How to remove apps promoting the Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791 scam?

How to remove apps promoting the Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791 scam from Mac?

What is Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791?

Typically, scammers behind technical support scam websites like this one try to trick visitors into believing that their device is infected and calling the provided number to solve the problem (remove viruses, errors). Scammers use such websites to trick users into paying money for unnecessary, fake software, services or allowing remote access to their computers. It is important to mention that users do not visit tech support scam pages on purpose. Usually, these pages get opened through shady advertisements, other unreliable pages, or installed potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

This tech-support scam website displays several fake notifications claiming that the access to the computer is blocked for security reasons, it is infected with spyware, and data such as email and Facebook login credentials, banking passwords, pictures, and documents are compromised. It encourages visitors to call the 1-888-397-1174 number to contact "Mac Support" for help with the malware removal. All the notifications on this page are fake and should be ignored. Usually, users/visitors who fall for these scams are encouraged to give remote access to their computers, provide credit card details or other banking-related information, purchase some software or use paid "repair" services, visit websites where they are asked to provide sensitive information, or install unwanted software (often malicious one). Typically, scammers attempt to extract information that could be used to make fraudulent purchases, transactions, steal identities, personal accounts (e.g., email, social media accounts), or misused for other malicious purposes. Or they try to trick users into installing malware that would steal personal information. Also, scammers may use tech-support scam pages to trick users into installing ransomware on their computers. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts files and keeps them inaccessible as long as they are encrypted using tools that can be purchased from the attackers.

It is common that browsers open scam pages because they have some PUA installed on them. It is noteworthy that apps of this type can be designed to collect various information, display advertisements. Examples of details that most PUAs target are Internet Protocol addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited sites, etc. Although, there are PUAs that can access sensitive details. Also, apps of this type could be monetized by designing them to serve banners, coupons, surveys, pop-up ads, and other advertisements. Quite often, those ads are used to promote dubious sites. In some cases, they are used to distribute unwanted software (if clicked, they run certain scripts and download, or even install unwanted apps). Therefore, a browser or the operating system should not have any PUAs installed on it.

Threat Summary:

Name	Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791 technical support scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	Mac is infected with Trojan Spyware
Scammer Number	1-888-397-1174
Related Domain	susurrousoa[.]xyz
Detection Names	Kaspersky (Malware), Full List (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	165.232.154.3
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	Loss of private information, monetary loss, installation of malware
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.

In conclusion, scammers behind tech-support websites try to trick unsuspecting users into installing malware, paying money for fake or unnecessary software, services, or giving remote access to their computers so that scammers could install malware by themselves, access personal data, files, etc. More examples of scam websites targeting Mac users are "Your System Is Infected With 3 Viruses!", "Apple Platform Security", and "ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!". As mentioned in the previous paragraphs, a browser that opens scam websites (or other shady pages) is likely to have some PUA installed on it.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Very often, users allow for PUAs to be downloaded or installed together with other, mainly free programs. More precisely, when those potentially unwanted apps are included in their downloaders or installers as extra offers. This distribution method is called "bundling". Users cause unwanted downloads, installations they download, install various programs without declining unwanted offers. Usually, those offers can be found and declined using "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" or other settings, or checkboxes in downloaders, installers. In some cases, users cause unwanted downloads, installations by clicking deceptive advertisements that can execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Applications should not be downloaded (or installed) via questionable channels like Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., eMule, torrent clients), unofficial websites, third-party downloaders, installed via third-party installers, etc. It is common for them to be used as tools to distribute various PUAs. In some cases, even malicious apps. It is recommended to download apps and files only from official pages and via direct links. Furthermore, downloaders and installers containing settings like "Advanced", "Custom" should be checked for offers to download or install bundled potentially unwanted applications. Those offers should be declined before finishing downloads and installations. Ads that appear on shady pages should not be trusted (clicked) too. Those ads often are used to promote shady pages or cause downloads, installations of unwanted programs. If there are any suspicious, unwanted extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons installed on a web browser, then they should be uninstalled right away. The same should be done with a software of this kind that is 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.

Tex in the Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791 scam website:

macOS Security
macOS
Trojan Spyware Alert - Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791
Access to this PC has been blocked for security reasons.
Contact Mac Support: 1-888-397-1174 (Toll Free)
Threat Detected - Trojan Spyware
App: Ads.financetrack(1).exe
[Run Anyway] [Back to Safety]

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 Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791?
• 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 error code: #2c522hq8wwj791 technical support scam 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.

Error Code: #2c522hq8wwj791 technical support scam removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove error code: #2c522hq8wwj791 technical support scam 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 error code: #2c522hq8wwj791 technical support scam 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 error code: #2c522hq8wwj791 technical support scam 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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