How to remove apps that open Megabonus-point web pages

What is Megabonus-point?

Megabonus-point is a family of untrusted web pages that attempt to deceive visitors into downloading and installing potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) or even malicious programs, providing personal information, and so on. You are strongly advised not to trust any Megabonus-point websites.

Typically, they are opened through clicked deceptive ads, other dubious web pages or PUAs that are installed on browsers and operating systems.

At the time of research, Megabonus-point led to a number of other web pages designed to trick visitors into using a fake Adobe Flash Player installer and taking a fake survey. Typically, fake installers are designed to proliferate and install PUAs (e.g., browser hijackers, adware-type applications). 

Browser hijackers promote fake search engine URLs by changing browser settings. These apps also gather various information, and can sometimes access personal, confidential details. Adware-type applications serve various advertisements (coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, etc.), which might open untrusted pages or cause download/installation of PUAs.

Adware-type software can also track information. Therefore, such apps should never be downloaded or installed. In some cases, fake Adobe Flash Player installers infect systems with ransomware, Trojan-type malware, etc. Ransomware is designed to prevent victims from accessing or using their files by encryption.

Typically, the only way to decrypt files is to use tools that can only be purchased from the cyber criminals who designed the ransomware. Trojans are malicious programs that can steal personal information, spread/install other malware, and perform other dubious actions.

Here is an article with a list of pages that are deigned to trick visitors into using fake Adobe Flash Player installers. Scammers behind fake surveys usually seek to trick visitors into providing personal information, which can be used to generate revenue. In most cases, these sites claim that visitors have won (or can win) a prize, and they simply need to take a survey.

Some examples of similar surveys are "Dear Safari User, You Are Today's Lucky Visitor" and "Dear Chrome User, Congratulations!". It is possible that Megabonus-point websites will lead to other dubious sites, none of which are trustworthy.

Threat Summary:

Name	megabonus-point pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names (megabonus-point4[.]life)	ESET (Malware), Full List (VirusTotal)
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.

"Chooseyour", "Winprizes" and "Hotrivsaln" are other families of various untrusted, potentially malicious pages. Typically, they cause redirects to pages that trick visitors into installing potentially unwanted, malicious software, providing sensitive information, and so on.

Trusting these pages can lead to serious problems such as financial/data loss, installation of malware, issues relating to privacy, browsing safety, identity theft, etc. These web pages are often opened by installed PUAs, and therefore this software should be uninstalled from browsers and operating systems immediately.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Typically, PUAs are downloaded and installed through deceptive advertisements (that users click) or when developers distribute them using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". This method is used to trick users into downloading and installing unwanted apps together with other software by including them in the download/installation set-ups.

Generally, additional apps are listed in "Advanced", "Custom and other similar settings of the set-ups. Many users leave these settings unchanged, thereby allowing included PUAs to be downloaded and installed through the set-ups of required programs. Deceptive ads can also cause rogue downloads and installations when they execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

It is not safe download files or programs from unofficial, dubious pages, through Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, third party downloaders or other similar channels. The same applies to installation through third party installers. These channels can be used to distribute unwanted, potentially malicious programs.

All software should be downloaded from official websites and via direct links. Furthermore, do not finish your downloads and installations without first checking settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" - decline offers to download or install additionally-included, unwanted software.

Do not click advertisements that are displayed on dubious web pages (e.g., on those relating to gambling, adult dating, pornography). They can open various untrusted pages or cause unwanted downloads/installations. Remove any unwanted, suspicious apps (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) that are installed on the browser immediately.

The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on 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.

Megabonus-point loads a fake survey: (GIF):

Megabonus-point loads the download page 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 megabonus-point 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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