’. It is a malicious program which serves unwanted ads to computer users. Some examples include fake alerts, pop up advertisements, various offers and deals or unclosable windows. Adware can be installed onto your machine via infected web sites, when you open email attachments, anytime you download and install free applications Most often, adware do not have any uninstall procedures and can use technologies that are similar to those used by malware to penetrate the Apple Mac.

Threat Summary

Name	Your MAC might be at risk
Type	phishing, fake alerts, scam
Promoted software	Mac Clean Booster
Affected web-browsers	Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc
Symptoms	pop-ups and new tab pages are loaded without your request when you go to a web site, you’re automatically rerouted to another webpage that you do not intend to visit your MAC OS starts automatically installing unwanted apps new toolbars suddenly added on your web browser your web browser start page has replaced and you cannot change it back slow Internet or slow browsing your Mac is no stable leading to freezes
Removal	Your MAC might be at risk removal guide

How does Adware get on your computer

Adware usually comes on the MAC system with free software. In many cases, it comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their machine has been hijacked by potentially unwanted apps and adware. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your MAC OS from adware software and potentially unwanted applications: do not install any suspicious apps, read the user agreement and select only the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation method, do not rush to click the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the application on the World Wide Web. Be careful and attentive!

Instructions which is shown below, will allow you to clean your machine from the adware software as well as get rid of Your MAC might be at risk annoying advertisements from the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari and other internet browsers.

How to remove Your MAC might be at risk scam

We can assist you get rid of Your MAC might be at risk from your internet browsers, without the need to take your machine to a professional. Simply follow the removal guidance below if you currently have the unwanted adware software on your machine and want to delete it. If you’ve any difficulty while trying to delete the adware that causes annoying Your MAC might be at risk pop up, feel free to ask for our help in the comment section below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your browser or restart your Apple Mac.

To remove Your MAC might be at risk, complete the following steps:

1. Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device
2. Check the list of installed programs
3. Remove adware related files and folders
4. Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes
5. Remove Your MAC might be at risk from Safari, Chrome, Firefox
6. How to stop Your MAC might be at risk pop-up scam

Remove unwanted profiles on Mac device

Adware can install a configuration profile on the Mac system to block changes made to the browser settings. Therefore, you need to open system preferences, find and delete the profile installed by the adware.

Click Apple menu ( ) > System Preferences.

In System Preferences, select Profiles. if there is no Profiles in the list of preferences, that means there are no profiles installed on the Mac device. If there is Profiles in the list, then click on it, then select a profile associated with the Your MAC might be at risk scam.

To delete a malicious profile, click on the minus button ( – ) located at the bottom-left of the Profiles screen.

Check the list of installed programs

In order to delete Your MAC might be at risk you need to do is to delete unknown and questionable applications from your computer using the Finder. When removing browser hijackers, adware and PUPs, check the list of installed apps and try to find questionable programs and uninstall them all. Pay special attention to recently installed programs, as it is most probably that Your MAC might be at risk сame along with it.

Open Finder and click “Applications”.

Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your MAC. Most likely, one of them is the adware that causes the Your MAC might be at risk scam. Once you’ve found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it and choose “Move to Trash”. Another way is drag the program from the Applications folder to the Trash.

Don’t forget, select Finder -> “Empty Trash”.

Remove adware related files and folders

Now you need to try to find Adware related files and folders, and then delete them manually. You need to look for these files in certain directories. To quickly open them, we recommend using the “Go to Folder…” command.

Click on the Finder icon. From the menu bar, select Go and click “Go to Folder…”. As a result, a small window opens that allows you to quickly open a specific directory.

Check for Adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchAgents

This will open the contents of the “/Library/LaunchAgents” folder. Look carefully at it and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files: com.machelper.plist, macsearch.plist, installapp.plist and search.plist. Most often, browser hijackers, PUPs and adware create several files with similar names.

Check for Adware generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/Application Support

This will open the contents of the “Application Support” folder. Look carefully at its contents, pay special attention to recently added/changed folder. Move all suspicious folders to the Trash.

Check for Adware generated files in the “~/Library/LaunchAgents” folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
~/Library/LaunchAgents

Proceed in the same way as with the “/Library/LaunchAgents” and “/Library/Application Support” folders. Look for suspicious and recently added files. Move all suspicious files to the Trash.

Check for Adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder

In the “Go to Folder…” window, type the following text and press Go:
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Carefully browse the entire list of files and pay special attention to recently created files, as well as files that have a suspicious name. Move all suspicious files to the Trash. A few examples of files to be deleted: com.macsearch.plist, com.installapp.plist, com.search.plist and com.machelper.plist. In most cases, adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs create several files with similar names.

Scan your Mac with MalwareBytes

Manual Your MAC might be at risk scam removal requires some computer skills. Some files and system entries that created by the adware can be not fully removed. We advise that use MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to scan the Mac computer. Moreover, this application will help you to get rid of adware, browser hijackers, toolbars and potentially unwanted programs that your MAC can be affected too.

Visit the following page to download the latest version of MalwareBytes for Mac.

After downloading is finished, close all windows on your MAC system. Further, open the saved file. Follow the prompts.

The MalwareBytes Free will automatically launch and you can see its main window as displayed in the figure below.

Next, press the “Scan Now” button to start scanning your MAC system for the adware that causes multiple intrusive pop-ups. When a malware, adware or PUPs are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

When MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) is complete scanning your computer, the results are displayed in the scan report. Next, you need to click the “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes Free will delete adware that causes the Your MAC might be at risk pop ups and move the selected security threats to the program’s quarantine.

Remove Your MAC might be at risk from Safari, Chrome, Firefox

The Your MAC might be at risk pop-ups or other symptoms of adware in your web browser is a good reason to locate and remove harmful plugins. This is an easy method to recover internet browsers settings and not lose any important information.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
Click on ‘three dots menu’ button at the top right corner of the Google Chrome window. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove Your MAC might be at risk scam by reset Chrome settings.	Click on ‘menu’ button and select ‘Add-ons’. Go to ‘Extensions’ tab. To uninstall an add-on, click on ‘Remove’ button next to it. If you are still experiencing problems with Your MAC might be at risk popup scam removal, you need to reset Mozilla Firefox browser.
Safari
On the top menu select ‘Safari’, then ‘Preferences’. Select ‘Extensions’ tab. Select an extension you want to delete and click ‘Uninstall’ button next to it.

How to stop Your MAC might be at risk pop-up scam

Run an ad blocker tool such as AdGuard will protect you from malicious ads and content. Moreover, you may find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and block phishing and spam web sites. Additionally, adblocker software will help you to avoid intrusive pop-ups and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Mac OS.

Once the download is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen. Follow the prompts.

Each time, when you start your Apple Mac, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted pop-ups, block Your MAC might be at risk scam, as well as other harmful or misleading websites.

Finish words

Once you have done the step-by-step guidance shown above, your MAC should be clean from this adware software and other malicious software. The Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome will no longer display the Your MAC might be at risk scam when you surf the Net. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help.

Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the Your MAC might be at risk pop-ups.