User profile for user: Christian_Grenier
Christian_Grenier Author
User level: Level 2
275 points

All of a sudden slow web browsing, super slow download speeds, only on one Mac Mini.

HELP! All of a sudden web browsing and download speeds take so long on my Mac. I would be able to download something of 4GB in one minute, And now a 3GB OS takes 45 minutes. Web browsing takes FOREVER. Could it be my VPN+Firewall called Windscribe? It’s a 2011 Mac Mini and I just set it up a week ago, Only 20 GB used. I have no idea what happened, what do I do? It’s using a very high speed WiFi that is lightning fast on every other device. Also YouTube videos are bad quality now. What do I do?

Mac mini, macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 10, 2020 2:07 PM

Reply
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
Community+ 2025
User level: Level 10
133,581 points

Posted on Jul 10, 2020 3:09 PM

You’ve shut off all security.


You’re also running Torrent software.


That can be problematic.


That’s one of the better ways to acquire malware, for some folks.


Cracked and torrented apps can be malware-infested; the crack isn’t the limit of the changes.


You’re short in memory and with a slow hard disk. Hard disks are slow. 5400 is slow, for a hard disk.


Various add-on VPN clients can be a security risk, not a security benefit.


I’d get a backup. Now. If you don’t already have one.


Run Apple Hardware Test, maybe DriveDx. See if the HDD is failing.


View in context

Similar questions

11 replies
Sort By: 
Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
Community+ 2025
User level: Level 10
133,581 points

Jul 10, 2020 3:09 PM in response to Christian_Grenier

You’ve shut off all security.


You’re also running Torrent software.


That can be problematic.


That’s one of the better ways to acquire malware, for some folks.


Cracked and torrented apps can be malware-infested; the crack isn’t the limit of the changes.


You’re short in memory and with a slow hard disk. Hard disks are slow. 5400 is slow, for a hard disk.


Various add-on VPN clients can be a security risk, not a security benefit.


I’d get a backup. Now. If you don’t already have one.


Run Apple Hardware Test, maybe DriveDx. See if the HDD is failing.


Reply
User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
Community+ 2025
User level: Level 10
133,581 points

Jul 10, 2020 3:59 PM in response to Christian_Grenier

If this Mac is new (to you), wipe and reload.


I’d wipe and load the newest macOS version available (Option-Command-R Recovery); that’ll be High Sierra.


The following is the intended procedure, but you’ll necessarily be skipping a few parts specific to the seller:


What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac - Apple Support


An HDD configuration is never going to be fast, and 8 GB is pretty slim by present standards.

Reply
User profile for user: Christian_Grenier
Christian_Grenier Author
User level: Level 2
275 points

Jul 10, 2020 3:30 PM in response to MrHoffman

Yeah, someone put a torrent file on the mac before I got it. I got the Mac Mini from someone. Apparently it’s the sims 4.


What I do know is that I have never disabled SIP. So Idk why it’s disabled.


I just got it a couple days ago, so why would this happen?


And isnt 8GB a lot of RAM?

Reply
User profile for user: Christian_Grenier
Christian_Grenier Author
User level: Level 2
275 points

Jul 10, 2020 4:04 PM in response to MrHoffman

It was wiped already by them but it had uTorrent on it. I deleted that app, re enabled SIP, and deleted the torrent file. They had it on Lion wiped but with uTorrent? I upgraded it to Yosemite and then HS Idk why, they said they bought it for gaming and never used it.

Reply
User profile for user: MrHoffman
MrHoffman
Community+ 2025
User level: Level 10
133,581 points

Jul 10, 2020 4:19 PM in response to Christian_Grenier

You have security disabled, add-on apps including torrents installed, and who knows what else is not default.


If you were told this was wiped, you were either lied to, or headed for a scam, or they were incompetent.


Do what you want here, of course.


And a 5400 RPM hard disk will be slow.


Unfollowing the thread, as I’m clearly not going to be moving this issue forward.

Reply
User profile for user: Christian_Grenier
Christian_Grenier Author
User level: Level 2
275 points

Jul 10, 2020 4:22 PM in response to MrHoffman

Uh okay. I got it for free because I had an ad online. It’s official apple with it’s own box. I got it from a lady for free, she gave it to me because she saw my ad, she thought it was obsolete and was going to recycle it at apple. We have been talking back and forth and I’ve been using it. It wasn’t a scam though. I re enabled SIP.


Thanks

Reply

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

All of a sudden slow web browsing, super slow download speeds, only on one Mac Mini.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up