’888-447-1249′ Pop-Ups

Posted: December 30, 2015

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	8/10
Infected PCs:	246

First Seen:	December 30, 2015
Last Seen:	December 13, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

The '888-447-1249' pop-ups are technical support hoaxes served as covers for collecting information or getting remote access to your computer. Current samples of the '888-447-1249' pop-ups implicate the specific targeting of Apple device users, although they have yet to circulate threats or Web scripts that could launch automatically. Removing the '888-447-1249' pop-ups or their aftereffects always should be done by professional anti-malware programs; malware experts also would recommend taking extra steps for protecting any compromised information.

Taking a Bite out of Fake Apple Technical Support

The '888-447-1249' pop-ups, just like the '844-714-3213' Pop-Ups or '647-360-4454' Pop-Ups, continue the running theme of Mac users being just as vulnerable to Web hoaxes as Windows owners. These attacks were last confirmed loading through Macsecureservices.info, a corrupted website not yet categorized in most threat databases. Because the '888-447-1249' pop-ups have had incidents of persisting through system reboots, they may be associated with unwanted browser modifications or even adware, although there is no evidence of genuinely threatening software triggering them to date.

PC users exposed to the '888-447-1249' pop-ups are asked to call its hotline, supposedly for the purpose of technical support in preventing damages from an ongoing attack. These attacks claim to redirect the reader to a Mac support technician. The real motive of the hotline is to initiate a conversation with a con artist, who may ask you to install unsafe software or request information.

Previously, these technical support tactics have mostly focused on compromising the remote network security of the PC. The '888-447-1249' pop-ups follow this overall trend, and following the recommendations of the associated con artists may lead you to give them remote access to your computer. The form of access is not necessarily dependent on threats; malware researchers also often see non-threatening tools (like TeamViewer or RealVNC) just as viable for the same purposes. Whether they use legitimate apps or Trojans, third parties can gain access to your files, system settings, information and software.

Beating a Real Browser Attack Beneath a Fake One

The website currently linked to the '888-447-1249' pop-ups, Macsecureservices.info, has been active only in the last quarter of 2015. However, malware researchers have seen a recurring history of effectively identical attacks launching through other websites and hotlines. Whether you suffer from an attack by the '888-447-1249' pop-ups or other hotline tactics, these sites should be assumed to be capable of harming your computer. Rebooting in Safe Mode and launching an anti-malware scan always should be your first response to a redirect to a corrupted site. For Mac users, Safe Mode is accessible by holding the Shift key during the reboot process until you see the Apple logo.

Computer users who follow all the advice in the '888-447-1249' pop-ups may leak information, purchase fake software products or let third parties access their computers. For PC users seeing remote access software like TeamViewer on their machines without installing them, it should be removed with the same promptness you would give to removing any backdoor Trojan. Information that you've provided to the 'support technicians' of the '888-447-1249' pop-ups should be assumed to be in the wrong hands possession and subject to future abuse. You should change any important passwords without delay, and you may wish to contact your bank or credit card company for additional procedures worth following.

’888-447-1249′ Pop-Ups

Threat Metric

Taking a Bite out of Fake Apple Technical Support

Beating a Real Browser Attack Beneath a Fake One

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