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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Mar 2019

How to remove Apple.com-clean-os.live

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

Apple.com-clean-os.live is a fake pop-up message which acts as scareware to gain income from Mac users

Apple.com-clean-os.live scam

Apple.com-clean-os.live is a scamming application[1] which appears only on Mac machines and devices. This potentially unwanted application pops out unexpectedly and provides a message which claims that infections were found on Mac OS X with MacOS 10.14 Mojave and banking credentials together with other sensitive information is at big risk. As a solution to the problem, criminals offer to chose the “Scan now” button and getting rid of the malware. Note that these people are not from the Apple organization as they only pretend to be from there to give a more legitimate look for the rogue pop-up message. You can encounter such false notification on any web browser that you are using, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

Name Apple.com-clean-os.live
Type Scam
Sub-type Scareware/potentially unwanted program
OS infected The scam appears only on Mac devices
Other similar scams apple.com-cleaner.systems
Distribution sources Bundled programs, infected hyperlinks, third-party content
Tools for detection FortectIntego, SpyHunterCombo Cleaner
Removal process Get reliable programs to delete the rogue pop-up 

Apple.com-clean-os.live virus appears to be very similar to another rogue application, known as apple.com-cleaner.systems. This pop-up message appears to be almost the same and has the purpose to scare victims also. A user has reported this scam to an Apple forum as it has been bothering him while using the Safari web browser.[2]

There are many similar scamming applications created for Mac and Windows devices. However, due to the increasing usage of Mac machines, developers have been creating even more rogue programs that can attack Mac OS X users and Apple.com-clean-os.live pop-up scam is one of them.

Usually, Apple.com-clean-os.live appears due to the secret installation of a potentially unwanted program. Such thing happens when the user permits rogue objects to be downloaded on the computer together with regular software. However, sometimes, the scam message might appear only on specific third-party websites.

Note that all information that is provided by Apple.com-clean-os.live is completely false. Do not fall for believing that dangerous malware has invaded your computer and definitely DO NOT press the “Scan now” button. If you do, you might be convinced to install rogue software or even provide some sensitive details of your own.

If you encounter Apple.com-clean-os.live scam only on a couple of web pages and it does not bother you after you close the rogue website, there probably is no potentially unwanted application installed on your computer system. However, you still can perform a full system scan with software such as FortectIntego or SpyHunterCombo Cleaner to find out the exact truth.

If the anti-malware program has detected a rogue app in your system, you should take actions to perform the Apple.com-clean-os.live removal. Use reputable software or try getting rid of the PUP[3] with our below-provided manual guide. Additionally, make sure that you clean and refresh all web browsers that were infected.

You definitely need to remove Apple.com-clean-os.live virus to stop its showing whenever you browse the Internet. Continuously, this scam might post questionable pop-up notifications on your computer screen and even collect details that relate to your browsing sessions, activity, and habits. 

Apple.com-clean-os.live PUP

Scams are spread with the help of deceptive marketing techniques

If you have encountered a scam on your computer, and you know that some rogue application is guilty of its appearance, you should take actions to get rid of it. However, it is also very important to gain knowledge in distribution methods of such scamming programs. According to technology experts from NoVirus.uk,[4] pop-up scams are usually delivered by using deceptive marketing techniques such as “bundling” or through infected hyperlinks.

Good news is that you can avoid secret infiltration of potentially unwanted programs by completing some security-based actions on your own. You should:

  • choose the Custom/Advanced installation mode in order not to let any rogue content in the system;
  • stay away from questionable websites (especially, third-party ones);
  • install reliable antivirus protection;
  • make sure that you do not skip any downloading steps if you decide to complete the process on your own.

Terminate Apple.com-clean-os.live pop-up scam from your Mac machine and web browser app

If the scamming application has been bothering you recently, make sure that you do not press the “Scan now” button as it might take you to unknown websites, try to convince you to install rogue software, or even ask for personal information. We offer you to perform the Apple.com-clean-os.live removal by using strong anti-malware programs which will deal with the elimination very easily and most important, safely.

Additionally, you can remove Apple.com-clean-os.live virus on your own if you want to. However, make sure that you have enough skills for this type of process. First, erase all rogue content and stop dubious running tasks on your Mac machine. After that, clean web browser applications such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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