How to remove 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' from Mac?

What is 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked'?

Jun 15, 2020  How to remove 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' from Mac? What is 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked'? 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' is a scam promoted by deceptive websites. As the title implies, the scheme claims that users' devices have been. If your webcam light turns on a few seconds after you reboot your computer, without launching any applications – you might’ve been hacked. If this is what’s happening, move on to the next step. Step 4: See if your webcam process is running.

'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' is a scam promoted by deceptive websites. As the title implies, the scheme claims that users' devices have been compromised and were accessed without authorization. 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' promotes other scams, which endorse untrustworthy and possibly malicious software. Typically, users access deceptive webpages via redirects caused by intrusive adverts or by PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications), already infiltrated into the system. These apps do not need express user consent to be installed onto their devices.

When a site running this scheme is accessed, it presents visitors with a pop-up window. The text presented in the pop-up, states that users' iPhone has been hacked. Therefore, their actions are supposedly being tracked by cyber criminals. The scam informs users that they need to take immediate action. Once this window is closed, users are presented with various other scams that promote fake anti-virus software, adware, browser hijackers and other PUAs. However, it is not unlikely that the schemes may endorse trojans, ransomware, cryptominers and other malware. Therefore, trusting 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' and the scams it promotes - can result in system infections, financial losses, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. Additionally, users should note that no website can actually detect threats present on a device; hence, any that make such claims are scams.

Aside from force-opening deceptive/scam, sale-oriented, rogue, compromised and malicious sites, PUAs can have other/additional abilities. They can run intrusive advertisement campaigns. These ads diminish the browsing experience. Furthermore, once clicked on - they redirect to untrustworthy/malicious websites and some can even stealthily download/install unwanted software. Other types of PUAs can hijack browsers by making modifications to their settings and restricting/denying access to them - in order to promote illegitimate search engines. The latter are rarely capable of providing search results, so they redirect to Yahoo, Google, Bing and other legitimate search engines. Most PUAs can track data. They can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This vulnerable data is often shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), intent on misusing it for profit. To ensure device integrity and user safety, all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	Scam claims users' iPhones have been hacked
Promoted Unwanted Application	Scam promotes various dubious apps
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 three days free trial available.

'Apple Rewards Program', '(3) Viruses has been detected', 'Your Apple iPhone is severely damaged by 19 viruses!' and 'Your Apple iPhone is severely damaged by (6) viruses!' are a few examples of other scams targeting iPhone users. Online schemes can use various scam models. Popular models include (but are not limited to): alerts that the device is infected or at risk, notifications concerning outdated or missing software, fake prize giveaways, ludicrous deals, etc. Regardless of what these scams state, request, offer or demand, the end-goal is the same - to generate revenue for their designers. Therefore, users are advised to exercise caution when browsing.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Some PUAs have 'official' download webpages, which are often promoted by deceptive/scam sites. These apps can also be downloaded/installed alongside other software. 'Bundling' is the term used to define this false marketing method of pre-packing ordinary products with unwanted or malicious additions. Rushed download/installation processes (e.g. ignored terms, skipped steps, etc.) - increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system. Intrusive ads proliferate PUAs as well. Upon being clicked, they can execute scripts designed to download/install PUAs without user permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

All products should be researched before download/installation. It is recommended to always use official and verified download channels. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders - commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content; therefore, they are advised against use. When downloading/installing, it is important to read terms, study all possible options, use the 'Custom/Advanced' settings and opt-out from supplementary apps, tools, features, and so on. Intrusive adverts typically appear legitimate and harmless, however they redirect to highly questionable pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and others). Should users experience such advertisements/redirects, they must check the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins from it. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Text presented in the 'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' scam:

Your iPhone Has Been Hacked

All your actions on the device are tracked by a hacker.

Immediate Action Is Required!

Close

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 computer 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 MacBy 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 three days free trial available.

Quick menu:

• 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.

Combo Cleaner checks if your computer is infected with malware. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited three days free trial available.

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up 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 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 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 in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure 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 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 it's virus definition database and click '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.

'Your iPhone Has Been Hacked' pop-up removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up related Safari extensions:

Open 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 normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the 'Open Menu' (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose 'Add-ons'.

Choose the 'Extensions' tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Remove' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove 'your iphone has been hacked' pop-up related Google Chrome add-ons:

Open Google Chrome and click the 'Chrome menu' (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose 'More Tools' and select 'Extensions'.

In the 'Extensions' window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Trash' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

It can be difficult to detect a hacker on a computer because the hacker will hide or disguise their actions. Below are the most common things that you may notice after a computer is hacked.

Note

It is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine who hacked a computer or detect who is actively hacking a computer.

Tip

Most computer problems are not caused by computer hackers. It is more common for a computer to be hijacked by a virus than to be hacked.

How To See If My Mac Has Been Hacked

New programs installed

In some situations, you may see new programs or files on the computer. If you are the only user on the computer and new programs are installed, this could be an indication that it was hacked. However, there are also several legitimate reasons why a new program may appear on the computer, as listed below.

• Operating system or other program received updates that included new programs or files.
• When you installed a new program, other programs may be installed with it. For example, it's common for plugins and other free programs to have a check box verifying the installation of a new toolbar or antivirus program. If you don't uncheck these boxes, the additional new programs are installed.
• If you suspect someone may have used your machine, ask if they installed a new program.

How To See If Your Mac Has Been Hacked Phone

Below is a listing of programs that may indicate a hacker was on the computer.

• Backdoors and trojans are by far the most common programs installed on a computer after it is hacked. These programs can allow the hacker to gain access to a large amount of information stored on your computer.
• IRC clients are another common way for a hacker to get into a computer or remotely control thousands of computers. If you have never participated in an IRC chat and have an IRC client your computer may have been hacked.
• Spyware, rogue antivirus programs, and malware might be an indication of a hacker. More commonly, however, they are a sign that your computer was infected via download or visiting a hijacked page while on the Internet.

Computer passwords have changed

Online passwords

Sometimes, after an online account is hacked, the hacker changes the password to one or more accounts. Try using the forgot password feature to reset the password. If your e-mail address has changed or this feature does not work, contact the company who is providing the service. They are the only ones who can reset your account and give control back to you.

Local computer password

If your password to log into your computer has changed, it may have been hacked. There is no reason why a password would change on its own.

E-mail spam being sent

When an e-mail account is taken over, the attacker often uses that account to spread spam and viruses. If your friends, family, or coworkers are receiving advertising e-mail from you, your e-mail may be compromised. Log into your e-mail account and change your account password.

Tip

E-mail addresses can also be spoofed without hacking the account. After changing the e-mail password, if your friends continue to get e-mails you have not sent, it is likely someone is spoofing your e-mail address.

Increased network activity

For any attacker to take control of a computer, they must remotely connect to it. When someone is remotely connected to your computer, your Internet connection will be slower. Also, many times after the computer is hacked, it becomes a zombie to attack other computers.

Installing a bandwidth monitor program on the computer can help determine which programs are using bandwidth on your computer. Windows users can also use the netstat command to determine remote established network connections and open ports.

However, there are multiple legitimate reasons why your Internet connection may also be slow.

Unknown program requesting access

Computer security programs and firewalls help restrict access for security purposes. If the computer prompts for access to programs you do not know, rogue programs may be installed or it may have been hacked. If you do not know why a program needs access to the Internet, we recommend blocking access to that program. If you later discover these blocks cause problems, they can be removed.

Tip

A firewall prompting you for access may also be someone trying to probe your network, looking for open or available ports.

Security program uninstalled

If the computer's antivirus program, anti-malware program, or firewall was uninstalled or disabled, it can also be an indication of a hacked computer. A hacker may disable these programs to help hide any warnings that would appear while they are on your machine.

How To Tell If Your Mac Has Been Hacked

Note

It is also possible for a virus to disable the antivirus program or malware to interfere with the anti-malware program.

Computer is doing things by itself

If your computer is deeply exploited, it's possible for a malicious third-party to remotely control your computer, executing any programs that you have privilege to run. If they are controlling your current login session, they can even control the computer as if they were sitting at your desk, using your keyboard and mouse.

For example, a mouse cursor could be moved or something could be typed. If you see the computer doing something as if someone else is in control, your system is likely being exploited at the root level.

Internet browser homepage changed or new toolbar

How To See If Your Mac Has Been Hacked Account

If you notice that your web browser configuration has suddenly changed, this may be a symptom of virus or malware infection. Examples of sudden browser changes include your homepage changing, a third-party toolbar being added, or your default search engine changing to something you don't want.