NEW YORK, NY (WOWO) Cybersecurity experts are alerting Mac users to a new scam disguised as storage help on Google.
According to Guardio, hackers are purchasing sponsored Google ads that appear when users search for ways to free up space on their Mac computers. These ads often link to fake Apple Support pages or seemingly reputable sites such as Grammarly, Medium, or Kimi.
Once on these pages, users are instructed to copy code into their Mac’s terminal. Guardio warns that following these instructions installs “infostealer” malware that can harvest passwords, digital wallets, and other sensitive data without the user’s knowledge.
While Google invests heavily in ad safety, scammers continue to bypass security measures. Experts advise skipping sponsored ads and either navigating directly to Apple’s official support site or seeking help from trusted tech services such as Best Buy’s Geek Squad.
This scam highlights the broader risk of relying on sponsored search results, which can often be the first step in exposing devices to malware. Mac users are encouraged to stay cautious and verify any tech instructions through official or well-known sources.
2 comments
…i think i speak for most iMac users when i say, 😞.
Maybe i’m going out on a limb, here, but these ppl may be the ‘type’ that you’d never allow root shell access!
If you are your Mac or Linux System Administrator, you can find out how to protect your Users by limiting their SuperUser access, or determine if this is right for you.
This Comment section will not let me post the commands, but you can research this with your WWW browser.
Search for “How to restrict Users from sudo su in MacOS”.
As an Admin, it is up to you to protect everyone from these scams. Thru either education or restriction, security ought to be the main goal.