How to uninstall apps downloaded via phone-security.me

What is phone-security[.]me?

phone-security[.]me is one of many deceptive websites that scammers use to scare visitors into downloading and installing potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). In most cases, these web pages display fake virus alerts claiming that the device is infected with viruses.

Therefore, avoid telephone-security[.]me and similar sites. If they are opened often, it is possible that the device or browser is already infected with PUAs.

These websites are also promoted via deceptive ads and other untrusted sites.

phone-security[.]me suggests that the device is possibly infected with seventeen viruses, which might damage the battery. It also indicates that, unless users remove the threats immediately, they may cause even more damage.

The main purpose of telephone-security[.]me is to urge visitors to download and install the "ADBlocker - Blocking ads" app. Judging by the name of this app, it stops/blocks unwanted advertisements. Ironically, legitimate ad blockers can block ads but also pages such as telephone-security[.]me.

It is important not to open downloads from these rogue web pages - apps should be downloaded from official pages or digital distribution platforms such as Apple's App Store.

As mentioned, users do not visit often websites such as telephone-security[.]me intentionally - they arrive at them when the sites are opened by installed PUAs.

Commonly, PUAs generate advertisements and collect data (usually, relating to internet browsing activities). Apps of this type can generate coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, etc. These are used to promote other bogus websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

PUAs can collect IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, geolocations, and personal data such as passwords, credit card details, and other sensitive information.

Remove all installed PUAs from browsers and devices.

Threat Summary:

Name	phone-security.me pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	There could be 17 viruses on the iPhone
Detection Names	Fortinet (Phishing), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	162.0.229.49
Promoted Unwanted Application	ADBlocker - Blocking ads
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.

There are many pages similar to phone-security[.]me. Some examples are veniamad[.]com, protect-connection[.]com, and support-notify[.]space. Note that these pages can also be used to advertise legitimate applications, however, their virus alerts cannot be trusted.

Pages that promote applications using false advertising or other deceptive methods should never be trusted or used as sources for downloading applications. If an installed application was downloaded via a dubious channel, remove it.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Users sometimes inadvertently download and install unwanted apps via deceptive advertisements - they click ads that cause unwanted download/installations by executing certain scripts.

Unwanted downloads and installations also occur during download/installation of other programs. I.e., when PUAs are included into the set-ups as 'extra offers'. This PUA distribution method of PUAs is called "bundling".

Typically, offers to download and install these additional apps can be declined via "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings, or by unticking certain checkboxes within the set-ups. When users download and install programs without making these checks and changes, they often allow PUAs to infiltrate.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download software and files from official websites and via direct links. It is not safe to use torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), third party downloaders, unofficial websites or other sources of this kind.

Avoid third party installers. Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings, and decline offers to download or install unwanted software. Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious websites, since they can open other untrusted websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove any unwanted, suspicious applications (extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) that are installed on the browser. The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system.

Regularly scan your computer with reputable antivirus or anti-spyware software and keep this software up to date.

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 fake system pop-up:

(1) SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Virus possibly detected. Press OK to repair.
OK

Screenshot of the background page:

Text in this page:

Apple Security
Friday
19 February 2021Friday
13 November 2020
17 viruses possibly detected on your iPhone! Battery can be infected and damaged.

If you do not remove this possible viruses now, it may cause more damage to your device. How to fix this:

Step 1: Touch the button below to install the recommended free antivirus protection tool from the AppStore.

Step 2: Run the application, follow instructions to remove possible viruses and repair your phone.
1 minute and 58 seconds
Download and install
Detected by Aррle.

Screenshot of the second pop-up:

Tex in this pop-up:

AdBlocker update released!
Safari browser on your device is probably not protected with AdBlocker for Safari and might be vulnerable for stealing personal data through showing malware advertisement.

You should install it and activate premium protection or your privacy and banking information on your Apple device can be stolen by cybercriminals.
0 minute 37 seconds
Cancel    Install

Screenshot of the promoted app:

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 phone-security[.]me?
• 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 adware-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 exact 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 exact 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 correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure 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 the 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 its virus definition database and click the "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.

Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers

Remove malicious Safari extensions:

Open the 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 regular browser operation.

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

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

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

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

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

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