Online tech support can be helpful for so many different reasons. If you have a big iMac or Mac Pro, it’s not the easiest thing to lug into a repair shop. Remote tech support can significantly help if your issue is minor, like the sound not working or you can’t get a particular app to open. Unfortunately, like most things on the internet, there are scammers out there waiting to exploit people who need help.
If you’re starting to see pop-ups or your browser keeps redirecting you to helpme.net, it’s a scam. Be careful and keep reading. This article will walk you through how to get rid of the pop-ups and uninstall the app from helpme.net.
| Name | Helpme.net Scam |
| Category | Potentially Unwanted Application and Scam |
| Symptoms | Excessive notifications even when the browser isn’t being used. |
| Infection method | Suspicious websites and software bundling |
| System damage | Abundance of website redirects and malicious phishing attempts |
| Removal | Manual removal |
What is Helpme.net?
Helpme.net is a malicious website that leads people to believe it provides remote technical support. What makes it a less than honest service is that after a user contacts them and pays to have an issue fixed, it typically isn’t fixed, or new problems appear.
A scam is a strong word, but it is appropriate to describe Helpme.net. It’s a service that takes advantage of users who don’t know any better.
How did the Helpme.net scam infect my Mac?
Other suspicious websites or software bundling are usually the things that trigger the initial issue. A website can enable browser notifications or website redirects to make it look like there’s a problem with your Mac. At the same time, adware that will inundate your browser with pop-ups can sneak onto your computer by being bundled with other free apps.
Is helpme.net safe?
On the surface, it might seem like Helpme.net is safe, but several reputable websites have reported otherwise. The service does use a legitimate remote app called LogMeIn to gain access to your computer. But, what their technicians do after you grant them access makes the website extremely dangerous.
How to remove Helpme.net scam from Mac
Because Helpme.net uses mostly legit software to remote into your computer, it can go undetected by almost all anti-virus apps. But there are two ways to uninstall LogMeIn and any other malicious app you might find on your Mac from Helpme.net.
Manually uninstall apps
Just follow these steps to get rid of any apps associated with Helpme.net:
- Open a new Finder window.
- Click Go > Applications.
- Select the suspicious app(s).
- Then, just drag the icons to the Trash in your dock.
Use an uninstaller
The downside to manually removing an app is that it can leave behind support and library files. The best way to guarantee an app is completely gone is to use an uninstaller tool, like the one found in CleanMyMac.
The good news is you can download CleanMyMac and try it out for free. After you have it downloaded and installed, just follow these instructions.
- Open CleanMyMac.
- Click Uninstaller in the sidebar.
- Select the suspicious app(s).
- Then, click Uninstall.
Get rid of Helpme.net scam in a web browser on Mac
After you remove any apps you’ve installed with Helpme.net, it’s important to make sure it also didn’t install any browser extensions. This is especially true if you’ve been dealing with pop-ups and browser redirects.
The downside is there isn’t one place you can check for malicious extensions. You’ll have to repeat the process in each browser you have installed. But on the bright side, it shouldn’t take you more than 10-15 minutes to get through.
Safari
- Open Safari.
- At the top, click Safari, then Preferences > Extensions.
- Select any Helpme.net extension > Uninstall.
- Go ahead and quit Safari when you’re done.
Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click Chrome > Preferences > Extensions.
- Find the Helpme.net extension, then click Remove.
- Finally, quit Chrome.
Firefox
- Open Firefox.
- Click the menu button that looks like three lines > Add-ons and themes > Extensions.
- Scroll down to the Helpme.net extension.
- Next to the extension, click … > Remove.
- Now, you can quit Firefox.
After you’ve uninstalled the suspicious apps and gotten rid of the browser extensions, you should go ahead and restart your entire Mac. It gives all your software a chance to shut down and start fresh again.
How to prevent installing PUAs, adware, and browser hijackers
Since potentially unwanted apps and adware are usually sneaky about how they infect your Mac, you might not know you have malicious software lurking on your hard drive. That’s why it’s a good idea to scan for these types of exploits regularly. Again, you can download the app CleanMyMac to help with this.
Once you have it downloaded and opened, all you have to do is:
- Click Malware Removal.
- Then, select the Scan button.
- When the scan is complete, it will show you what it found and remove it.
It’s super easy and only takes about 5-10 minutes, making it even easier to run one every week.
You don’t have to be a tech-savvy person to practice tech security. Don’t give anyone or any app permission to your computer if the source is not 100% trustworthy. When in doubt, you can always turn to Apple.com to help you find an authorized support center that can help you with your Mac.
