IOS Crash Scam Alert! – Grasp 15′
IOS Crash Scam Alert! – Grasp 15′
Ok, customers of Grasp should be fairly savvy to avoiding such scams but in the interests of being sure, we have a new nasty out there currently. iPhone and iPad users are receiving pop-up notifications telling them that their software has crashed and that they must dial a support helpline to fix it. The particular target of the scam is the Safari browser application. This is the default web browser for IOS devices. This is an issue reported in the UK now, so be careful of any pop up that request cash in return for “fixing the crash”.
The below is an example of the pop up text you might experience:
“Warning!! iOS Crash Report!!. Due to a third party application in your device, iOS is crashed. Contact Support for Immediate Fix.”
or the more innocuous:
“There is a problem with the configuration of your iOS. Please call Apple Technical Support.” Some users said the pop-up had frozen activity on their browser.”
You are encouraged to call a number upon doing so you are told that a third party app is stealing data, and requests credit card details in order to fix it. The cheeky so-and-sos even have the nerve on some occasions to answer the phone number professing to be an “IOS security official” on behalf of Apple. Rather unsurprisingly these people will hang up and cancel the call if you question their credentials. Apple has directed users to a support page that explains how to fix it. Here’s how to prevent the pop ups.
– Turn your device on to “airplane mode”, either by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and tapping the plane logo, or going to Settings and toggling Airplane Mode on.
– Delete your Safari data by going to Settings -> Safari -> Clear History and Website Data
– Open Safari and exit Airplane Mode
– To prevent the issue happening again, go to Settings -> Safari -> Block Pop-ups.
If you are concerned about your security or that you might be the victim of viral software, please give Grasp a call on the contacts page of this website. Or visit us at:
