How to remove apps used to promote topdefence-formob.com?

How to remove apps designed to promote topdefence-formob[.]com from Mac?

What is topdefence-formob[.]com?

Topdefence-formobp[.]com is one of the many deceptive websites designed to deceive visitors into downloading and installing some potentially unwanted application (PUA). In most cases such websites display notification claiming that a device is infected with viruses and encouraging them to use a certain for their removal. It is worthwhile to mention that users do not visit pages like topdefence-formobp[.]com intentionally. Usually they get opened via other untrustworthy pages, deceptive ads or by installed PUAs.

There are at least four variants of the topdefence-formobp[.]com website. All of them are used for the same purpose - to deceive visitors into installing one or another potentially unwanted application. Topdefence-formobp[.]com claims that a device is either infected with a number of viruses or Trojans, and encourages to remove them as soon as possible. At the time of the research topdefence-formobp[.]com offered to install the app called Norton Secure VPN - Proxy VPN. Although, it may be used to promote other PUAs as well. In one way or another, no software should be downloaded from or through pages like topdefence-formobp[.]com. It should be done using only official websites. As mentioned in the introduction, it is common that websites like topdefence-formobp[.]com are promoted via PUAs that users have unknowingly installed. Although, such apps can be designed not only to open unreliable pages but also to serve advertisements and/or collect some data.

PUAs can be designed to serve coupons, surveys, banners, pop-ups and/or other types of advertisements. It is common that those ads can open questionable websites, or even execute certain scripts that cause download and/or installation of some unwanted application. Also, more often than not PUAs are designed to collect IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites and/or other information related to user's browsing habits as well. In some cases they can be designed to gather sensitive details as well. Collected data may be misused to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (possibly cyber criminals) or in other ways.

Threat Summary:

Name	topdefence-formob.com pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	Device is infected with viruses
Serving IP Address	64.225.2.103
Promoted Unwanted Application	Norton Secure VPN - Proxy VPN
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 three days free trial available.

More examples of pages similar to topdefence-formobp[.]com are umobile-security[.]com, apps-notification[.]com and securityvpnapp[.]com. What most of them have in common is that they are designed by scammers who attempt to trick unsuspecting users into downloading and installing some application that supposed to remove viruses that a deceptive website supposedly has detected.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Some users unknowingly download and/or install PUAs through deceptive advertisements that are designed to run certain scripts. Although, more often it happens when PUAs are distributed by including them in download and/or installation setups of other programs as additional offers. This distribution method is called "bundling". Typically, offers to download and/or install PUAs can be declined in "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" settings of setups. Users agree with offers to download and/or install PUAs when they leave those settings unchanged.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advised to download all programs, files from official websites and via direct links. Other sources, tools (e.g., third party downloaders, torrent clients, eMule or other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial pages, etc., should not be used. Third party installers should not be used too. Also, it is recommended to always check "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings of any download and installation setup and look for offers to download and/or install additionally included (unwanted) apps. Ads that are shown on shady pages can open untrustworthy websites or cause downloads, installations of unwanted applications. For this reason those ads should not be clicked. If there are any unknown, unwanted and/or suspicious extensions, plug-ins or add-ons installed on a browser (or programs of this kind installed on the operating system), then they should be uninstalled. 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 initial pop-up of the main topdefence-formob[.]com variant:

YOUR IPHONE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED
Immediate Action Is Required!
OK

Screenshot of the second page of the main topdefence-formob[.]com variant:

Text in this page:

Apple SecurityFriday
2 October 2020
WARNING! Your Apple iPhone is probably infected with viruses!

We have detected that your Browser is (62%) DAMAGED by BROWSER TROJAN VIRUSES picked up while surfing recent corrupted sites.
Immediate action is required to prevent it from spreading and infecting sensitive data like your Facebook account, Whatsapp messages photos and private applications.
Push the scan button to check your device.

1 minutes and 57 seconds
Scan
Detected By Apple.

Screenshot of the third page of the main topdefence-formob[.]com variant:

Text in this page:

MALWARE DETECTED

 

Action Required

 

Several Trojan viruses have been detected, your device is heavily damaged and needs to be repaired.

 

If you don't repair your device:
• Your battery will overheat
• Your list of contacts will be lost
• Your photos will be lost
• Your SIM-card may be damaged
If you want to delete viruses and repair your device, push the continue button and arrange anti-virus trial on the next page.

 

Сontinue

Appearance of the main topdefence-formob[.]com variant (GIF):

Screenshot of the pop-up on the second variant of topdefence-formob[.]com:

Text in this pop-up:

YOUR IPHONE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED
Immediate Action Is Required!
OK

Screenshot of the background page of this variant:

Text in this page:

Apple SecurityFriday
2 October 2020
WARNING! Your Apple iPhone is severely damaged by 13 viruses!

We have detected that your Browser is (62%) DAMAGED by BROWSER TROJAN VIRUSES picked up while surfing recent corrupted sites.
Immediate action is required to prevent it from spreading and infecting sensitive data like your Facebook account, Whatsapp messages photos and private applications.

 

Here is how you can solve this in just a few seconds (Step by Step)

 

Step 1: Tap REMOVE VIRUS to install VPN from the App Store.

 

Step 2: Open the app to activate the latest update and remove any older (Infected) versions.

1 minutes and 57 seconds
Remove Virus
Detected By Apple.

Screenshot of the third variant of topdefence-formob[.]com:

Text in this variant:

Protect your Privacy - get Free VPN app from AppStore
Stay private with our FREE VPN App
To protect your privacy, follow these steps:
1. Install the VPN from App Store
2. Open the App
3. Use it when you want to change your IP
INSTALL NOW

Screenshot of the fourth variant of topdefence-formob[.]com:

Text in this variant:

Install a Secured VPN App From the Appstore For Free and Protect Your Internet Connection!
How to Protect Your Connection:

 

Step 1. Click on the Button “Download” Below and Install the Application from the Appstore (for Free)

 

Step 2. Open the Installed Application and Protect Your Internet Connection

DOWNLOAD

Screenshot of the app promoted on third and fourth variants:

To enable pop-up blocking, fraudulent website warnings, and remove web browsing data in mobile Apple devices, follow these steps:

First, go to "Settings", and then scroll down to find and tap "Safari".

Check if the "Block Pop-ups" and "Fraudulent Website Warning" toggles are enabled. If not, enable them immediately. Then, scroll down and tap "Advanced".

Tap "Website Data" and then "Remove All Website Data".

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer 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 three days free trial available.

Quick menu:

• What is topdefence-formob[.]com?
• STEP 1. Remove PUA related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue add-ons from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:

Potentially unwanted applications removal:

Remove potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX", "NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Remove topdefence-formob.com pop-up related files and folders:

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/Application Support

In the “Application Support” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, “MplayerX” or “NicePlayer”, and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for adware-generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons

In the “LaunchDaemons” folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”, "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, etc., and move them to the Trash.

 Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure your system is not infected run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file double click combocleaner.dmg installer, in the opened window drag and drop Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates it's virus definition database and click "Start Combo Scan" button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide, otherwise it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

topdefence-formob.com pop-up removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove topdefence-formob.com pop-up related Safari extensions:

Open Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove topdefence-formob.com pop-up related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the "Open Menu" (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose "Add-ons".

Choose the "Extensions" tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Remove" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove topdefence-formob.com pop-up related Google Chrome add-ons:

Open Google Chrome and click the "Chrome menu" (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose "More Tools" and select "Extensions".

In the "Extensions" window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the "Trash" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

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