What Is Apple Defender Security Center Scam
Apple Defender Security Center is a fake webpage that may ask you to contact some kind of a fake tech-support number, to lure you into some form of a scam. Usually, such a webpage shows up on your device a result of a browser hijacker or an adware application.
Read this article to understand more about what is causing this nasty scam to appear and how you can get rid of it from your device completely.
Scam Details
| Name | Apple Defender Security Center |
| Type | Scam / Adware / PUP / Redirect |
| Short Description | Aims to modify the settings on your computer in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements to a scam page, trying to trick you that your antivirus has expired. |
| Symptoms | Your device begins to display various types of redirects, which results in slowing down of your machine. |
| Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your Mac Has Been Affected by Apple Defender Security Center
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Apple Defender Security Center Scam – How Did I Get Infected
Apple Defender Security Center is a typical fake tech support scam and is similar to any other scam that you might encounter out there, like the recent detected:
The scam may show up on your computer as a result of software bundling. In other words, this software may appear as a browser redirect as a result of some type of a program that is pushing advertisements to search websites. Such programs typically end up pretending to be a free extra or an optional offer that is included in one of the install steps of any freeware software that you could have downloaded from a third-party website, for example:
Apple Defender Security Center Scam – What Does It Do?
Apple Defender Security Center may first appear as an unwanted browser redirect that can lock you out of your web browser. It could display the following message, asking you to call a fake tech-support number:
Apple Defender Security Center
Apple-Defender – Security Warning
** ACCESS TO THIS PC HAS BEEN BLOCKED FOR SECURITY REASONS **
Your computer has alerted us that it has been infected with a Trojan Spyware. The following data has been compromised.
> Email Credentials
> Banking Passwords
> Facebook Login
> Pictures & DocumentsApple-Defender Scan has found potentially unwanted Adware on this device that can steal your passwords, online identity, financial information, personal files, pictures or documents.
You must contact us immediately so that our engineers can walk you through the removal process over the phone.
Call Apple Support immediately to report this threat, prevent identity theft and unlock access to this device.
Closing this window will put your personal information at risk and lead to a suspension of your Apple Registration.
Call Apple Support: +1-866-750-0701 (Toll Free)
If you see this message, then the worst part is yet to come. Usually, such webpages are caused by a potentially unwanted program, in the case of a network or a browser hijacker. These programs aim to show you different forms of ads for profit and they may remain hidden on your computer for a long time if you do not remove them. The types of ads that they may display on your device can be of the following kinds:
- Redirects.
- Pop-ups with video and/or sound.
- Changed search results to show ads instead of relevant sites.
- Highlighted text on the pages you visit.
- Interruptive banner ads.
- Intrusive push notifications.
Apple Defender Security Center is also the type of webpage that may have different forms of cookies, pixels, and other kinds of trackers. These are small objects that are left on your machine and used together different kinds of details about what you do online, such as:
- Your mouse movements.
- IP and Mac addresses.
- Your bookmarked websites.
- The browsing history from your browser.
- What you have visited.
- What searches you have made.
- Your mouse clicks.
Is Apple Defender Security Center a Virus?
Apple Defender Security Center is classified as a scam. The main problem with it is that the software that may be showing it in the form of a redirect in your browser may lead you to websites that are also risky for your device, like:
- Rogue software download sites.
- Survey sites that are fraud.
- Phishing pages.
- Tech support fraud pages.
- URLs, containing a virus infection file or script.
- Web pages that contain scams.
- Redirects to dangerous sites via multiple pay-per-click redirects.
This is why you should remove the software from your machine immediately.
How to Remove Apple Defender Security Center Scam?
If you want to fully get rid of Apple Defender Security Center from your computer system, advice is to follow the removal steps beneath this article. They are made specifically to assist you with getting rid of this nasty software either automatically or manually from your computer. For the most effective removal process, our main suggestion is that you use the automatic removal option and scan your computer using a professional anti-malware program. Such a software is specifically created in order to thoroughly check your machine and make sure that it is virus-free.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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Steps to Prepare Before Removal:
Before starting to follow the steps below, be advised that you should first do the following preparations:
- Backup your files in case the worst happens.
- Make sure to have a device with these instructions on standy.
- Arm yourself with patience.
- 1. Scan for Mac Malware
- 2. Uninstall Risky Apps
- 3. Clean Your Browsers
Step 1: Scan for and remove Apple Defender Security Center files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Apple Defender Security Center, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Quick and Easy Mac Malware Video Removal Guide
Bonus Step: How to Make Your Mac Run Faster?
Mac machines maintain probably the fastest operating system out there. Still, Macs do become slow and sluggish sometimes. The video guide below examines all of the possible problems that may lead to your Mac being slower than usual as well as all of the steps that can help you to speed up your Mac.
Step 2: Uninstall Apple Defender Security Center and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Apple Defender Security Center:
4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.
5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Apple Defender Security Center. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.
6. Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Apple Defender Security Center. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any leftover files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Apple Defender Security Center via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
1. Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:
2. Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:
3. Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Apple Defender Security Center. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 3: Remove Apple Defender Security Center – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Apple Defender Security Center-FAQ
What is Apple Defender Security Center on your Mac?
The Apple Defender Security Center threat is probably a potentially unwanted app. There is also a chance it could be related to Mac malware. If so, such apps tend to slow your Mac down significantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
Can Macs Get Viruses?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get malware. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that almost all of the Apple devices can become infected with a threat.
What Types of Mac Threats Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the types of threats that can currently infect your Mac can be rogue antivirus programs, adware or hijackers (PUPs), Trojan horses, ransomware and crypto-miner malware.
What To Do If I Have a Mac Virus, Like Apple Defender Security Center?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One recommended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you.
There are many Mac anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter for Mac is one of the reccomended Mac anti-malware apps, that can scan for free and detect any viruses. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to Secure My Data from Apple Defender Security Center?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and Apple devices will become significantly more safe against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our MacOS Virus section, where you can also ask any questions and comment about your Mac problems.
About the Apple Defender Security Center Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Apple Defender Security Center how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific macOS issue.
How did we conduct the research on Apple Defender Security Center?
Please note that our research is based on an independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware definitions, including the various types of Mac threats, especially adware and potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).
Furthermore, the research behind the Apple Defender Security Center threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.