Apple Computer Locked Scam

 

Apple Computer Locked

Apple Computer Locked is a problematic add-on for Mac browsers known for hijacking the browser’s settings and modifying them without permission. Apple Computer Locked can inject ads into the search engine’s results and potentially create vulnerabilities inside the browser.

YOUR APPLE COMPUTER HAS BEEN LOCKED 1024x576

If you’re on this page, you’ve probably noticed a new program called Apple Computer Locked that has recently made some changes in your browser. The strange program has probably changed your homepage, and has replaced your default search engine with a different one. As a result, now every time you open your browser (Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Edge, etc.), dozens of ads, and page-redirects are getting displayed on your screen, and you don’t know how to stop them from nagging you. If this is the case, the instructions below are then made just for you. There, you will find a removal guide with concrete steps on how to remove the source of this disturbance, and uninstall all of its changes.

Your Apple Computer Has Been Locked Mac

“Your Apple Computer Has Been Locked” Mac is a rogue app of the browser-hijacking category that can potentially expose the browser to malware through its aggressive ads. “Your Apple Computer Has Been Locked” Mac is mainly used as a  site-promoting tool but its presence on your Mac could lead to more serious problems.

Although the term “Browser Hijacker” may sound scary, this software is not something you should worry about. If you are facing a program like Apple Computer Locked for the first time, then you should know that these pieces of software are usually harmless applications used for online advertising. They are typically not capable of conducting any harmful activities, unlike the computer viruses, or the real malicious threats of the Internet. For instance, they cannot encrypt your files the way a Ransomware cryptovirus can, nor can they replicate on other machines as the viruses do. However, with their somewhat irritating behavior, the Browser Hijackers have gained their fame as potentially unwanted programs.

What is Apple Computer Locked?

Apple Computer Locked is an advertising tool that aggressively promotes sites on the users’ screens by hijacking the main browser’s homepage. Apple Computer Locked will also look into the browsign history of the user to determine what he or she likes and then generate relevant ads to get more clicks.

The Browser Hijackers are developed, and specially programmed to display an enormous number of advertising messages that can come in various shapes, and sizes. Random ads, colorful banners, pop-ups, pop-unders, sponsored messages, notification boxes are all content that a Browser Hijacker could generate. Apple Computer Locked is one of those programs, and most of the things you are experiencing with it are related to the display of these advertisements. Such programs, however, may perform some other activities too, which might be the reason why some users may want to remove them from their systems.

The Apple Computer Locked app

The Apple Computer Locked app is a browser-hijacker for macOS computers mainly known for altering the settings of the browser and causing obstructive site-redirects. The Apple Computer Locked app cannot cause damage to your Mac but it may indirectly get you exposed to different kinds of malware.

What we are referring to here is the fact that not only can a program like Apple Computer Locked generate ads, but also it can replace the browser’s homepage, or the main search engine, and initiate automatic page-redirects to different sponsored sites. In addition to that, the hijacker may monitor, for example, the users’ last web searches, the pages they visit, the products, and services that they like, and share on social media, and even their location. Usually, this traffic data is passed on to third parties and may be used for different purposes. In most cases, the developers may simply be trying to optimize the ads the users see with the sole purpose of making people click on the blinking boxes. However, the random exposure to various ads, and the automatic page-redirects may hide certain security risks. For instance, you can never know where the hijacker may land you and, in case you come across some unreliable pages, or sketchy ads, the chances of catching a virus, a Ransomware, a Trojan, or other malware are very real. Therefore, our suggestion is to avoid any interaction with the messages that Apple Computer Locked may display, and use the instructions in the removal guide below to uninstall the advertising program.

SUMMARY:

NameApple Computer Locked
Type Browser Hijacker
Danger LevelMedium (nowhere near threats like Ransomware, but still a security risk)
Symptoms The browser hijacker may replace your homepage or install a new search engine which constantly redirects you to sponsored pages.
Distribution MethodSoftware bundles, torrents, ads, and different free installers can commonly distribute browser hijackers.
Detection Tool

Remove Apple Computer Locked Scam from Mac

For a quick way to remove Apple Computer Locked try to do this inside your Mac browser:

  1. Open your Mac browser.
  2. Go to Preferences.
  3. Now navigate to the extensions sub-menu.
  4. Look for any unfamiliar entries, including Apple Computer Locked.
  5. Remove Apple Computer Locked from your Mac as well as any other suspicious-looking items by clicking on the trash bin icon.

If this does not help then continue reading this article for more detailed instructions on how to get rid of Apple Computer Locked!

Step1

The first thing you need to do is to Quit Safari (if it is opened). If you have trouble closing it normally, you may need to Force Quit Safari:

You can choose the Apple menu and click on Force Quit.

Alternatively, you can simultaneously press (the Command key situated next to the space bar), Option (the key right next to it) and Escape (the key located at the upper left corner of your keyboard).

If you have done it right a dialog box titled Force Quit Applications will open up.

In this new dialog window select Safari, then press the Force Quit button, then confirm with Force Quit again.

Close the dialog box/window.

Step2

WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

Start Activity Monitor by opening up Finder, then proceed to activity-monitor

Once there, look at all the processes: if you believe any of them are hijacking your results, or are part of the problem, highlight the process with your mouse, then click the “i” button at the top. This will open up the following box:

chromeinfo

Now click on Sample at the bottom:

chromesample

Do this for all processes you believe are part of the threat, and run any suspicious files in our online virus scanner, then delete the malicious files:

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    Step3

    The next step is to safely launch Safari again. Press and hold the Shift key while relaunching Safari. This will prevent Safari’s previously opened pages from loading again. Once Safari is opened up, you can release the Shift key.

    On the off chance that you are still having trouble with scripts interrupting the closing of unwanted pages in Safari, you may need to take some additional measures.

    First, Force Quit Safari again.

    Now if you are using a Wi-Fi connection turn it off by selecting Wi-Fi off in you Mac’s Menu. If you are using a cable internet (Ethernet connection), disconnect the Ethernet cable.

    Step4

    Re-Launch Safari but don’t forget to press and hold the Shift button while doing it, so no previous pages can be opened up. Now, Click on Preferences in the Safari menu,

    Preferences in Safari

    and then again on the Extensions tab,

    extensions in safari

    Select and Uninstall any extensions that you don’t recognize by clicking on the Uninstall button. If you are not sure and don’t want to take any risks you can safely uninstall all extensions, none are required for normal system operation.
    Step5

    The threat has likely infected all of your browsers. The instructions below need to be applied for all browsers you are using.

    Again select Preferences in the Safari Menu, but this time click on the Privacy tab,
    Privacy in Safari

    Now click on Remove All Website Data, confirm with Remove Now. Keep in mind that after you do this all stored website data will be deleted. You will need to sign-in again for all websites that require any form of authentication.

    Still in the Preferences menu, hit the General tab

    General Tab in Safari

    Check if your Homepage is the one you have selected, if not change it to whatever you prefer.
    Default Home Page

    Select the History menu this time, and click on Clear History. This way you will prevent accidentally opening a problematic web page again.

    firefox-512 How to Remove Apple Computer Locked From Firefox in OSX:

    Open Firefoxclick on mozilla menu (top right) ——-> Add-onsHit Extensions next.

    pic 6

    The problem should be lurking somewhere around here –  Remove it. Then Refresh Your Firefox Settings.


    chrome-logo-transparent-backgroundHow to Remove Apple Computer Locked From Chrome in OSX:

     Start Chrome, click chrome menu icon —–>More Tools —–> Extensions. There,  find the malware and  select  chrome-trash-icon.

    pic 8

     Click chrome menu icon again, and proceed to Settings —> Search, the fourth tab, select Manage Search Engines.  Delete everything but the search engines you normally use. After that Reset Your Chrome Settings.

    If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!


    About the author

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    Brandon Skies

    Brandon is a researcher and content creator in the fields of cyber-security and virtual privacy. Years of experience enable him to provide readers with important information and adequate solutions for the latest software and malware problems.

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