FIPS Integrity test failed

This seems to have been a problem in the past, related to upgrades to 10.10. This problem may or not be related.

I solved it for myself this way, though I do not entirely know the consequences of the 'fix' or problem:

• Boot holding command-S for single user mode
• Remount the root filesystem read-write: /sbin/mount -uw /
• move the /var directory out of the way: mv /var /varold
• re-create the symlink to the correct var folder: ln -s /private/var /var

It looks like an Apple update or something else accidently broke their symlink of /var to the non-standard /private/var folder. Putting it back fixes the boot. I do not have any knowledge of the consequence of ignoring the existence of the files that were created (today) in the "fake" /var folder.. do at your own risk!

If you want to try, this might help:

https://saputra.org/threads/create-a-new-mac-administrator-account-using-single-user-mode.39/

But if the problem is caused by a virus, the problem can occur again

I am now trying to do the system reinstall to my old MacMini which has no important data

Have a look that this apple discussion https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7318567

This seems to be a big problem, maybe a virus. I had this first on saturday happening to my MacBook Pro 2015, then it happened on today to my MacMini and seems to be happening to my older MacBook 2011. Symptoms are these:

1) Internet connection stops working

2) while you try to trouble shoot, you will see your Admin account does not work any more

3) You try to open up terminal only to find out it does not work

4) You try to reboot and then you will see you mac won't boot up any more, you will get the text

OSX FIPS Ingtegrity Test: The /var/db/FIPS/fips_data file does not exist (2)

FIPS USER Space POST: Integrity test failed!

FIPS_POST failed!

<Emergency>: Boot task failed: fips

<Emergency>: Shutting down in 3 seconds.

And your mac is gone.

I am still keeping my old MacBook Pro up as I don't want to shut it down.

I was able to save my data to an external hard disk but we do need a solution!

I just noticed this exact same thing happening to my MacBook Pro earlier this afternoon. It wouldn't recognize wifi, and when I selected to restart, it wouldn't load past the initial loading bar, and crashed halfway through loading. It still won't boot, and I've run all the tests I can think of, diagnostics, and utilities come back fine. Is there any ideas about what might be causing this? And how recently have these problems been occurring for people?

Hello mathuser,

thanks for the tip.

This might work for us to get ours Macs temporarily back, but the problem is that the old iLok which has been installed on our computers, and it definitely will break the Macs down again as long as the Macs are connected to the internet - as long as we are not informed which are the system files which must be deleted from our Macs.

The reason why I am seeing it on all of my Macs is naturally because I have always upgraded the OS X starting from 10.1with a G3 and when I had a "new" Mac I always migrated the data. So I really don't know which piece of software is really using the iLok system but it is currently present on all my Macs.

And really, while I connected my MacBook Retina and my old MacBook Pro non-retina with Thunderbolt to save the data, this was not a virus which spreads around when connected to other Macs. My old MacMini had no connection with those two laptops and started to suffer from the same problem later. So this iLok problem is definitely coming from the Internet connection.

[Edited by Moderator]

It looks like it's Google Chrome:

https://mrmacintosh.com/google-chrome-keystone-is-modifying-var-symlink-on-non-sip-macs-causing-boot-issues/

https://apple.slashdot.org/story/19/09/24/2039236/mysterious-avid-issue-knocks-out-mac-pro-workstations-across-hollywood

I don't know if I should cry or laugh at this issue.

Really, Google is preventing Macs to boot if the Macs are having the SIP disabled?

Yes, I do have SIP turned off because I do think I have the right to control my own computer.

This is unbelievable!!!!!!!!!

And to make it sure: the 3 Macs of our family have been made useless.

The only reason I can even read about this thing and comment on it is that I have my employer's laptop available with Windows 10.

Yes, I have iPod and iPhone but really, typing more with them is a pain.

I have used Macs since 1987 starting from a Mac Plus without a hard disk, and I never ever imagined there would be a situation like we have right now where all your Macs are made useless!!!!!

Still not being able to test this... let's see.

But there are also reprorts that the problem hits also SIP Macs, see comments on https://mrmacintosh.com/google-chrome-keystone-is-modifying-var-symlink-on-non-sip-macs-causing-boot-issues/

I should point out now.. It looks like the steps I outlined above are not the entire story. There is more to do to the /var directory to restore it to the previous state (have it protected by SIP again, etc..).

It is best if one reads the link I posted, about this problem, and actually follows the instructions and discussion there.

https://mrmacintosh.com/google-chrome-keystone-is-modifying-var-symlink-on-non-sip-macs-causing-boot-issues/

Telling someone to just reinstall their is isn’t helpful.

I just got this same error after rebooting my MacBook.

you can thank google for that. go to the link posted 3 replies above, it shows you how to fix it. I would even recommend uninstalling google chrome and anything associated with its updater "ksfetch"