Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

I had a weird experience a few days ago....

a-m-k

a-m-k

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,556
133
It happened Friday night and Saturday, and since I actually do have access to a certain :apple: tech support member, I was going to wait until Monday to call because, as of right now, things are much better.

I was using the only internet browser I have on my MBP, and everywhere I went I would get these annoying full-screen pop-ups. I don't remember if it was just one particular site or if it was everywhere I went. I tried to find a pop-up blocker on the safari web browser, but couldn't.

For now, since I am fairly sure that the article I was reading is still in my history, should I try to re-create the situation or was it just some strange fluke maybe only effecting that particular site? Though, also, I think it was in the same timeframe, I had this app that was a red bag and it had a name. I forget what it was called, but I didn't dare click it. I just got rid of it and deleted via-trash can.

I think I am OK, I've run my macmechanic after deleting the said app and everything seems OK. Should I check anything else?

Thank you
 
a-m-k said:
Worked like a charm.... I had a lot of adware. I'm guessing that the one day that it had so much garbage sites that I had no interest in might have done it.
Click to expand...

Theres a lot more "drive by" malware out there now and or bundled with legit applications, mostly adware including macOS, another is Bitdefenders on demand scanner,. A reactive tool rather than proactive, equally it will also spot the unwanted for both Mac & Windows, available on the Mac App Store.

Q-6
 
I'm not sure if this is of interest, but if you use Chrome (and probably applies to FireFox), I find these Extension applications to be very useful in avoiding harmful/offensive/misleading sites, ensuring connections to webpages are private, and all but eliminating popup ads.
  • uBlock Origin (this is an incredible ad-blocking extension in that it is extremely effective and very light on computer resources)
  • uBlock Origin Extra (formally uBlock Origin WebSocket)
  • Web Of Trust
  • HTTPS Everywhere
  • BitDefender TrafficLight
  • MagicActions for YouTube
 
ZapNZs said:
I'm not sure if this is of interest, but if you use Chrome (and probably applies to FireFox), I find these Extension applications to be very useful in avoiding harmful/offensive/misleading sites, ensuring connections to webpages are private, and all but eliminating popup ads.
  • uBlock Origin (this is an incredible ad-blocking extension in that it is extremely effective and very light on computer resources)
  • uBlock Origin Extra (formally uBlock Origin WebSocket)
  • Web Of Trust
  • HTTPS Everywhere
  • BitDefender TrafficLight
  • MagicActions for YouTube
Click to expand...


How's the BitDefender TrafficLight? I'm coming from PC and I had BitDefender on the PC and was looking to see what's best for Mac (unless there's free ones out there that does as good or better). I found this article on Tom's Guide.... http://www.tomsguide.com/us/bitdefender-antivirus-mac,review-2348.html which mentions TrafficLight. Wasn't sure how good it is. You're opinion on it is much appreciated
 
tvith said:
How's the BitDefender TrafficLight? I'm coming from PC and I had BitDefender on the PC and was looking to see what's best for Mac (unless there's free ones out there that does as good or better). I found this article on Tom's Guide.... http://www.tomsguide.com/us/bitdefender-antivirus-mac,review-2348.html which mentions TrafficLight. Wasn't sure how good it is. You're opinion on it is much appreciated
Click to expand...

TrafficLight is independent of the AV and acts as a browser add-on. IIRC BitDefender advertises it with their paid Mac AV product. As far as TrafficLight goes, it seems to catch many sites with malicious elements that one might not expect to be problematic, does not negatively impact the speed of web searches to any noticeable extent, and does not seem to consume a tremendous amount of CPU either. Of course, many of these malicious elements will have zero effect on a Mac to begin with...

I've used both BitDefender's and ESET's Mac version of AV. Both seem to function fine and have minimal impact on the Mac's performance from what I can tell. Neither have caused any functional issues. However, unless Mac-specific attacks become more prevalent and more destructive than the adware-style ones which are currently becoming more common (but don't cause nasty long-term damage and are easy to remove without paid software), I can't say that I feel strongly either are necessities unless you also want the ability to scan for Windows viruses for whatever reason (which BitDefender does, and I believe the ESET product does as well.) AV programs for Macs are a somewhat controversial topic IMO. Partly because there is a lot of debate as to whether it is a needed product at all, and partly because many Mac antivirus programs have historically caused more issues than they have resolved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tvith
Picking up and going further with something which was brought up here in another post in this thread: adware and Mac Mechanic. In another thread the OP started a while back, I seem to remember several members suggesting that perhaps this Mac Mechanic program that the OP uses is not exactly on the up-and-up and in fact may be a form of adware itself. Running a Google on it brings up interesting results, with instructions on how to remove the program if it is indeed on one's Mac..... Seriously, OP, you need to consider taking that program off your computer. If you want a reliable maintenance/cleaning program, try something like OnyX, which has been tried and tested through the years and actually is effective.

http://www.precisesecurity.com/hijacker/remove-mac-mechanic
 
  • Like
Reactions: willmtaylor
Clix Pix said:
Picking up and going further with something which was brought up here in another post in this thread: adware and Mac Mechanic. In another thread the OP started a while back, I seem to remember several members suggesting that perhaps this Mac Mechanic program that the OP uses is not exactly on the up-and-up and in fact may be a form of adware itself.

.
Click to expand...


I think that you are right, and OP specifically mentions using macmechanic several times in that previous thread, as well as this one.

a-m-k : regardless of who recommended it, and the fact that it seemed to help in the past... please, be very very wary indeed of applications like that, which can sometimes seem to appear already installed, so that it's possible to think they're legitimate. If you've deleted it, and now use malwarebytes : splendid !.

A brief search on the phone # for macmechanic from one of your own screenshots, comes up with this :
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...tall+&cd=44&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

Sure, could be a valid service :D but they're really not the good guys that some might think. That # is associated (in search engines at least) with several differently named 'cleaners', 'optimizers' and scam phone call operations.[/QUOTE]
 
Unfortunately, I think I am going to have to make another call to the tech support person I was talking to... my MBP has gone crazy on and opens tabs when I click things. (I've checked to see if that option was chosen, its not.) I've been encouraged to get a whole new MBA a long time ago (not by a tech support person) However, right now, its not a good time for me to do so.

I keep getting a pop-up menu when I select any app on the doc, and I don't know how to fix it. That option isn't chosen in system preferences and the right click option activates on its own. My MacBook is only four and a half years old, too. Is there anything I can try for the time being until I get a good enough charge to hold a phone conversation?

Thank you.
 
KGB7 said:
If the above suggestions didn't fix your issues, than you do a full back up and reinstall the OS.
Click to expand...
I've done that months ago, but thank you for the suggestion. I am going to call the tech support operator now and leave a message for him to call me back. I'll let you know what is done when I get to talk to him. :)
 
willmtaylor said:
As others have said, both Malwarebytes and Onyx are good utilities.
Click to expand...
Using those programs do not fix my problem. I am kind of thinking, at this point, since my trackpad is acting up, its either the trackpad and the wiring itself or maybe the whole keyboard.

This is the program I use to take care of malware, should I look into another app to find and remove another "ware" whatever its called. This program is called malware bytes.
Screen Shot 2017-06-25 at 6.46.45 PM.png
 
a-m-k said:
Unfortunately, I think I am going to have to make another call to the tech support person I was talking to... my MBP has gone crazy on and opens tabs when I click things. (I've checked to see if that option was chosen, its not.) I've been encouraged to get a whole new MBA a long time ago (not by a tech support person) However, right now, its not a good time for me to do so.

I keep getting a pop-up menu when I select any app on the doc, and I don't know how to fix it. That option isn't chosen in system preferences and the right click option activates on its own. My MacBook is only four and a half years old, too. Is there anything I can try for the time being until I get a good enough charge to hold a phone conversation?

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Plug in an external mouse and select the option to disable the trackpad when an external mouse is connected.
 
ZapNZs said:
Plug in an external mouse and select the option to disable the trackpad when an external mouse is connected.
Click to expand...
What will this do? Will it help me eliminate theories of what could be wrong?
 
It will disable the trackpad. If your cursor is making right clicks on its own without you activating it, this is a good way to start to rule out a malfunction with the trackpad/trackpad connection. (As other members have suggested, if it is a software-based problem, you may need to reinstall OS X [again]. However, it could also be hardware. - There isn't enough known info to say at this point IMO.)

Just to verify, is this technical support person a member of Apple Inc., or an employee of an Apple Authorized Service Provider? (I ask because it sounds like you may need one-on-one service to solve this issue and they are arguably the most qualified to take the system apart if you prefer not to do so yourself - additionally, they are the ones with advanced diagnostic tools that may be needed to correctly identify this issue. [If they claim they are but you are not sure, you can always ask them, "hey, what is GSX and AST?!"...and they darn sure better know!])
 
Last edited:
ZapNZs said:
It will disable the trackpad. If your cursor is making right clicks on its own without you activating it, this is a good way to start to rule out a malfunction with the trackpad/trackpad connection. (As other members have suggested, if it is a software-based problem, you may need to reinstall OS X [again]. However, it could also be hardware. - There isn't enough known info to say at this point IMO.)
Click to expand...
I'm going to mention that when I speak with the Mac Tech Representative.

Just to verify, is this technical support person a member of Apple Inc., or an employee of an Apple Authorized Service Provider? (I ask because it sounds like you may need one-on-one service to solve this issue and they are arguably the most qualified to take the system apart if you prefer not to do so yourself - additionally, they are the ones with advanced diagnostic tools that may be needed to correctly identify this issue. [If they claim they are but you are not sure, you can always ask them, "hey, what is GSX and AST?!"...and they darn sure better know!])[/QUOTE]
Yep, I have his number on speed dial. :) Directly from :apple:.

I'm doing everything I can before I give up and decide to upgrade to a MBA. It's just not good timing right now.:( Though, like I said if any of you remember me from my first thread talking about my MBP problems, I am going to wait until I am past the "mid" selections of the MBA's. This current MBP is my second one, so I am going to go a whole new direction if necessary.
 
So far, so good.... After my call with I assume the supervisor (or main :apple: tech support operator) things worked much better. I did a lot of different things, and removed more unnecessary apps and removed things from specific folders.

So, here goes nothing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back