Removal of unwanted applications promoted via the Yourmonday pop-up scam

What is "Yourmonday"?

Yourmonday is a set of deceptive websites (including competition1480.yourmonday67[.]live and play0273.yourmonday23[.]live) that promote potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

These sites deliver fake error messages stating that the system is infected/damaged and encourage visitors to download system cleaners. At time of research, Yourmonday was used to promote Smart Mac Booster.

Note that users typically visit websites such as Yourmonday inadvertently, since they are redirected by unwanted applications already present on the system, or intrusive advertisements. PUAs usually infiltrate computers without users' consent, cause redirects, deliver intrusive advertisements, and record various information.

Once opened, Yourmonday websites display pop-up messages stating that the system is infected and encouraging users to perform a system scan. After supposedly scanning the system, Yourmonday delivers an error message stating that the system is infected with Bankworm malware.

Users are then immediately encouraged to download a system cleaning tool called Advanced Mac Cleaner. In fact, after agreeing to download, visitors are redirected to a website that promotes Smart Mac Booster, a system cleaning/optimization tool. Many system scanners proliferated in this way are fake.

They allow users to perform system scans and then feed them with false search results.

This is done to scare and trick unsuspecting users into purchasing software, since the 'free versions' are supposedly incapable of fixing errors. You should never trust any application proliferated using websites such as Yourmonday. If you have already installed this software, remove it immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Yourmonday pop-up scam virus
Threat Type	Pop-up scam, unwanted application, Mac malware, Mac virus
Detection Names (competition1480.yourmonday67[.]live)	Spamhaus (Spam), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (competition1480.yourmonday67[.]live)	79.110.23.100
Related Domains	lp.tunesysbooster[.]xyz
Promoted Unwanted Application	Smart Mac Booster
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 seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

The internet is full of rogue websites that deliver fake error messages and promote unwanted applications. The list of examples includes apple.com-shield-devices[.]live, apple.com-scan-mac[.]live, apple.com-fast[.]live, and many others. No matter which application is promoted, you should never download it.

Be aware that none of these websites are capable of scanning systems or detecting any malware infections. Therefore, the error messages should be ignored. Furthermore, these sites often employ scripts that prevent visitors from closing browsing tabs/windows.

If you cannot close the site, terminate the browser using Activity Monitor or simply reboot the system. Bear in mind, however, that you should not restore the previous browsing session the next time you run the browser, since you will end up returning to the rogue site.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

As mentioned, potentially unwanted applications typically infiltrate computers without users' consent, since developers proliferate them using intrusive advertisements and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Intrusive advertisements redirect users to dubious websites or simply run scripts that download/install unwanted applications.

"Bundling", on the other hand, is stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software. Developers are not honest enough to adequately disclose installation of third party applications. Therefore, "bundled" apps are concealed behind "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes.

By clicking various advertisements, and rushing and skipping download/installation steps, many users expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs. Opt-out of additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them.

We strongly recommend that you avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since most are monetized using the "bundling" method. Software should be downloaded from official sources only, preferably using direct download links. Bear in mind that intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate.

Once clicked, however, they can redirect to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, and similar). As mentioned above, ads of this type are usually delivered by adware-type applications, and thus if you encounter them frequently, uninstall all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins immediately.

The key to computer safety is caution. 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 first pop-up:

VIRUS FOUND

A website you visited today has infected your Mac with a virus.

Press OK to begin the repair process.

Second page of Yourmonday website:

Text presented within this page:

VIRUS FOUND
A website you have visited today has infected your Mac with a virus. A full system scan is now required to find and remove harmful files or applications from your Mac OS X 10_14_3 device.
DEVICE INFORMATION
Brand: Apple
Device: Mac OS X 10_14_3
Browser: Safari 12.0.3
IP: 85.206.10.62
Provider: Telia Lietuva, AB
Location: - LT
Scan Now

Third page of Yourmonday website:

Text presented within this page:

DOWNLOAD REQUIRED
Please download the Advanced Mac Cleaner application to remove Bankworm from your Mac.
VIRUS INFORMATION
Virus Name: Bankworm
Risk: HIGH
Infected File: /os/apps/worm.icv
VIRUS REMOVAL
Application: Advanced Mac Cleaner
Rating: 9.9/10
Price: Free
REMOVE VIRUS NOW

Appearance of "Yourmonday" scam (GIF):

Screenshot of a website promoting Smart Mac Booster:

Screenshot of Smart Mac Booster potentially unwanted application:

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT 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 Mac By 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 seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Yourmonday pop-up scam virus?
• How to identify a pop-up scam?
• How do pop-up scams work?
• How to remove fake pop-ups?
• How to prevent fake pop-ups?
• What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

How to identify a pop-up scam?

Pop-up windows with various fake messages are a common type of lures cybercriminals use. They collect sensitive personal data, trick Internet users into calling fake tech support numbers, subscribe to useless online services, invest in shady cryptocurrency schemes, etc.

While in the majority of cases these pop-ups don't infect users' devices with malware, they can cause direct monetary loss or could result in identity theft.

Cybercriminals strive to create their rogue pop-up windows to look trustworthy, however, scams typically have the following characteristics:

• Spelling mistakes and non-professional images - Closely inspect the information displayed in a pop-up. Spelling mistakes and unprofessional images could be a sign of a scam.
• Sense of urgency - Countdown timer with a couple of minutes on it, asking you to enter your personal information or subscribe to some online service.
• Statements that you won something - If you haven't participated in a lottery, online competition, etc., and you see a pop-up window stating that you won.
• Computer or mobile device scan - A pop-up window that scans your device and informs of detected issues - is undoubtedly a scam; webpages cannot perform such actions.
• Exclusivity - Pop-up windows stating that only you are given secret access to a financial scheme that can quickly make you rich.

Example of a pop-up scam:

How do pop-up scams work?

Cybercriminals and deceptive marketers usually use various advertising networks, search engine poisoning techniques, and shady websites to generate traffic to their pop-ups. Users land on their online lures after clicking on fake download buttons, using a torrent website, or simply clicking on an Internet search engine result.

Based on users' location and device information, they are presented with a scam pop-up. Lures presented in such pop-ups range from get-rich-quick schemes to fake virus scans.

How to remove fake pop-ups?

In most cases, pop-up scams do not infect users' devices with malware. If you encountered a scam pop-up, simply closing it should be enough. In some cases scam, pop-ups may be hard to close; in such cases - close your Internet browser and restart it.

In extremely rare cases, you might need to reset your Internet browser. For this, use our instructions explaining how to reset Internet browser settings.

How to prevent fake pop-ups?

To prevent seeing pop-up scams, you should visit only reputable websites. Torrent, Crack, free online movie streaming, YouTube video download, and other websites of similar reputation commonly redirect Internet users to pop-up scams.

To minimize the risk of encountering pop-up scams, you should keep your Internet browsers up-to-date and use reputable anti-malware application. For this purpose, we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.

What to do if you fell for a pop-up scam?

This depends on the type of scam that you fell for. Most commonly, pop-up scams try to trick users into sending money, giving away personal information, or giving access to one's device.

• If you sent money to scammers: You should contact your financial institution and explain that you were scammed. If informed promptly, there's a chance to get your money back.
• If you gave away your personal information: You should change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication in all online services that you use. Visit Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft and get personalized recovery steps.
• If you let scammers connect to your device: You should scan your computer with reputable anti-malware (we recommend Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS) - cyber criminals could have planted trojans, keyloggers, and other malware, don't use your computer until removing possible threats.
• Help other Internet users: report Internet scams to Federal Trade Commission.

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