Q: Web access spotty after 2016 security update
After installing the 2016-001 security update, Web access is hit-and-miss. Some sites only partially load, some don't load at all (including, ironically, apple.com). Access is also slower. Browser choice makes no difference—Firefox 43.0.4 (with and without extensions), Safari 9.0.3 (downloaded along with security update), or Opera.
Running OS X Mavericks 10.9.5 on early 2011 MacBook Pro. I'm writing this on another Mac that hasn't had the security update yet.
MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)
Posted on Jan 21, 2016 11:32 AM
According to a press release, "Apple has released OS X El Capitan 10.11.3 for all Mac users, the final version is said to improve the compatibility, security, and stability of OS X and contains bug fixes and security improvements for the Mac operating system. Additionally, Apple has also released security updates for Mac users running OS X Yosemite and OS X Mavericks. Apple recommends that all Mac users install the appropriate updates for their version of OS X."
So from this, I believe that this 10.11.3 update has some features (security updates) in common with those released for Mavericks (10.9).
Meanwhile, ESET knows about your issue and even has a special notification about it here:
http://support.eset.com/alert5781/
While I think you are not using 10.11.3, I suspect that the security update issue you experienced is the same as the one ESET seems to know about. They even suggest several remedies that you can consider.
Anti-virus programs have to burrow into the OS to do their thing and when the OS gets modified or updated, the results can be unpredictable. As apparently happened recently with ESET. I agree with the earlier posters who argue that such programs are not necessary on the Mac. Keep in mind also that malware and phishing programs typically work by tricking you into entering personal data and/or passwords. It's pretty hard to install anything on a modern Mac without entering an administrator's password. If you avoid doing that, or simply use your Mac from a non-administrator account, you've gone a long way towards protecting yourself.
Posted on Jan 22, 2016 10:38 PM