How to remove 'ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!' from Mac?

What is 'ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!'?

'ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!' is a fake notification relating to viruses and malicious applications - these are 'detected' by a deceptive website disguised as an official Apple site. In fact, this is a scam website designed to trick people into contacting scammers by calling them on the telephone number provided. We strongly recommend that you ignore this scam and do not call these people. All malware detections mentioned on this web page are fake.

When opened, this scam website displays a number of pop-ups. According to one, MAC OS X is infected with viruses and other malicious applications, and these must be removed and system damage repaired. It is also states that if the website is closed, the operating system will remain damaged and vulnerable. Another pop-up states that the website has detected the ZEUS virus and, additionally, a suspicious trojan was attempting to access logins, banking details, and track Internet browsing activity. It is stated that the firewall installed on the operating system failed to protect the system and that the system was damaged. Visitors are urged to visit the nearest Mac repair service or to call the '+1-877-885-8689' number. Note, this is not an official Apple customer service number and belongs to scammers. If contacted, they attempt to extort money from unsuspecting people. The scammers who designed this deceptive site try to trick people into purchasing unnecessary software or paying for 'online technical support'. Do not take this and other scams seriously. If a browser opens these scams, ignore them.

The final confirmation message showing the ZBot has started is displayed and the ZBot icon can be seen in the System Tray in the bottom right corner. Right-clicking on the ZBot icon in the System Tray presents the following menu.

Scam websites are often opened by browsers that have potentially unwanted apps (PUAs) installed. Typically, people download and install apps of this type unintentionally. When installed, they cause redirects to dubious, deceptive websites, gather user-data and feed people with intrusive advertisements. Generally, unwanted apps of this type record IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, etc. In some cases, PUAs target sensitive details. Developers share the information with third parties who misuse it to generate revenue. These third parties include cyber criminals. Another problem with PUAs is that some display deceptive, intrusive ads. When clicked, they open dubious or even malicious sites or execute scripts that cause unwanted downloads/installations. Some examples of ads displayed by PUAs are coupons, banners, surveys, various pop-up ads, etc.

1. Submit suspected malware or incorrectly detected files for analysis. Submitted files will be added to or removed from antimalware definitions based on the analysis results.
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3. The Zeus Virus can do a number of nasty things once it infects a computer, but it really has two major pieces of functionality. First, it creates a botnet, which is a network of corrupted machines that are covertly controlled by a command and control server under the control of the malware's owner.A botnet allows the owner to collect massive amounts of information or execute large-scale attacks.

Zbot Mac

'ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!' is a common scam, which is typical of many websites of this type on the Internet. Some other examples are apple.com-scan-mac[.]live, 'Your Mac is infected with 4 viruses', and 'Mac OS X is infected (4) by viruses'. These pages inform visitors of 'detected' viruses and encourage them to install unwanted apps or contact scammers. If a PUA is installed on a browser or computer, it might be the reason for redirects to deceptive websites such as this. Furthermore, PUAs can cause problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you remove all unwanted apps immediately.

How did potentially unwanted applications install on my computer?

Unwanted apps (PUAs) are often downloaded/installed when people click ads that should not be trusted or when they download/install software that has unwanted app(s) bundled into the setup. By bundling apps into set-ups, developers attempt to trick users into downloading/installing unwanted apps with regular software. Information about the inclusion of PUAs in set-ups is usually hidden in 'Custom/Advanced' settings (or other similar parts). In summary, unwanted downloads and installations happen when people fail to check and change any the aforementioned settings, which effectively gives permission for PUAs to be downloaded or installed.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Third party downloaders, installers, torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks) and other such tools/sources should not be trusted to download or install software. The safest way to download programs is to official sites and direct download links. Additionally, all downloads/installations should be handled properly. Check 'Advanced', 'Custom', 'Manual' and other similar options or settings of any setup and dismiss offers to install (or download) unwanted apps. Furthermore, not all ads (especially if they are displayed on dubious sites) should be trusted. If clicked, they often redirect to untrustworthy websites, usually relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc, If intrusive ads or unwanted redirects occur regularly, check for unwanted extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins installed on the default browser and uninstall them. This should also be applied to unwanted programs installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.

Screenshot of a scam website stating that a computer is infected with the ZEUS virus:

Text presented in the pop-up:

Warning: ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!
A suspicious TROJAN was trying to access your logins, banking details & tracking your Internet activity.
Your Firewall has failed to protect and is damaged. Your Accounts May be Suspended Until your take an action.
Your personal information may have leaked. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUIRED. Your hard disk has a Trojan Virus! Please do not try to fix manually, it may crash your data. Consequently, we are performing additional security checks to verify system security.
Please visit your nearest MAC service centre or call help desk
Customer service +1-877-885-8689 (TOLL-FREE)

Appearance of 'ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!' scam (GIF):

Another variant of 'ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!' pop-up scam:

Text presented within the pop-up:

Warning: ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!

Customer Service: +1-800-674-3208 (TOLL-FREE)

A Suspicious TROJAN Was Trying to Access Your Logins, Banking Details & Tracking Your Internet Activity.

Your Firewall has failed to protect and is damaged. Your Accounts May be Suspended Until You Take an Action.

Your Personal Information May Have Leaked. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUIRED

Your Hard Disk Has A Trojan Virus! Please Do Not Try to Fix Manually, It May Crash Your Data.

Consequently, we are performing additional security checks to verify system security.

Please Visit Your Nearest MAC Service Center OR Call Help Desk

------------
Customer Service: +1-800-674-3208 (TOLL-FREE)
------------

********** IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUIRED **********

Please contact network administration to rectify the issue.
Please do not open internet browser for your security issue to avoid data corruption on your registery of your operating system. Please contact network administration department at +1-800-674-3208 (TOLL-FREE)

Virus Info:
A Trojan horse, or Trojan, in computing is a non-self-replicating type of malware program containing malicious code that, when executed, carries out actions determined by the nature of the Trojan, typically causing loss or theft of data, and possible system harm. The term is derived from the story of the wooden horse used to trick defenders of Troy into taking concealed warriors into their city in ancient Greece, because computer Trojans often employ a form of social engineering, presenting themselves as routine, useful, or interesting in order to persuade victims to install them on their computers.

A Trojan often acts as a backdoor, contacting a controller which can then have unauthorized access to the affected computer. The Trojan and backdoors are not themselves easily detectable, but if they carry out significant computing or communications activity may cause the computer to run noticeably slowly. Malicious programs are classified as Trojans if they do not attempt to inject themselves into other files (computer virus) or otherwise propagate themselves (worm).

A computer may host a Trojan via a malicious program a user is duped into executing files or browsing internet.
Please contact network administration department at +1-800-674-3208 (TOLL-FREE)

Instant automatic Mac malware removal:Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for MacBy downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited three days free trial available.

Quick menu:

• STEP 1. Remove PUA related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove rogue extensions from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue add-ons from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove potentially unwanted plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to eliminate 'ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!!' scam pop-ups using Combo Cleaner:

Potentially unwanted applications removal:

Remove potentially unwanted applications from your 'Applications' folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select 'Applications'. In the applications folder, look for 'MPlayerX', 'NicePlayer', or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Combo Cleaner checks if your computer is infected with malware. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited three days free trial available.

Remove zeus virus detected !!! pop-up related files and folders:

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder..

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Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder.. bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware generated files in the /Library/Application Support folder:

Zbot For Cs 1.6

In the Go to Folder.. bar, type: /Library/Application Support

In the “Application Support” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, “MplayerX” or “NicePlayer”, and move these folders to the Trash.

Zbot For Mac Pro

Check for adware-generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents folder:

In the Go to Folder bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents

In the “LaunchAgents” folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, “kuklorest.update.plist”, etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the same string.

Check for adware-generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons folder:

Zbot For Mac Os

In the Go to Folder.. bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons

In the “LaunchDaemons” folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example “com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist”, “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”, 'com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist”, “com.avickUpd.plist”, etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps in the correct order you Mac should be clean of infections. To be sure your system is not infected run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file double click combocleaner.dmg installer, in the opened window drag and drop Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates it's virus definition database and click 'Start Combo Scan' button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays 'no threats found' - this means that you can continue with the removal guide, otherwise it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

ZEUS VIRUS DETECTED !!! pop-up removal from Internet browsers:

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Remove zeus virus detected !!! pop-up related Safari extensions:

Open Safari browser, from the menu bar, select 'Safari' and click 'Preferences..'.

In the preferences window, select 'Extensions' and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the 'Uninstall' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove zeus virus detected !!! pop-up related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Quicktime pro player for mac. Open your Mozilla Firefox browser. At the top right corner of the screen, click the 'Open Menu' (three horizontal lines) button. From the opened menu, choose 'Add-ons'.

Choose the 'Extensions' tab and look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Remove' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Mozilla Firefox browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove zeus virus detected !!! pop-up related Google Chrome add-ons:

Open Google Chrome and click the 'Chrome menu' (three horizontal lines) button located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the drop-down menu, choose 'More Tools' and select 'Extensions'.

In the 'Extensions' window, look for any recently-installed suspicious add-ons. When located, click the 'Trash' button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Google Chrome browser - none are crucial for normal browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Zeus, ZeuS, or Zbot is a Trojan horsemalware package that runs on versions of Microsoft Windows. While it can be used to carry out many malicious and criminal tasks, it is often used to steal banking information by man-in-the-browserkeystroke logging and form grabbing. It is also used to install the CryptoLockerransomware.^[1] Zeus is spread mainly through drive-by downloads and phishing schemes. First identified in July 2007 when it was used to steal information from the United States Department of Transportation,^[2] it became more widespread in March 2009. In June 2009 security company Prevx discovered that Zeus had compromised over 74,000 FTP accounts on websites of such companies as the Bank of America, NASA, Monster.com, ABC, Oracle, Play.com, Cisco, Amazon, and BusinessWeek.^[3] Similarly to Koobface, Zeus has also been used to trick victims of technical support scams into giving the scam artists money through pop-up messages that claim the user has a virus, when in reality they might have no viruses at all. The scammers may use programs such as Command prompt or Event viewer to make the user believe that their computer is infected.^[4]

Detection

Zeus is very difficult to detect even with up-to-date antivirus and other security software as it hides itself using stealth techniques.^[5] It is considered that this is the primary reason why the Zeus malware has become the largest botnet on the Internet: Damballa estimated that the malware infected 3.6 million PCs in the U.S. in 2009.^[6] Security experts are advising that businesses continue to offer training to users to teach them to not to click on hostile or suspicious links in emails or Web sites, and to keep antivirus protection up to date. Antivirus software does not claim to reliably prevent infection; for example Symantec's Browser Protection says that it can prevent 'some infection attempts'.^[7]

FBI crackdown

In October 2010 the US FBI announced that hackers in Eastern Europe had managed to infect computers around the world using Zeus.^[8] The virus was distributed in an e-mail, and when targeted individuals at businesses and municipalities opened the e-mail, the trojan software installed itself on the victimized computer, secretly capturing passwords, account numbers, and other data used to log into online banking accounts.

The hackers then used this information to take over the victims’ bank accounts and make unauthorized transfers of thousands of dollars at a time, often routing the funds to other accounts controlled by a network of money mules, paid a commission. Many of the U.S. money mules were recruited from overseas. They created bank accounts using fake documents and false names. Once the money was in the accounts, the mules would either wire it back to their bosses in Eastern Europe, or withdraw it in cash and smuggle it out of the country.^[9]

More than 100 people were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering, over 90 in the US, and the others in the UK and Ukraine.^[10] Members of the ring had stolen $70 million.

In 2013 Hamza Bendelladj, known as Bx1 online, was arrested in Thailand ^[11] and deported to Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Early reports said that he was the mastermind behind ZeuS. He was accused of operating SpyEye (a bot functionally similar to ZeuS) botnets, and suspected of also operating ZeuS botnets. He was charged with several counts of wire fraud and computer fraud and abuse.^[12] Court papers allege that from 2009 to 2011 Bendelladj and others 'developed, marketed, and sold various versions of the SpyEye virus and component parts on the Internet and allowed cybercriminals to customize their purchases to include tailor-made methods of obtaining victims’ personal and financial information'. It was also alleged that Bendelladj advertised SpyEye on Internet forums devoted to cyber- and other crimes and operated Command and Control servers.^[13] The charges in Georgia relate only to SpyEye, as a SpyEye botnet control server was based in Atlanta.

Possible retirement of creator

In late 2010, a number of Internet security vendors including McAfee and Internet Identity claimed that the creator of Zeus had said that he was retiring and had given the source code and rights to sell Zeus to his biggest competitor, the creator of the SpyEye trojan. However, those same experts warned the retirement was a ruse and expect the developer to return with new tricks.^[14][15]

See also

• Gameover ZeuS, the successor to ZeuS

Zbot For Mac Download

References

1. ^Abrams, Lawrence. 'CryptoLocker Ransomware Information Guide and FAQ'. Bleeping Computer. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
2. ^Jim Finkle (17 July 2007). 'Hackers steal U.S. government, corporate data from PCs'. Reuters. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
3. ^Steve Ragan (29 June 2009). 'ZBot data dump discovered with over 74,000 FTP credentials'. The Tech Herald. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
4. ^'How to Recognize a Fake Virus Warning'. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
5. ^'ZeuS Banking Trojan Report'. Dell SecuWorks. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
6. ^'The Hunt for the Financial Industry's Most-Wanted Hacker'. Bloomberg Business. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
7. ^'Trojan.Zbot'. Symantec. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
8. ^'Cyber Banking Fraud'. The Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
9. ^FBI (1 October 2010). 'CYBER BANKING FRAUD Global Partnerships Lead to Major Arrests'. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
10. ^BBC (1 October 2010). 'More than 100 arrests, as FBI uncovers cyber crime ring'. BBC News. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
11. ^Al Jazeera (21 September 2015). 'Hamza Bendelladj: Is the Algerian hacker a hero?'. AJE News. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
12. ^Zetter, Kim. 'Alleged 'SpyEye' Botmaster Ends Up in America, Handcuffs, Kim Zetter, Wired, 3 May 2013'. Wired.com. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
13. ^'Alleged 'SpyEye' mastermind extradited to US, Lisa Vaas, 7 May 2013, Sophos nakedsecurity'. Nakedsecurity.sophos.com. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
14. ^Diane Bartz (29 October 2010). 'Top hacker 'retires'; experts brace for his return'. Reuters. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
15. ^Internet Identity (6 December 2010). 'Growth in Social Networking, Mobile and Infrastructure Attacks Threaten Corporate Security in 2011'. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 16 December 2010.

External links

• 'Measuring the in-the-wild effectiveness of Antivirus against Zeus' Study by Internet security firm Trusteer.
• 'A summary of the ZeuS Bot' A summary of ZeuS as a Trojan and Botnet, plus vector of attacks.
• 'The Kneber BotNet' by Alex Cox NetWitness Whitepaper on the Kneber botnet.
• 'België legt fraude met onlinebankieren bloot' Dutch news article about a banking trojan
• 'Indications in affected systems' Files and registry keys created by different versions of Zeus Trojan.
• Zeus, le dieu des virus contre les banques(in French)
• Botnet Bust - SpyEye Malware Mastermind Pleads Guilty, FBI