"Your network settings have been changed by another application"

I read somewhere that this message is due to the new way of saving the PPP connection password after the security update is applied. It will occur, only if you have one or more, saved network configurations that includes PPP connection setup.

This is how I got rid of the problem without deleting any of my network locations or any preference files:

1. Log in using an admin account.
2. Open the Security Preference Window
3. Check "Require Password to unlock each secure system preference" to get temporarily rid of the annoying message (at the expense of typing in the admin password whenever settings are changed).
4. Open the PPP network connection (Network Window)
5. Uncheck "Save Password" in the PPP-Pane
6. Type your password into the approriate field
7. Recheck "Save Password" in the PPP-Pane
8. Repeat this for all your PPP network connections
9. Open the Security Preference Pane and uncheck "Require Password to unlock each secure system preference"

HEY! This one worked.

Although I don't really understand the PPP network connection (network Window)

Im using 10.4.11 and then I just clicked the "Click the lock to prevent further changes"... and entered my password, then went back to security preference window and unchecked "require password..."

I don't really get the uncheck save password in the PPP-Pane.. is that for the PPPOE? In this case, if it is right, then this is for the people that use automatic configuration and not PPPOE 🙂

But either way, the suggestion by Thomas Sattelmayer worked. Thanks 🙂

Never mind. Went back..

FROM THE POST EJ was referring to: (For those people who have clicked on endless links to NO avail, and are tired of opening another one)

From Jona:

"This currently reported problem, which manifests after applying Security Update 2008-06, can be fixed permanently by removing the following preferences files:

Go to Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and delete the following (suggest make copies to the desktop first if in doubt):

com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
NetworkInterfaces.plist
preferences.plist
com.apple.nat.plist

All these files will regenerate as necessary when the associated system features are accessed. If you're using Airport or Internet Sharing you'll have to reestablish the appropriate settings, because these will have been lost when the preferences files are removed. Small price to pay, however for a permanent, and very simple solution to this irritating problem."

IT WORKS. I did it and its working.

Although Try to write down on textedit or on a piece of paper your network preferences. Because everything will be erased. this is the unfortunate consequence of THE SOLUTION.

I have five locations, so I needed to write it down, plus I had bluetooth settings for my nokia e90 to connect to the internet if wifi wasn't available. I also had ethernet settings for my PPPoe internet service, I had automatic wireless settings for my router.. etc.etc..

So you gotta write it down 🙂

-edrix

Message was edited by: edrixc

I had this same problem on a user's machine. I think it was caused by a Firefox update but it's hard to know. There may have been a Mac OS X security update as well. Regardless, the fix was rather easy if you only have a few locations.

Simply use the "two-handed" technique described elsewhere to get into the Locations list from the Network preference pane. Then duplicate each of the Locations you need and delete all your old Locations, so that the only ones left are the duplicates you just made.

Problem solved, at least in my case.

Hello,

It works... but not for standard users, only for Admin. I got the same issue, fixed it as listed and I can use Safari again under my admin account, but my wife, who cannot administer machine still have the same problem.

So, this is solved only in half 😟

PS. I got the same problems at work (where I also work on Macs) -- admin is fixed, my standard user account -- not.

I used the following solution and have had a positive result. BTW, I'm using my Airport to connect to the network. Open your Network prefs panel, and using the "two handed approach" in under the Airport tab, click the Options button. This brings up a dialog box for Airport settings. Now click the Restore Defaults. Problem goes away.

I'm having the same problems with my mother's iMac, running 10.4.11. Removing the items in SystemConfiguration and restarting was successful in re-enabling internet access (it had cut out), but the same annoying looping message in Network remains.

Hoping that Apple issues some sort of fix for this bug.

I just experience the same problem on an iMac PPC 10.4.11 machine with all the latest updates, using wired/ethernet.

It works perfectly until I plug my MBP (10.5.5 machine with all the latest updates) into the ethernet network. If I connect my MBP wirelessly, the iMac works fine.

Very odd... so for now I'm connecting wirelessly and copying some large files very slowly 🙂

This one worked for me, so far. I haven't connected up to all the wireless networks I usually habitate (airport (for flying out of), work, etc.), but fixed the problem at home, anyway.

Like the rest,all of a sudden (well who knows how long since i just had a network hiccup, I got the infinite loop. EricXC solution, while draconian, solved the problem so that I could get back to other fun issues.. THANK!!!!

maybe some company should be less $$ on advertising and more on issuing good patches

I thought deleting the preference settings files was a bit drastic, so I used the 'Return and click' method to get to the location editing stage and then duplicated every location and deleted the originals. So far so good....

PS: Must remember to NOT install new upgrades until the dust has settled and any new bugs introduced have been found and ironed out!

I have had the same problem, although I'm not sure when it began (recently). I also discovered the Apple Firewall had been turned off and can't be turned on again because supposedly another firewall is in use (not that I know of). My connection keeps dropping, although, oddly, e-mail will work while the browser won't, or IM will and e-mail won't. Help . . .

I was having the same problem with the looping pop-up message "Your network settings have been changed by another application" until I just hit the enter button for "OK" and then immediately afterward clicked the padlock shut with a mouse click before the pop-up message could appear again. Everything working fine now 🙂

Michael Neely's solution I think is the superior one. I tried it and the problem is gone. I was also able to adjust the IP addresses on my unit against my router to solve a problem of no more than one Mac on my wifi network at a time.