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Safari Caught A Virus?

DUTCH VanAtlanta

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iPad Air was browsing Safari when all of a sudden an Apple tab opens up with a message in a smaller window that I can't get rid of. It states:

http://www.instatechhelp.net
****WARNING!! IOS Crash Report****

Due to a third party application in
your phone, IOS is crashed.

Contact Support for Immediate Fix

+1-877-514-9649 (Toll Free)

OK (in blue as a link)

I click OK, and the window comes right back, over and over again. I can't get rid f it and am unable to use Safari.

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

TIA!
 

twerppoet

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Go to Settings > Safari and Clear Data and Cookies. Then reset the iPad by holding down the power and home buttons until the Apple Logo appears.

The second probably is not necessary, but it won't hurt.

And while this 'might' be an actual Apple warning, I highly doubt it. Sounds more like some kind of fishing or scareware scam.
 
OP
DUTCH VanAtlanta

DUTCH VanAtlanta

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Go to Settings > Safari and Clear Data and Cookies. Then reset the iPad by holding down the power and home buttons until the Apple Logo appears.

The second probably is not necessary, but it won't hurt.

And while this 'might' be an actual Apple warning, I highly doubt it. Sounds more like some kind of fishing or scareware scam.

Thanks. This fixed it, and the Reset was not necessary.
 

hanzomonline

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Go to Settings > Safari and Clear Data and Cookies. Then reset the iPad by holding down the power and home buttons until the Apple Logo appears.

The second probably is not necessary, but it won't hurt.

And while this 'might' be an actual Apple warning, I highly doubt it. Sounds more like some kind of fishing or scareware scam.
Hello Sir,

I have the exact same pop-up window message now, but in my case while browsing with Titan Media's "Free Video" ipad app!
So, in the Settings area, there is no choice on the column/list of apps for my Free Video app, to clear data or delete cookies, etc...

I tried doing it in the Safari section, as you advised above to the other fellow, but of course it didn't help with my frozen Free Video app. (Safari works fine still).
Also tried going to General> Reset all Settings and that didn't fix the app's freeze either.

Any advice for unfreezing my app would be much appreciated?

Thanks
 

twerppoet

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Try deleting and reinstalling the app. If it has any files or other media stored, you may want to save them off the iPad first.
 

TheGimp

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This happened to me also as I was attempting to see if I could download a t.v. show on my ipad mini.The above solution works (settings>safari>clear data and cookies) but I called the number because it seemed legit. (So far anyways) I figured that a customer service person would say push these buttons and voila, fixed safari, but what actually happened makes me very glad I was educated in America and can usually tell a con when presented with a hook to bite. 1st red flag= A guy with an (I'm guessing) Indian type voice with broken English answers.I think o.k. maybe outsourced customer service.(actually pretty common now adays, but I am onguard) I tell him the problem and (2nd red flag=)he states I was probably trying to download porn and caught a virus. All my other apps still worked fine, just safari was goofy. O.K. something is up but I'm gonna keep listening. He then states (3rd red flag and a major one) I need a new operating system and for $60 dollars they will set me up. I'm a fairly new ipad user but to get a new ios I would think at minimum it would need to be done onsight at the apple store. No way something accomplished over the phone or online. I say I just need to reset safari and can't I do that? He says (4th red flag=) No, you cannot fix it yourself in a slightly panicked voice. I'm thinking this is a scam and state I gotta think this over and he says in a highly panicked voice (he musta realized I was getting away) It's only $60 dollars. I hang up and am angered my time was wasted with this now obvious crook, but mildly humored that I escaped from a con. I google safari ios security alert and get this forum. I sign up feeling my story may help someone and I hope it does. ios users need to stick together and these forums are a great way to fix problems and help prevent scams.
 

scifan57

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Thanks for that detailed explanation of how you didn't fall for the scam, I'm sure it will help anybody who reads it.
 

Gtatler

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Admittedly a bit off topic but related. In the UK many of my friends have actually received a phone call stating the person is from Microsoft and that their computer has problems which they offer to fix by logging on remotely.

This has happened even to people who do not have a computer !

Of course Microsoft will NEVER make such a telephone call, it is definitely a scam, so be warned.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

The OB

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Admittedly a bit off topic but related. In the UK many of my friends have actually received a phone call stating the person is from Microsoft and that their computer has problems which they offer to fix by logging on remotely.

This has happened even to people who do not have a computer !

Of course Microsoft will NEVER make such a telephone call, it is definitely a scam, so be warned.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Oh we get one of those about weekly. The way I respond to such a phone call is to say... "That sounds very interesting, hang on and I'll get the owner here, he's been worried about viruses"... Then go out to the kitchen and make a cuppa before eventually coming back to hang up. Very satisfying, both the phone call and the cuppa:)
Andrew

Sent from my iPad Air2 using Tapatalk
 
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skimonkey

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Oh we get one of those about weekly. The way I respond to such a phone call is to say... "That sounds very interesting, hang on and I'll get the owner here, he's been worried about viruses"... Then go out to the kitchen and make a cuppa before eventually coming back to hang up. Very satisfying, both the phone call and the cuppa:)
Andrew
Andrew


Sent from my iPad Air2 using Tapatalk
Love that Andrew...I'll have to try that method next time I get a advert call! Thanks for sharing! :)
 

chaunceyherbie

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iPad Air was browsing Safari when all of a sudden an Apple tab opens up with a message in a smaller window that I can't get rid of. It states:

http://www.instatechhelp.net
****WARNING!! IOS Crash Report****

Due to a third party application in
your phone, IOS is crashed.

Contact Support for Immediate Fix

+1-877-514-9649 (Toll Free)

OK (in blue as a link)

I click OK, and the window comes right back, over and over again. I can't get rid f it and am unable to use Safari.

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

TIA!
 

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