This article has been created in order to help you remove the “Apple wants to make changes” pop-up completely from your Mac.
A new scam has been reported by users to display a pop-up, which asks users to enter their Username and Password. According to latest information, the pop-up itself, described as “Apple wants to make changes” wants to rob users out of their Mac credentials and therefore out of other information on their devices as well. If you are one of the victims of the “Apple wants to make changes” virus, we recommend that you thoroughly read this article to learn more about it and how you can make sure that it is fully gone from your Mac.
Threat Summary
| Name | Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam |
| Type | Phishing Scam for Mac OS |
| Short Description | Aims to show questionable pop-ups which ask victims to enter their usernames and passwords. |
| Symptoms | You may see other pop-ups just like it or may see it running automatically during your casual browsing process. |
| Distribution Method | Via an unwanted application running on your PC or via a suspicious website causing a redirect. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam. |
”Apple wants to make changes” – How Did I Get It
Many MacOS users have also reported it to be caused by a visited website on the users Mac which causes a redirect. And indeed such websites are already a familiar sight, because may WordPress sites that are compromised begin to cause browser redirection each time the website itself is visited by the user.
Furthermore, in addition to this, the “Apple wants to make changes” pop-up may also come as a result of you having an adware program which is the root cuase of these unwanted pop-ups appearing. These types of unwanted programs often take advantage of third-party apps that are free by being bundled in their installers. This basically means that if you were to download an app from third-party site, chances are you may encounter optional offers, like the unwanted program that is causing the “Apple wants to make changes” phishing pop-ups on your Mac. Usually these programs pretend to be useful apps, whose main goal seems to be being a helpful type of program on your Mac that could improve your experience in a way.
”Apple wants to make changes” – More Information
”Apple wants to make changes” is the type of pop-up which will begin to randomly appear on users computers.The pop-up appears like the following:
There are similar scams to the “Apple wants to make changes” one, but this one in particular is different by the fact that it wants you to type in your username and password. These types of po-ups are very dangerous for your Mac, since they may steal critical information from it via phishing attempts, so In case you have entered important data in those fake alerts, we would suggest that you immediately change your credentials, more importantly your passwords.
Furthermore, the pop-up appearing may also be accompanied by what appears to be a program that may be harmful for your computer. The outcome of this is not only the “Apple wants to make changes pop-ups” may appear but alongside them other redirects to pages may also show up on your Mac. These forms of unwanted messages may be of the following types:
- Pop-ups.
- Online redirects.
- Online search results that are ad-supported.
- Online banners that are taken over on the legitimate sites you visit.
These messages and other types of content is likely caused by a nefarious software that may currently be residing on your Mac. While not something uncommon, these programs may turn out to be a major problem in the future, because they may not only lead to phishing sites, like this one, but they may pose other risks as well, such as:
- Malicious URLs that may infect your Mac with malware.
- Tech support scam URLs.
- Sites that may cause your Mac to malfunction and slow down by installing miner scripts.
This is why, in the event that you see more than just the “Apple wants to make changes” pop-up on your Mac, it is strongly recommended to identify and remove the software that might be causing them to appear.
Remove ”Apple wants to make changes” Pop-up Scam from Your Mac
If you want to remove the ”Apple wants to make changes” pop-ups from your Mac, we strongly suggest that you follow the removal steps that are posted underneath this article as they have been created with the main idea in mind to help you to try and identify and applications that might be causing such content on your Mac. Furthermore, be advised that if all else fails and you still believe that you Mac is under threat, you should follow experts’ recommendations and download an advanced anti-malware software. It will assist you by automatically removing and identifying any threats on your Mac and make sure that it stays as protected as possible against any future threats that might appear.
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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About the Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam 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 Wants to Make Changes Scam?
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 Wants to Make Changes Scam threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand the threat posed by Mac malware, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1. macOS More Susceptible to Adware and PUPs than Windows
2. XLoader Malware-as-a-Service Now Available for macOS for Only $49
3. XCSSET Mac Malware Targets Apple’s M1-Based Macs and macOS 11
4. macOS Backdoor Malware Linked to OceanLotus Hackers
5. The State of Apple’s Privacy So Far in 2021
Preparation Phase:
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.
Step 1: Uninstall Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam 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 Wants to Make Changes Scam:
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 Wants to Make Changes Scam. 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 Wants to Make Changes Scam. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
7. Remove any left-over 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 Wants to Make Changes Scam 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 Wants to Make Changes Scam. 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 2: Remove Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Remove an extension from Safari and reset it.
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Step 3: Scan for and remove Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam, 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
Step 4: 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.
Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam FAQ
What is Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam on your Mac?
The Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam 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 siginficantly and display advertisements. They could also use cookies and other trackers to obtain browsing information from the installed web browsers on your Mac.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your Mac to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your MacOS.
Can my Mac get a virus?
Yes. As much as any other device, Apple computers do get viruses. Apple devices may not be a frequent target by malware authors, but rest assured that the following Apple devices can become infected with a virus:
- iMac
- Mac Mini
- Macbook Air
- Macbook Pro
- iPhone
- iPad
What are the symptoms of Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam on your Mac?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also most Mac threats in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your Mac may become slow and has poor performance in general.
Symtpom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Mac's Activity Monitor.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts reccomend that you check your Mac for viruses.
What types of Mac threats are there?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently infect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware and hijackers.
- Trojan horses and other spyware.
- Ransomware and screen-lockers.
- Cryptocurrency miner malware.
What to do if I have a Mac virus, like Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most Mac threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them. One reccomended 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, tracking cookies and unwanted adware apps plus take care of them quickly. This saves time for manual removal that you would otherwise have to do.
How to secure my passwords and other data from Apple Wants to Make Changes Scam?
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.
