mtclemons

Q: PrivilegedHelperTools, LaunchAgents & LaunchDaemons

Should I delete all PrivilegedHelperTools, LaunchAgents & LaunchDaemons? Or are there any that are not a threat and necessary? Such as starting with com.adobe, com.apple, and com.google? Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 12, 2016 12:48 PM

Close

Q: PrivilegedHelperTools, LaunchAgents & LaunchDaemons

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by pinkstones,

    pinkstones pinkstones Feb 12, 2016 12:54 PM in response to mtclemons
    Level 5 (4,209 points)
    Safari
    Feb 12, 2016 12:54 PM in response to mtclemons

    Don't delete anything unless you're told to specifically delete it because it's malware/adware.  Can you take a screenshot of your LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons folders so we can see what's in there? 

  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 12, 2016 1:04 PM in response to mtclemons
    Level 5 (7,552 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 12, 2016 1:04 PM in response to mtclemons

    You should not delete these items they sound like they could be core parts of the OS that you have no business deleting.

    If you could delete them (the OS could prevent that mistake) you may find the Mac may not boot.

    The third party jobs (Google, Adobe…) probably help the installed apps stay up to date - this is crucial for security.

     

    If you have an issue, please explain the symptoms.

    If you want to show what is running on your Mac post the output of Etrecheck…

    http://etresoft.com/

     

    It will list third party background jobs & some Apple jobs too, check it for personal info if you post it's output here, it does try to remove personal info.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 12, 2016 1:22 PM in response to mtclemons
    Level 10 (207,978 points)
    Applications
    Feb 12, 2016 1:22 PM in response to mtclemons

    If you're referring to the problem you asked about in the other thread you started today, there's no reason to delete anything. To be safe from malware, just don't run unknown software that you don't need, merely because some stranger on a website tells you to.

  • by pinkstones,

    pinkstones pinkstones Feb 12, 2016 1:27 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 5 (4,209 points)
    Safari
    Feb 12, 2016 1:27 PM in response to Linc Davis

    You're a stranger on a website too.  Does that mean people shouldn't take the advice YOU offer?  I mean, for all they know, you're sending them on a wild goose chase.  They don't know you from a hole in the wall. 

     

    I think the intelligent thing people should do is assume that if we're posting here helping people, we're not telling them to do something they shouldn't or something that will harm their computers.  Why would you lie about people like that, people you don't even know? 

  • by mtclemons,

    mtclemons mtclemons Feb 12, 2016 1:39 PM in response to mtclemons
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Feb 12, 2016 1:39 PM in response to mtclemons

    I Followed this article which seemed helpful. Stop pop-up ads and adware in Safari - Apple Support

     

    I did find some Genieo related items (not many) and delated them. But the place I found all but one was in HD>Incompatible Software, which was not mentioned in the article, I just happened to look in that folder.

  • by Linc Davis,Helpful

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Feb 12, 2016 2:18 PM in response to mtclemons
    Level 10 (207,978 points)
    Applications
    Feb 12, 2016 2:18 PM in response to mtclemons

    Incompatible Software

    You can delete that whole folder.

  • by Drew Reece,Helpful

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Feb 12, 2016 2:18 PM in response to mtclemons
    Level 5 (7,552 points)
    Notebooks
    Feb 12, 2016 2:18 PM in response to mtclemons

    See Apple's note on that…

    About incompatible software on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    It means you had installed that junk before you upgraded.

     

    Linc's advice is true, strangers on the internet may not be friendly, it also includes the commands he posts here to help others - it's a difficult balance to manage.

     

    If you want 'safe' help take your Mac to an Apple store, you seem to be installing malicious software on multiple occasions, so it might be time for a check up.