(It doesn't have any personal identifying information, but I'm not certain that it can't be used to gain access or learn more about my laptop, which at this stage I obviously want to prevent.) I'm not at all tech savvy, so am a bit hesitant to post the EtreCheck report on public view here. (Even updating my operating system didn't get rid of it.) Beside having the annoyance of randomly-opening windows, should I be concerned about security? That is, can whatever is causing this also steal passwords, debit/credit cards, banking details, etc? My concern at this stage is that there is malware or adware embedded deeply in the computer. The worst part is that when the new window opens, it often starts by duplicating the IP address of the website I'm already on, so that I can't tell which is my window and which is the "scam" window. I've had to "force quit" Safari three times in the process of navigating to this webpage and typing my reply.
#MALWAREBYTES MAC 10.9 5 WINDOWS#
If anything, this has only made the problem worse! The pop-up windows are getting more frequent and more aggressive. I also took the step - which should have been obvious before - of upgrading my operating system from Mavericks to El Capitan.
(Note: I don't run anti-virus software, but I do use the built-in Firewall and run Malwarebytes when needed.) When I checked the website data in Safari Preferences, I did see stored cookies for several of the pop-up websites, such as Advanced Mac, but clearing those did not solve the problem. I tried all the steps you suggested, but unfortunately none of them have worked. Thank you very much for your comprehensive answers. Most of the articles I read on this issues were from 20. The problem still persists.Īny thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome. (Nothing found.) I ran a scan with Etre Check but it did not reveal any relevant information. I removed various folders from my Library, as directed by other articles, and ran a scan of my laptop using Malwarebytes. I couldn't find anything in the Extensions tab in Safari Preferences. (They are not pop ups that are tied to a specific website.) The windows pop up frequently and without warning, even when I am doing something as simple as reading a news website or searching Google. These include "scam" webpages for MacKeeper, Media Downloader, Car Insurance, Flash Player and various "warnings" about virus infections. My web browser, Safari, keeps opening new browser windows randomly. However, I have still not solved my problem.
I have searched the forum on similar topics, and have tried all the advice I found.