Ignore the Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery scam message
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery scam?
Usually, users do not visit scam websites like this one intentionally. Most of these pages display fake notifications suggesting that a device is infected with viruses. They are created to trick visitors into installing potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) and visiting other untrustworthy websites.
Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery scam in detail
This particular website is designed to display a fake system notification stating that a device is infected with malware and encouraging to remove the detected threat. The main message in the background claims that a device is infected with more than a hundred viruses targeting the Calendar application and photos.
The main purpose of this scam website is to trick visitors into believing that if they do not remove detected threats immediately, they may affect the Calendar app, photos, and battery and cause other damage. In order to remove detected viruses, this page offers to download and install an application called HotVPN Fast & secure.
It is worth mentioning that this scam website may offer to download legitimate applications. However, it does not mean that this website can be trusted. It may open download pages for adware and other unwanted, even malicious software. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to ignore this and similar scams.
It is known that this page is used to promote other scam pages suggesting that visitors have won the iPhone 12 Pro. It is likely that those scam pages are designed to trick visitors into providing personal information like credit card details and transferring money (e.g., paying shipping, administration, or another fee).
It is common that scam websites that use scare tactics to trick visitors into downloading and installing various software, visiting questionable pages, etc., are promoted through shady advertisements, various untrustworthy websites, or potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). In other words, users do not visit these sites intentionally.
More about PUAs
It is strongly recommended not to have any PUAs installed - apps of this kind often are designed to collect various information and display advertisements. Quite often, they gather IP addresses, entered search queries, geolocations, and other data of this type. Although, some PUAs collect sensitive information like login credentials, banking info.
Also, PUAs can display banners, coupons, surveys, pop-up ads, and other unwanted advertisements designed to promote questionable websites or distribute (download, install) unwanted applications by running certain scripts. Advertisements displayed by installed potentially unwanted applications should not be trusted.
| Name | Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery pop-up |
| Threat Type | Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Fake Claim | Device is infected with 129 viruses |
| Related Domains | secure-inform[.]space, security-info[.]space, product-quality[.]space |
| Promoted Unwanted Application | HotVPN Fast & secure |
| 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. |
Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery scam in general
In conclusion, this scam website uses scare tactic to trick visitors into downloading and installing a potentially unwanted app and visiting pages designed to extract personal information or money. More examples of similar scams are secure-inform[.]space, dency[.]site, and ustrack[.]online.
How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?
It is popular to distribute potentially unwanted applications by including them in downloaders, installers for other (typically, free) programs. This distribution method is known as "bundling". It works when users finish downloads, installations without checking certain settings that can be used to decline unwanted offers.
Typically, optional downloads, installations can be deselected in "Manual", "Advanced", "Custom", and other similar settings, or by unticking ticked checkboxes that downloaders, installers have in them. In some cases, PUAs are distributed via deceptive advertisements by designing them to run certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Downloaders and installers with checkboxes or "Manual", "Custom" and "Advanced" or other settings often include offers to download or install potentially unwanted applications. Therefore, the aforementioned settings should be checked (and unwanted offers declined) before finishing downloads and installations.
Software (and files) should be downloaded only from official websites and through direct links. Other sources like third-party downloaders, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), free file hosting pages should not be used. Third-party installers should not be used too.
Also, it is recommended not to click advertisements that appear on various questionable sites. Those ads could be designed to open untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads, installations. Suspicious extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins installed on a browser (or programs of this kind installed on the operating system) 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 fake system notification:
(1) SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Malware detected. Hit OK to repair.
OK
Screenshot of the background page:
Text in the background page:
Apple Security Wednesday
4 August 2021
(129) Viruses have been detected on your iPhone - hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery and trying to steal your photos.If you do not remove this malware now, it may cause more damage to your device. How to fix this:
Step 1: Tap the button below & install the recommended AdBlocker and virus protection tool free from the AppStore.
Step 2: Run the app, follow on screen instructions to remove malware and repair your phone remotely.
01 minutes and 28 seconds
Remove Virus
Detected By Apple.
Screenshot of the promoted application:
Screenshot of the promoted scam website:
Text in this website:
iPhone 12 Pro
Congratulations!
You have won the iPhone 12 Pro!
One Final Step:
To claim your prize please scan this QR code with your mobile phone's camera.You will get a link to your iPhone!
Screenshot of the another promoted scam website:
Text in this website:
iPhone 12 Pro
Congratulations!
You have won the iPhone 12 Pro!One Final Step:
To claim your prize please scan this QR
code with your mobile phone's camera.You will get a link to your new iPhone!
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 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 "Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery"?
- 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 hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery 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.
Hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery pop-up removal from Internet browsers:
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Remove hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery 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 hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery 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 hackers hijacked your calendar, infected your battery 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.
Outstanding!
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