Do not download apps promoted by the landingpagesecure.com scam site

What is landingpagesecure[.]com?

Landingpagesecure[.]com is a website promoting various scams. At the time of research, this page ran a scam claiming that visitors' Apple mobile devices had been infected.

Most schemes of this type aim to endorse untrustworthy software, e.g., fake anti-viruses, adware, browser hijackers, and other PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). In rare cases, such scams distribute malware (e.g., trojans, ransomware, cryptominers, etc.).

Deceptive sites are typically accessed via mistyped URLs, or redirects caused by rogue webpages, intrusive ads, or already installed PUAs.

Landingpagesecure[.]com in detail

The scam promoted on landingpagesecure[.]com makes false claims that the visitor's mobile device has been infected with a trojan, which has already damaged the battery. Supposedly, if left unaddressed, the malware will enable third-party access to sensitive data (e.g., various accounts, photos, finance-related information, etc.). The scheme then urges the visitor to download the recommended application that will allegedly remove the fake infection.

It must be emphasized that all of these claims are false. Furthermore, no website can detect threats/issues present on users' devices; hence, any that make such claims - are scams.

As mentioned in the introduction, deceptive websites usually promote harmful applications. Potentially unwanted apps appear legitimate, yet they seldom work as promised - fake anti-virus tools are a prime example of this type.

What is more, this software often has heinous abilities, e.g., force-opening suspect and malicious pages, running intrusive advertisement campaigns (adware), modifying browsers to promote fake search engine (browser hijackers), and collecting private data for selling to third-parties.

In summary, the presence of PUAs on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	landingpagesecure.com pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	Scam claims that the visitor's device is infected.
Detection Names	Bfore.Ai PreCrime (Suspicious), Full List (VirusTotal)
Promoted Unwanted Application	Various dubious applications
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.

Online scams in general

Promoland[.]space, advanced-checker[.]com, nicyaboyenan[.]com, and secure-support[.]space are some examples of sites similar to landingpagesecure[.]com. Popular scam models include: warnings that the system is infected or at risk, alerts that a software product is outdated or missing, fake lotteries and giveaways, ludicrous offers, etc.

The Internet is rife with misleading, deceptive, and even malicious content. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to exercise caution when browsing.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

PUAs can have "official" download webpages that are often pushed by scam sites. These applications are also spread using the "bundling" marketing technique - packing regular software with unwanted/malicious supplements. Rushed downloads/installations increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.

Intrusive adverts proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advised to research software and always download from official/trustworthy sources. Dubious download channels, e.g., unofficial and freeware websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc. - often offer bundled and harmful content.

When downloading/installing, it is recommended to read terms, explore available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out from all additions. Intrusive advertisements appear legitimate, yet they redirect to various questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).

In case of encounters with ads and/or redirects of this kind, the system must be checked and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - removed from it without delay. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Text presented in the scam promoted on landingpagesecure[.]com website:

Apple Security
Friday
8 October 2021

 

Important notice. Your device is currently infected with a Trojan virus!

 

Your phone's memory is already having 17% of damage.
Prompt action is required, otherwise,
the device will become defective and all your data including accounts, photos, and payment data will be available to third parties.

 

Immediately install the trusted free browser app from the AppStore to remove the virus and secure your device.

1 minutes and 11 seconds

 

[Remove Virus]

 

Detected by Apple.

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 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 landingpagesecure[.]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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a pop-up scam?

Pop-up scams are deceptive messages displayed on untrustworthy sites intended to trick users into performing certain actions (e.g., downloading/installing and/or purchasing software, disclosing personal and other sensitive data, making bogus payments, etc.).

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

The purpose of pop-up scams is to generate revenue for their designers. They can profit by promoting questionable applications, proliferating malware, selling the information disclosed by users, and so on.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Websites that host pop-ups scams are rarely accessed intentionally. Most users enter them via mistyped URLs, or redirects caused by suspicious sites, intrusive ads, or untrustworthy software already infiltrated into their devices.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner can scan every visited website and detect deceptive and malicious ones. Pop-up scam endorsing sites (e.g., landingpagesecure[.]com) fall within these categories. Therefore, you will be immediately warned, and access to such websites will be restricted.

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