EtreCheck Pro gives my MacBook Air a "good" rating instead of "Excellent"

georgefromjohannesburg wrote:

I suspect I had to disable my Firewall for some reason and forgot to enable it again.

Firewalls are always irrelevant for end users.

However I'd appreciate you're explaining "/etc/hosts file" as I neither know what these are nor how to find them.

The /etc/hosts file doesn’t edit itself. Here are instructions for resetting it: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-8091

Your Adobe software will likely stop working after you do this.

My ISP provider has a current offer of a subscription to Kaspersky. Would you recommend this or do you feel that all the Apple "defences" which I have again activated sufficient?

Your EtreCheck report did not report that you had disabled any Apple security. Perhaps you are referring to the firewall. The firewall is, as always, irrelevant.

georgefromjohannesburg wrote:

About a month ago before I updated to Big Sur, my computer started over-heating frequently (not all the time) and EtreCheck only gives me a "good" rating. I have pasted the latest EtreCheckPro report. I would really appreciate some help with this. A friend suspects I have malware. Thank you so much.

You are running an ancient version of EtreCheckPro. Please do not run such an old version, especially on a brand new operating system. The current version of EtreCheckPro is 6.3.5.

georgefromjohannesburg wrote:

In the interim having tried to implement some of the solutions suggested in the new version EntreCheck report I seem to have made the situation worse. I would so appreciate your help.

The only solution that EtreCheck is likely to recommend is to review your installed software. The only change that I've seen is that you tried to manually delete part of your Wacom driver. I can assure you that your EtreCheck solution did not say to do that. In fact, it says the exact opposite.

The only way to remove these files is with official uninstallers or uninstallation instructions provided directly by the developer. Never use an “app zapper” or “clean up” tool to uninstall software. Never try to manually delete files in these hidden directories by hand. Do not use EtreCheck’s “Remove” buttons either. Those are only designed for adware and malware.

I know what the likely cause it, but diplomacy prevents me from saying what it is. I suggest you closely review your use of Adobe software, your /etc/hosts file, and your BitTorrent software.

Here is one easy observation.

Apparently you recently installed Adobe Flash Player. Note the following from Wikipedia:

Check out the "Minor Issues" enumerated in your report. Especially remove your 32 bit apps as they are useless.

Your report appears to be empty.