HT202731: Using Apple Diagnostics

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carlosmgomezh

Q: macbook seizing up

my macbook is slow.

 

On the internet multiple "clean your mac" or "become a millionaire" type pages spring up, all unsolicited

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on May 2, 2015 4:45 AM

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Q: macbook seizing up

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  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 2, 2015 4:55 AM in response to carlosmgomezh
    Level 9 (52,516 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 2, 2015 4:55 AM in response to carlosmgomezh

    Regarding the ad popups. use AdwareMedic:

     

    http://www.adwaremedic.com/index.php

     

    If no success, use these Apple instructions which are much more complicated:

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203987

     

    Ciao.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 2, 2015 6:47 AM in response to carlosmgomezh
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    May 2, 2015 6:47 AM in response to carlosmgomezh

    There is no need to download anything to solve this problem.

    You may have installed one or more of the common types of ad-injection malware. Follow the instructions on this Apple Support page to remove it. It's been reported that some variants of the "VSearch" malware block access to the page. If that happens, start in safe mode by holding down the shift key at the startup chime, then try again.

    Back up all data before making any changes.

    One of the steps in the article is to remove malicious Safari extensions. Do the equivalent in the Chrome and Firefox browsers, if you use either of those. If Safari crashes on launch, skip that step and come back to it after you've done everything else.

    If you don't find any of the files or extensions listed, or if removing them doesn't stop the ad injection, ask for further instructions.

    Make sure you don't repeat the mistake that led you to install the malware. It may have come from an Internet cesspit such as "Softonic" or "CNET Download." Never visit either of those sites again. You might also have downloaded it from an ad in a page on some other site. The ad would probably have included a large green button labeled "Download" or "Download Now" in white letters. The button is designed to confuse people who intend to download something else on the same page. If you ever download a file that isn't obviously what you expected, delete it immediately.

    Malware is also found on websites that traffic in pirated content such as video. If you, or anyone else who uses the computer, visit such sites and follow prompts to install software, you can expect more of the same, and worse, to follow. Never install any software that you downloaded from a bittorrent, or that was downloaded by someone else from an unknown source.

    In the Security & Privacy pane of System Preferences, select the General tab. The radio button marked Anywhere  should not be selected. If it is, click the lock icon to unlock the settings, then select one of the other buttons. After that, don't ignore a warning that you are about to run or install an application from an unknown developer.

    Still in System Preferences, open the App Store or Software Update pane and check the box marked

              Install system data files and security updates (OS X 10.10 or later)

    or

              Download updates automatically (OS X 10.9 or earlier)

    if it's not already checked.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 2, 2015 7:20 AM in response to carlosmgomezh
    Level 9 (52,516 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 2, 2015 7:20 AM in response to carlosmgomezh

    I would suggest that you DO download AdwareMedic. It is a very quick download and when opened will run very quickly. Suggesting that a download is more complicated or will take longer than following the multistep procedure advocated by Linc Davis should be viewed as an erroneous inference. If I may point out, I already referenced that option as a secondary one.

     

    Unlike Linc Davis' narrowly focused suggestion and my secondary option), AdwareMedic is designed to identify numerous possible problem makers. Therefore it will not be only easier to use but the chances for a successful resolution are much improved. In addition, the complicated procedures advocated by Linc Davis, by comparison, invites the possibility of unnecessary errors and mistakes.

     

    May I also mention that AdwareMedic is used by many Apple technicians in many genius bars in lieu of the Apple support article procedures. It has also been recommended by Apple telephone support.

     

    So keep it fast and simple, use AdwareMedic. If there is no success, then by all means try the cumbersome procedure posted by Linc Davis. But the chances are that you will not need to.

     

    This post is not under copyright and can be used in part or whole without attribution.

     

    Ciao.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 2, 2015 7:36 AM in response to carlosmgomezh
    Level 10 (208,000 points)
    Applications
    May 2, 2015 7:36 AM in response to carlosmgomezh

    Any time an anonymous stranger, who doesn't represent Apple and is completely unaccountable for his actions, tells you to ignore the instructions of Apple Support and instead run unknown software of his choice, you should regard that advice with the utmost suspicion. Do you have any reason to trust the stranger, or the software? I wouldn't.

    Trusting strangers and software without a good reason is the mistake that caused the problem in the first place. If you keep making that mistake, you'll be victimized over and over again by Internet criminals, and neither "adwaremedic" nor anything else will save you from the consequences—which may be much worse next time than just seeing ads in a web browser.

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE May 2, 2015 7:43 AM in response to carlosmgomezh
    Level 9 (52,516 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 2, 2015 7:43 AM in response to carlosmgomezh

    If some one is actively discouraging you from using a third party application that may well solve your problem, it should arouse questions on your part. To be sure there may be more than one solution, but should not that be presented as such rather than telling you to use an already proposed alternative.

     

    Your best interests are not being well served and it certainly raises questions as to the motives involved in such an action.. Ask Linc Davis if he has ever used AdwareMedic or tested it. If so, then if there are dangers associated with it, should he not disclose those? Silence on his part regarding this aspect indicates that he has not done so, or if he has then there are other reasons for his discouraging one to use AdwareMedic.

     

    If third party applications are to be treated with great suspicion, why does Linc Davis on many occasions recommend third party applications in solving a users problem? Is he the only person who knows what applications are good and which may be bad?

     

    Note that Linc Davis is just as much as I am at being anonymous and note that he is being inaccurate that I am telling you to ignore the Apple support article. I clearly state that it should be used if AdwareMedic does not solve the problem.

     

    If you search these forums you will find that many, many users have used it with success and have been grateful for the advice. I have used AdwareMedic with excellent results and I fully endorse it.

     

    If his argument were brought to its logical conclusion, all responses, including his, would have to be challenged by an OP. Naturally a scenario such as that would make these forums totally unworkable. We do not and never will live in a perfect world, but In essence this is an argument looking for a problem that does not exist.

     

    One is entitled to express ones thoughts on these subjects, but opinions do not by definition always equate to facts.

     

    Ciao.