Avoid getting scammed by the content promoted on svpni.cyou website

What is the svpni.cyou site?

Svpni.cyou is the address of a deceptive website, which promotes various scams. At the time of research, it ran a scheme in Swedish stating that hackers are currently monitoring the user, and another one claiming that their Internet connection was not secure.

Scams of this type typically aim to trick users into downloading/installing and/or purchasing dubious software. For example, they can endorse fake anti-viruses, adware, browser hijackers, and other PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications). In rare cases, such schemes have been noted spreading malware (e.g., ransomware, trojans, cryptominers, etc.).

Most users access deceptive/scam sites via redirects caused by rogue webpages, intrusive advertisements, or PUAs installed onto their devices.

Svpni[.]cyou scams in detail

According to a rough translation, one of the scams promoted on svpni[.]cyou - claims that hackers are monitoring the user through their iPhones. This scheme urges not to close this page, as that will result in the cyber criminals leaking sensitive data (e.g., personally identifiable details, browsing history, etc.) to the users' contacts. To prevent this, users are instructed to download/install the recommended app.

The other scam run on svpni[.]cyou states that users' Internet connection may not be secure. It advises installing the endorsed VPN (Virtual Private Network) application.

As mentioned in the introduction, all of the claims made by these scams are false. Furthermore, no website can detect threats and issues present in visitors' devices; hence, all that make such claims - are scams.

Typically, scams of this type promote various PUAs. These apps appear legitimate and offer "useful" features, which are seldom operational; fake anti-viruses are prime examples.

What is more, PUAs usually have harmful functionalities, e.g., force-opening dubious/malicious sites (e.g., svpni[.]cyou), running intrusive ad campaigns (adware), modifying browsers to promote fake search engines (browser hijackers), and collecting private data.

To summarize, the presence of unwanted applications on devices can lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	svpni.cyou pop-up
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Mac malware, Mac virus
Fake Claim	One scam version claims that the users are being watched by hackers, the other - that their Internet connection may be vulnerable
Detection Names	Fortinet (Phishing), Full List (VirusTotal)
Promoted Unwanted Application	Various dubious apps
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

Landingpagesecure[.]com, promoland[.]space, advanced-checker[.]com, and nicyaboyenan[.]com are some examples of webpages similar to svpni[.]cyou. The Internet is rife with deceptive and malicious sites.

They use a variety of scam models, e.g., claims that the device is infected/ at risk, alerts that essential software is outdated/missing, fake prize giveaways and raffles, ludicrous deals, etc. Due to how widespread hazardous content is on the Web, it is strongly advised to exercise caution when browsing.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

PUAs can have "official" download pages, which are commonly promoted by deceptive websites. These applications are also spread using the "bundling" marketing tactic - packing regular programs with unwanted/malicious additions. Rushed downloads/installations increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.

Intrusive advertisements proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to make stealthy downloads/installations.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is advised to research software and only download it from official/verified sources. Untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc. - often offer bundled content.

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

In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, the system must be checked and all suspect 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 one of the scams run on the svpni[.]cyou website:

Hackare övervakar dig!Din Apple
iPhone-anslutning har blivit
hackad och någon övervakar
dig!

 

Stäng inte den här sidan. Om du inte åtgärdar
detta inom två minuter kommer hackaren
avslöja din identitet och skicka din
webbläsarhistorik och frontkamerafoton till alla
i dina kontakter!

 

1 sekunder 14 sekunder

 

Återställningsmetod:

 

Steg 1: Klicka på knappen "Anslutningsskydd"
nedan.

 

Steg 2: Du kommer att omdirigeras till App
Store.

 

Steg 3: Installera och kör den
rekommenderade skydds-appen för att
återställa din Apple iPhone

 

Skydda din anslutning

Appearance of another scam promoted on the svpni[.]cyou website:

Text presented in this variant:

Your Internet Connection May be Not Secure!

 

Install a Helix VPN 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 Recommended Application from the Appstore (Free)

 

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

DOWNLOAD

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 "svpni[.]cyou"?
• 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 intended to trick users into performing specific actions, e.g., downloading/installing untrustworthy or malicious apps, disclosing vulnerable information, paying bogus fees, etc.

What is the purpose of a pop-up scam?

Most pop-up scams are designed to generate revenue for the cyber criminals behind them. These schemes can profit by promoting various websites and applications, proliferating malware, selling private data, and so forth.

Why do I encounter fake pop-ups?

Pop-up scams are promoted on dubious websites, which are rarely accessed intentionally. Most users enter them via redirects caused by deceptive browser notifications/ intrusive ads or webpages using rogue advertising networks. Alternatively, such sites can be force-opened by untrustworthy software installed onto the device. Note, apps of this kind can infiltrate systems without explicit user permission.

Will Combo Cleaner protect me from pop-up scams?

Combo Cleaner is capable of scanning visited sites and detecting deceptive and malicious ones. Therefore, you will be warned immediately, and access to such websites will be restricted.

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