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

How to remove Apple.com-guard-device.live

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

Lucia Danes · Virus researcher

Apple.com-guard-device.live is a fraudulent website which implies fake virus infections on macOS

Apple.com-guard-device.live

Apple.com-guard-device.live is a part of a social engineering[1] attack that usually starts with an adware infection. Adware, otherwise known as ad-supported software or a potentially unwanted program, usually gets installed along with freeware/shareware applications as an optional component. Unfortunately, software developers deliberately hide PUPs during the installation process, so users install them without noticing.

Once on the system, adware changes the web browser settings of Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another browser and starts redirecting users to suspicious sites, such as Apple.com-guard-device.live. The fake alert there claims that Mac users are infected with 3 viruses and that their personal information, such as banking details, is in danger of being stolen. To allegedly remedy the situation, users are prompted to download bogus software – usually scareware[2] apps like Advanced Mac Cleaner, Mac Tonic, Super Mac Cleaner, etc.

Remember, Apple.com-guard-device.live is a scam, so you should never download anything this website suggests. All the claims are fake, although you might have to locate and uninstall adware app that has been installed behind your back in order to remove Apple.com-guard-device.live pop-ups from your browsers once and for all.

Name Apple.com-guard-device.live
Type Fake alert, scam
Category Redirects to potentially dangerous sites and frequent ads during the operation of the browser indicates adware infection
Scam targets macOS/Mac OS X, iOS
Potential dangers Many users who believe that scam will be tricked into downloading potentially unwanted applications that will clutter the computer and persistently demand payment for the full license, consequently resulting in money loss; adware redirects may also lead to other dangerous sites, so malware infection is also a possibility; other scam sites may ask to provide personal information that can be later used for nefarious purposes
Symptoms  Adware typically initiates changes to the web browsers and starts displaying intrusive ads on all sites, redirects to unknown domains, etc; those who install scareware apps might also encounter persistent pop-ups asking to upgrade, etc. 
Termination  To stop scam pop-ups, users should check their devices for adware – use anti-malware like FortectIntego or check manual removal guide below

The fake alert from Apple.com-guard-device.live claims the following (note that the content may vary):

 IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

We have detected a trojan virus (e.tre_worm_osx) on your Mac.

Press OK to begin the repair process

Once clicked, users will shown a similar, but more detailed message, which also includes a timer. Allegedly, once it expires, the damage to the system will be permanent. At the bottom, a “Scan Now” button is located, which supposedly scans the Mac and, in the next page prompts users to install the fake optimization software.

Apple.com-guard-device.live is one of many websites used by crooks to impersonate the tech giant Apple – Apple.com-shield-guard.live, Apple.com-faster.live, Apple.com-scan-macbook.live, Apple.com-speed-macos.live, and multiple others. All of them promote the social engineering scam scheme where users are prompted to download bogus software. While these domains usually quickly shut down by reputable parties, cybercriminals reopen new ones quickly, and Apple.com-guard-device.live is one of them.

All of these scan schemes use legitimately-looking website design, often incorporating the official “AppleCare Protection Plan” logo. These elements are used in order to make inexperienced users compliant, as they are unaware that the Apple.com-guard-device.live pop-up message is coming from cybercrooks rather than Apple.

Apple.com-guard-device.live scam

Just to be clear, Apple.com-guard-device.live prompt shows up within the browser, and viruses simply cannot be detected remotely like that. To confirm malware infections, there must be a dedicated application installed on the Mac computer. Therefore, all claims about virus infections, cyber spying, and similar are fake, so your should always ignore them.

Nevertheless, Apple.com-guard-device.live removal from your browsers might require some additional work – if you are infected with adware, that is. For a quick solution, scan your Mac with anti-malware software like FortectIntego or check the list of the installed for unwanted programs manually.

Practice safe browsing habits when using the internet

When it comes to Mac operating systems, users are always notified that an application from a third-party site is about to be installed, and they asked to enter their Apple ID  to confirm. Therefore, most infection of adware happen when downloading apps from third-party sites intentionally. While, esentially, there is nothing wrong with that, users should be aware that it comes with certain risks.

For example, most of the third-party sites distribute bundled software. Therefore, if the installation process is not looked at carefully, there is a high chance that option application will be installed without users' notice. To avoid that, you should always check every installation step carefully:

  • decline all the deals/offers;
  • read the text in fine print;
  • de-select pre-ticked boxes;
  • choose Advanced/Custom settings instead of Recommended/Quick at all times.

Of course, seeing how App Store has almost 4 million apps,[3] there is plenty to choose from, and if an alternative to that program you found somewhere exists, always pick the official source instead.

Apple.com-guard-device.live fake

Get rid of fake notifications from Apple.com-guard-device.live

To remove Apple.com-guard-device.live pop-ups, as well as redirects to suspicious sites, you need to locate adware on your Mac and uninstall it. However, in some cases, it might be just more difficult than it might seem. While moving the Application to Trash works well for most legitimate apps, potentially unwanted programs often use various techniques to remain on the host machine as long as possible. For example, Apple.com-guard-device.live virus may leave traces in /Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/Application Support, /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, and also create a new profile. Thus, make sure you check these places when you are eliminating PUPs manually.

Instead of wasting your time, you can also opt for automatic Apple.com-guard-device.live removal with the help of anti-malware software that specializes in potentially unwanted programs. Simply download a security tool and perform a full system scan – this way, you will avoid looking for adware traces scattered on your macOS.

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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