topic Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question in Electronics

MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Krimpette — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 12:04:35 GMT

Yesterday, I suddenly began receiving a pop-up with a large exclamation point telling me to "update now" (Or something like that). It just pops up occasionally and I ignore it. It doesn't seem to hamper the operating of my laptop otherwise. I have cleared history, cookies, run Malwarebytes, and restarted the computer. Anyone have any thoughts? There is no other identifying information on the pop-up. Comes up in the middle of a page when I open a favorite. No random pattern.

I'm using Safari, and am still running Sierra 10.12.6 on my old MacBook Pro where this is happening.

Thanks!

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Sweetbay magnolia — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 12:34:42 GMT

There is an update to Safari in High Sierra - we're on version 12.0 now. I just updated that, and Pages, Notes, and Numbers. I get the update notice in the upper right corner, and see the red bullet on the app store icon when they're available.

I don't know if this is about what you're seeing, but thought you might like to know. Have you asked Mr. Google?

~~FWI~~FYI, I use a MacBook Air. (not enough coffee yet). High Sierra 10.13.6

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Sooner — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:20:21 GMT

I got that too. It says Apple wants you to make changes. I just deleted the pop up because I feel sure it is bogus. If you want to make Apple updates, go through your Apple systems area or go to the Apple site.

I've NEVER had Apple do anything like that popup! I wouldn't trust it.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Mz iMac — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:35:18 GMT

Check out: How to block pop-ups in Safari

Copy/paste link--> support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

===============

To check for updates on a Mac...

Click on the AppStore icon in your Dock.

Click on "Updates."

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Starliteshine — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:36:01 GMT

I clicked on a similar pop up thinking it was from Apple and it was a big mistake. It took over my computer and I couldn't do anything as I watched it harvest my information. I called in my IT savvy teen and he had a heck of a time getting it off my computer. He was finally successful and had to go into my 'tree' to delete whatever I downloaded. He warned me to never click on any pop ups to update. It is safer to click on the apple in the left top corner, click on about this Mac, click on software update.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Allegheny — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:45:21 GMT

Yesterday I got a notification thru the App Store there was an update called Safari 12 to be installed I latered it for today.

This morning was getting a pop up to sign into my Apple account by entering my password. I kept cancelling it.

I installed the update and the pop up ceased. I am using a MacBook Pro with the latest version of Sierra.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Krimpette — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:17:39 GMT

You guys are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I installed the update to 12.0 and the pop-up seems to have gone away! Could that particular pop-up been from Apple? I assume not! But based on suggestions, I checked for updates and there was 12.0. I don't recall seeing the normal indication for a system update. At any rate, my problem seems to be solved..........THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Allegheny — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 17:20:04 GMT

@Krimpette Whether that pop up was from Apple or not, I don't know.

I know I read about a way to go and check legit notifications that come to you, and you can adjust them, ie., turn them on or off, etc.

I thought I had changed my MacBook Pro to do automatic updates from Apple and my apps then I got the notice yesterday that an update was available.

Glad the most recent Sierra update solved your issue.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Sooner — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 17:23:52 GMT

NEVER update from a popup. There is no reason to do that. Go to the source!

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Krimpette — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 17:45:23 GMT

In thinking back, if that was, in fact, from Apple, I sure wish there was a way I could have know that they might alert users that way. I've been an Apple user for several years now and have never seen it. I even tried to Google the issue, but no luck. Now, I'll know in the future, to be sure to check for updates...even if I haven't gotten the usual notification from Apple.

Again, thanks to all who responded! Without such helpful information, I'd be lying awake at night worrying about what virus I might have unleashed somehow!!!!!

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Mz iMac — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 19:21:32 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
In thinking back, if that was, in fact, from Apple, I sure wish there was a way I could have know that they might alert users that way. I've been an Apple user for several years now and have never seen it.

@Krimpette

"Macs" have always had "notifications" to alert you to certain things ie errors, alerts, updates (Software Update), etc. Perhaps yours were off by default? I think now since the Mavericks OS, "Notifications" is "on" by default.

Software Update/Upgrades now.....

AppStore>Updates

>About This Mac>Software Update

Notifications

System Preferences>Notfications>do the necessary

Flash Updates

System Preferences>Flash>Updates>Check Now(2)

Java Updates

System Preferences>Java>Reopen the Java control panel>Update>Check for updates automaticaly=you can disable or enable this feature

Mac user since 1999.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Krimpette — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 19:58:43 GMT

@Mz iMac The "notice" that caused my post was startling, to say the least. It was a large exclamation point saying something to the effect to "UPGRADE NOW" or "UPDATE NOW". It would pop up in the middle of the screen very prominently. Nothing I've ever seen before. I never tried clicking on it. I just proceeded to do the things mentioned in my OP. Never thought to check for updates at that point.

I still haven't figured out why I didn't see the normal notice of update, as I've gotten then before, but I'm being more mindful now.

Thanks for your information!!!

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Krimpette — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:11:13 GMT

@Mz iMac Have you ever seen the type of situation I experienced with that big exclamation point in the middle of the screen? (Maybe it was some sort of a virus after all, but it went away once I did the upgrade to 12). (I wish I was as knowledgeable as you are!!!!!!)

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Mz iMac — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:12:47 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
The "notice" that caused my post was startling, to say the least. It was a large exclamation point saying something to the effect to "UPGRADE NOW" or "UPDATE NOW". It would pop up in the middle of the screen very prominently. Nothing I've ever seen before.

@Krimpette

That notice was definently not from Apple. More than likely either a scam or from a legit "3rd party app" notification. For 3rd party apps I always go into its Preferences to TURN OFF "update and/or auto update" notifications.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Krimpette — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:14:18 GMT

@Mz iMac. Thanks! Glad I didn't click on it. But it contained virtually no additional information other than what I've stated. Whew!!!!

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Mz iMac — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:18:50 GMT

@Krimpette wrote:
Have you ever seen the type of situation I experienced with that big exclamation point in the middle of the screen? (Maybe it was some sort of a virus after all, but it went away once I did the upgrade to 12). (I wish I was as knowledgeable as you are!!!!!!)

Nope! I have "protection" to avoid all that. Apparently you do not have Malwarebytes installed. It's FREE. Also follow the linked suggestions/instrucitons mentioned in my previous response.

FWIW....Currently, there are no known "viruses" in the wild that can affect Macs. Macs can pass them to a PC user.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Krimpette — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:20:56 GMT

@Mz iMac Actually, I DO have Malwarebytes installed on both my MacBook Pros. And I even run a scan periodically. I even ran the scan when I got that pop-up and it came up with nothing.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Mz iMac — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:24:46 GMT

@Krimpette

If Malwarebytes came up clean, the pop up more than likely came from one of your 3rd party apps.

Re: MacBook Pro Pop-up Question

Montana — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 22:54:46 GMT

I always do Apple updates from Settings. I just ignore any notifications that pop up.

And I do a backup before installing updates.