Stop browsers from opening startmostoriginalprogram.icu

What is startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu?

startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu encourages visitors to download and install an update for Adobe Flash Player, however, note that this website cannot be trusted - it actually downloads the FPlayer.zip file, which contains FPSetup.dmg, a file that installs a potentially unwanted application (PUA) or even malicious software.

There are many websites similar to startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu online. All are used to trick people into installing unwanted software. They contain no updates for Adobe Flash Player or any other legitimate software.

When visited, startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu displays a pop-up window suggesting that there is a new version of Adobe Flash Player available and encourages visitors to download and install it. As mentioned, this deceptive website downloads a ZIP file that contains a fake installer of a new Adobe Flash Player version.

Typically, these fake programs install adware, browser hijackers or even malicious software such as ransomware, Trojans, and so on. If installed, adware-type apps display pop-up ads, coupons, banners, surveys and other forms of advertisements.

In most cases, these ads lead to untrustworthy websites and sometimes might be designed to execute scripts to download and/or install unwanted applications (potentially malicious programs). Browser hijacking apps usually promote fake search engines by changing browser settings.

Both browser hijackers and adware often gather various browsing data (e.g., IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited web pages, geolocations) and sometimes personal information as well. Developers sell the details to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse them to generate revenue.

Some web pages such as startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu are used to trick visitors into using installers to infect systems with malicious programs designed to encrypt data, proliferate other malware, and so on.

In any case, neither startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu nor other websites of this type should be trusted. None have anything do to with the official Adobe Flash Player or its updates.

Threat Summary:

Name	startmostoriginalprogram.icu pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Fake Claim	This web page suggests that there is a new version of Adobe Flash Player available for download and encourages visitors to install it through a fake installer.
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	34.202.53.95
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.

Other examples of web pages similar to startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu are theultimatesafevideoplayer[.]info, mainsourceofupgrade[.]best and yourfine2upgradesfree[.]best.

All offer to update Adobe Flash Player with a fake installer, which actually installs unwanted software. People often arrive at websites of this type inadvertently: they are redirected to them through other untrustworthy sites, deceptive ads, or browsers automatically open them due to installed PUAs.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Most people download and/or install various unwanted apps (PUAs) through deceptive advertisements (if clicked, these execute scripts designed to download and install PUAs) or via the download/installation set-ups of other software.

Developers often distribute unwanted apps using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - they include PUAs into the set-ups of other (usually free) programs.

Typically, offers to download and/or install additionally-included apps are placed in "Custom", "Advanced" and similar settings of the download and installation set-ups. People who leave these settings unchanged inadvertently allow included PUAs to be downloaded and/or installed.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

The safest way to download files and programs is using official websites and direct download links. Some examples of the download/installation tools, sources that should NOT be trusted are unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers, and Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, etc.

Check each download or installation setup for settings such as "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual", etc. and dismiss any offers to download or install unwanted software before completing the process. Do not click intrusive ads, especially if displayed on dubious pages.

They can open untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations. Dubious ads might also appear on legitimate web pages.

If you believe that a PUA is already installed, remove all unwanted extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins from the browser, and programs of this kind from the operating system. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Text in the main pop-up window:

Software Update

 

Flash Player Update
Download new version

 

Update now

Flash Player is an essential plugin for your browser that allows you to view everything from video to games and animation on the web.

Flash Player supports several data formats including AMF, SWF, XML and JSON. The multimedia formats which are supported by Flash Player include .MP3, .FLV, .JPEG, .GIF, .PNG and .RTMP.

 

Other supported features include accelerated graphics rendering, multi-thread video decoding and webcam support.

 

Later Install

Appearance of startmostoriginalprogram[.]icu scam page (GIF):

Screenshot of a fake Adobe Flash Player installer:

Another screenshot of a fake Adobe Flash Player installer:

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 startmostoriginalprogram.icu pop-up?
• 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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