YOUR APPLE COMPUTER HAS BEEN LOCKED" Tech Support Scam virus: what it is and how to remove it

No. 'Your Apple Computer Has Been Locked' is a tech support scam using Apple's brand to appear legitimate. The fake alert appears on Mac, iPad, or iPhone screens claiming your device is locked for security reasons and demanding you call a provided number.

Real Apple and Microsoft technicians never lock devices remotely without explicit user authorization, and they never contact users demanding immediate action. The scam exploits users' security concerns and Apple's trusted reputation to create urgency. According to 2017 reports, most fake support offices operating these scams are located in India, with operators posing as 'Apple Care' or 'Apple Support' representatives.

When you call the fake support number, criminals posing as Apple technicians request sensitive information including Apple ID credentials, passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details. They may ask you to download and install remote access software, giving them complete control over your device.

Some scammers attempt to sell fake security software for $100-$300 or more, providing no actual protection. Others direct you to log into phishing websites that look like Apple pages, stealing your login credentials directly. Never provide sensitive information, passwords, or remote access to any caller claiming to be tech support.

The scam spreads through compromised websites that display the fake alert using JavaScript code or redirects to malicious sites. Visiting gambling websites, adult sites, wallpaper collection sites, or clicking on deceptive pop-up ads can trigger the alert.

The fake message appears full-screen with official-looking Apple branding, making closure difficult or impossible in some cases. No actual malware infiltrates your device; the alert is purely a website manipulation designed to force user action. When users call the provided number, they connect to criminals rather than actual Apple representatives, triggering the scam.

Do not call the provided number under any circumstances. Instead, force-close your browser by pressing Command-Option-Escape (Mac) or Task Manager (Windows), or restart your device entirely. The alert cannot lock or harm your device—it only manipulates the browser display.

Refresh your browser to verify the alert disappears. If you accidentally called and provided information, immediately change your Apple ID password, monitor credit card accounts for unauthorized charges, and contact Apple directly using official contact information from apple.com. Run a system scan with reputable anti-malware software to check for any actual infections.

If you contacted the scammers, you may have provided sufficient information for identity theft, financial fraud, unauthorized purchases, or account takeovers.

Immediate actions include changing your Apple ID and iCloud passwords, calling your credit card issuer to freeze or replace cards, and reviewing recent statements for fraudulent charges. If you gave remote access, assume criminals explored your device for valuable data or installed spyware.

Contact Apple's official support line immediately to verify account security. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Monitor credit reports for suspicious activity and consider credit monitoring services if significant personal information was compromised.

The strongest prevention is never calling phone numbers displayed in pop-up alerts, as legitimate tech support never contacts users this way. Avoid high-risk websites including illegal streaming sites, adult content pages, and wallpaper collections where these scams frequently launch. Use pop-up blockers and browser security extensions to prevent malicious JavaScript execution.

Keep your device's operating system and browsers updated with latest security patches. Understand that official Apple never locks devices remotely or demands immediate payment or personal information. If concerned about device security, visit apple.com directly and use official support channels rather than calling provided numbers.

Not necessarily. The fake alert alone does not indicate infection; it is purely a website manipulation. However, if the alert originated from visiting a compromised website, your device may have been exposed to other malware.

To be certain, restart your device and run a complete system scan with reputable anti-malware software. Pay attention to unusual behavior like unexpected slowdowns, strange processes, unfamiliar applications, or unexplained network activity. If the alert continues appearing after device restart, suspicious applications may exist and require professional removal.

No. While the scam commonly appears in Safari on Apple devices, it also targets Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers on Windows PCs and Android devices. The fundamental mechanism remains identical: malicious websites display fake alerts claiming device infection or locking. Operating system doesn't matter; the scam exploits human psychology through fake official-looking alerts.

Windows users see variants claiming Windows or Microsoft account locks, Android users receive fake Android security alerts, all funneling victims to criminal support lines. Understanding that these scams target all devices and browsers helps you recognize variations regardless of your system type.

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For YOUR APPLE COMPUTER HAS BEEN LOCKED" Tech Support Scam virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.