Is your Mac plagued by annoying "Ask You" notifications flooding your Notification Center? You're not alone. These aren't just irritating; they pose a potential security risk. This article explains the "Ask You" virus and provides steps to remove it and regain control of your Mac.

What are "Ask You" Notifications?

"Ask You" notifications are intrusive pop-up messages that bombard your Mac's screen, falsely claiming urgent system issues like attacks, viruses, or hacks. Their appearance in the Notification Center tricks users into believing legitimacy, leading to potentially harmful consequences if interacted with.

These fake alerts originate from the "Ask You" virus, a type of adware. It's been active since around the release of OS X Mountain Lion in 2012. Examples of its messages include:

• System at Risk
• System Infected!
• Viruses Found (3)
• macOS Virus Detected
• Critical Virus Alert (with prompt to renew antivirus)
• Various Trojan warnings
• iCloud hacking alerts
• Urgent Mac protection prompts

Clicking these notifications can result in:

• Increased spam notifications
• Redirection to malicious websites
• Reduced MacBook performance
• Tracking of online activity (bookmarks, history, searches)

Never interact with these spam messages.

How Did You Get the "Ask You" Virus?

The "Ask You" virus typically infects Macs through malicious websites. This usually happens by clicking on infected ads, banners, or pop-ups, or by downloading malicious attachments. Clicking malicious links in phishing emails can also lead to infection.

After infection, the virus may alter your browser's default settings, causing unwanted web pages to open, or significantly slow down your computer's performance.

Removing the "Ask You" Virus

Simply deleting the notifications isn't enough. You must remove the virus itself to prevent further issues. Here's a four-step process:

1. Delete Suspicious Programs:

   1. Open Finder, go to Applications, and remove any unfamiliar apps. Move them to the Trash.

   

2. Clean Your Browser: The virus can hijack browsers, altering settings and displaying pop-ups. Resetting your browser to its default settings removes the virus. Instructions for Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera are below.

   • Safari: Check your homepage, block notification ads in Safari > Preferences > Websites > Notifications, remove website data (Privacy > Manage Website Data), and empty caches (Advanced > Show Develop menu > Develop > Empty Caches).

   

   • Chrome: Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, select Settings > Reset settings, and choose Restore settings to their original defaults.

   

   • Firefox: Remove unwanted extensions (Firefox > Add-ons and themes > Extensions), then reset Firefox (three-bar menu > Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox).

   

   • Opera: Remove suspicious extensions (View > Show Extensions), then reset Opera (three-bar menu > Go to full browser settings > Browser > Restore settings to their original defaults > Reset).

   

3. Remove Malicious Files: The virus may create malicious files and folders. Use Finder > Go > Go to Folder to access these locations and delete suspicious items: /Library/LaunchAgents/, ~/Library/Application Support/, ~/Library/LaunchAgents/, /Library/LaunchDaemons/.

   

4. Scan with Antivirus Software: Use a reputable antivirus program like MacKeeper's Antivirus to scan for and remove any remaining malicious files.

   

Remember to empty the Trash after deleting files. While manual removal is possible, using antivirus software provides a more thorough and efficient solution. Preventing future infections involves avoiding suspicious websites and attachments.

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