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Eva123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 12, 2011
3
0
Hello all,

I just ran into something that I never experienced on my iMac Intel while on the internet. I forgot what link i clicked but when i did it closed my Firefox and a window popped up saying that a website, unfamiliar to me, requires a scan. The message was formatted this way:

(..............firefox says: scanat......com requires a scan.​

I do not remember the full site or most of the message because I was too much in a hurry to get out of it. I could not get a screen cap. because it would not let me click on any applications. I tried to force quit Firefox but it wouldn't let me. Then I tried to shut down and it told me that Firefox canceled the shut down until i presses "OK" for the scan! So then I just unplugged it.

I have restarted my computer and nothing seems off, but then again i wouldn't know.

Has this ever happened to anyone? Should I be concerned, maybe consider getting a spyware, malware, and virus scan? I appreciate any constructive feedback.

p.s. the link was not porn or anything compromising at least not intentional.
 

Don Kosak

macrumors 6502a
Mar 12, 2010
860
4
Hilo, Hawaii
Well, if you didn't hit OK, you're probably fine.

I'm surprised it wouldn't let you "Force Quit"... Did you use the one under the :apple: menu?
 

eawmp1

macrumors 601
Feb 19, 2008
4,158
91
FL
This message is not from Mozilla and is a common phishing way to get people to download Trojans. If you didn't click it it doesn't open. And odds are it would be a Windows Trojan.

Steps in future:

Close window
Quit Firefox
Force quit (command option escape)
Hold power button down for 5 secs to restart computer

Cut power as last resort.



No to antivirus software.
 

JeepGuy

macrumors 6502
Sep 24, 2008
332
110
Barrie
if you are running firefox, I would install noscript, for when you are visiting questionable sites.
 

Eva123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 12, 2011
3
0
I'm surprised it wouldn't let you "Force Quit"... Did you use the one under the :apple: menu?


Yeah, me too. That's what worried me the most because I have been on sites that have those Trojan phishing scam things but they're always easy to just x out of, but this one was evil!,lol. It really took control over my computer because it didn't let me click anywhere.

i did try to exit firstly by the upper x but it didn't have the option and by then my Firefox window had been minimized on its own. Then I tried force quit on the desktop menu icon, and then the Apple menu, nothing.

@eawmp1, Thanks, but I did try those steps but it wouldn't allow me to. Like I couldn't close the message window because it only had a mini or max option and the top Firefox menu only had the "Firefox" part, none of the other options like tools, view, etc. The only thing i didn't try was the keyboard shortcut to force quit. I'll keep that in mind if it happens again.

@JeepGuy- thanks, i will look into that.
 

philipma1957

macrumors 603
Apr 13, 2010
6,362
248
Howell, New Jersey
Yeah, me too. That's what worried me the most because I have been on sites that have those Trojan phishing scam things but they're always easy to just x out of, but this one was evil!,lol. It really took control over my computer because it didn't let me click anywhere.

i did try to exit firstly by the upper x but it didn't have the option and by then my Firefox window had been minimized on its own. Then I tried force quit on the desktop menu icon, and then the Apple menu, nothing.

@eawmp1, Thanks, but I did try those steps but it wouldn't allow me to. Like I couldn't close the message window because it only had a mini or max option and the top Firefox menu only had the "Firefox" part, none of the other options like tools, view, etc. The only thing i didn't try was the keyboard shortcut to force quit. I'll keep that in mind if it happens again.

@JeepGuy- thanks, i will look into that.

you should have activity monitor in your dock. then do these four steps.

first thumbnail click on act mon


second thumb click on the dead app

third thumb double click on quit "the dead app"


last thumb click on force quit "the dead app"



this tends to work better then the force quit that comes up with the upper left apple menu. you can do this with any beachball app or in your case the virus
 

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drambuie

macrumors 6502a
Feb 16, 2010
751
1
It's a well known scam in the Windows world. A script runs to make it look like your computer is compromised, then they offer a half-baked application to clean it, usually for around $40.
 

dime21

macrumors 6502
Dec 9, 2010
483
1
This was caused by javascript foolishness. NoScript would have prevented it. A virus scanner would not have helped, and is not necessary.
 

Vylen

macrumors 65816
Jun 3, 2010
1,026
0
Sydney, Australia
Yep, it's just annoying javascript.

It's possible in Javascript for a page to open up a pop-up when it detects that you're leaving a page (or closing firefox).

And then that pop-up can push annoying message boxes that stop Firefox from closing.

It's not a virus, it's just stuff to scare you into buying stuff - stuff for Windows.
 

Eva123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 12, 2011
3
0
Ok, thanks to all of your inputs. Again I was only really concerned because I have never met a pop-up that prohibited me from clicking on other applications or from even shutting down my computer.

As Badger^2 said, I will close, move on, and forget about it.

And I gotta say, thanks all for being so civil and informative. I gotta admit I was a bit hesitant to post because some forums I visited can get so nasty and condescending if you post something that is so obvious to them. I do usually research previous threads before posting but I couldn't find anything that resembled my issue because none of them mentioned that the pop up prevented them from shutting down or clicking on apps.

Anyways Thanks!
 

BigRedOne

macrumors regular
Nov 29, 2007
135
0
I clicked on an Image Shack Picture twice now and some "macClean" program pop's up and I ether push on on the pop up to clean my computer or I have to shut it down. I always shut it down, but no shady websites involved, infact one of the times I had to do this was when I clicked on an Image Shack Picture on MacRumors thread yesterday. It is really annoying when it happens, force quit doesn't work so the only option I know of is to shut it down, a real pain in the butt.
 

GGJstudios

macrumors Westmere
May 16, 2008
44,539
941
I just ran into something that I never experienced on my iMac Intel while on the internet. I forgot what link i clicked but when i did it closed my Firefox and a window popped up saying that a website, unfamiliar to me, requires a scan.
Read the scareware information in the following link:
 

Choctaw

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2008
324
12
And I gotta say, thanks all for being so civil and informative. I gotta admit I was a bit hesitant to post because some forums I visited can get so nasty and condescending if you post something that is so obvious to them. Thanks!

Yes I know what you are talking about, i have been on both sides of that subject. It can and does happen here but mostly it is rare. It is much nicer when members understand that we are not perfect and don't always phrase our comments and questions like others think they should be. Nobody should receive a harsh reprimanding when they are just trying to communicate their views and needs. This forum is a great place for information and friendship. Good luck on keeping your iMac up and running.
Choctaw
 
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