Mac: What does 'System Scan is Recommended' mean?
Credit to Author: Jonny Evans| Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2018 09:03:00 -0800
Many Mac users may have come across a small window that appears on top of their browser when surfing the Web that warns them, ‘System Scan is Recommended’. So, what is this message, and what should you do if you see it?
The first thing to learn is that this is not a Mac system message. If you ever come across this message you can be utterly certain that it is a scam. Whoever is behind the message (and it may not be the website owner, but some poorly policed ads network) wants you to agree to something that will probably cost you money, leave your data at risk, or otherwise cause you unwanted problems. While scams like these are nowhere near as widespread on Macs as they are on other platforms, they do appear sometimes.
These browser pop-up scams attempt to frighten you into paying money, providing personal information, or calling premium rate phone numbers that will cost you a bomb.
Other common messages that sometimes appear when Macs are infected with malware or adware include warnings that the government has seized your computer and you must pay to have it released, or that your computer has been infected, and you need to call a tech support number to resolve the problem.
Do not click the box to engage in any further action.
In some cases, you may have picked up a dodgy Safari Extension that is causing these warnings to appear. To check this, open Safari>Preferences>Extensions and check the extensions you may (or may not) have listed there. Delete any you do not recognise or no longer use.
Some Mac users may have installed MacKeeper, a virulent piece of software that promises to cure all your Mac woes, but which instead just makes things much worse. If you have installed it the software may sometimes give you pop-ups like these all over your system.
You probably can’t quit MacKeeper when it is open. Here’show to fix that (c/o Macworld):
You should also check Safari extensions (as described above) and search for and remove any MacKeeper-related cache or cookie items from inside Safari’s Privacy pane (choose Manage Website Data and search for Mackeeper in the search box item there).
I did say MacKeeper was a bit of a scourge, and I meant it.
That’s why as your final flourish you should download, install and run Malwarebytes. It should identify any remaining MacKeeper-related items as well as any malware that might have crept inside your Mac. Find them and get rid of them with this app.
One final thing: Now would be a good time to open Safari’s Security preferences and check the ‘Block Pop-up’ windows item is checked to on.
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