macOS Big Sur crashing - Version 11.2.1

The best antivirus, cleaning app, and overall maintenance app for Mac OS is Mac OS itself. All you need to do with Mac OS to keep it secure and running well is to keep it up-to-date and do periodic (about 1x per week) restarts. Other than that, leave it alone. Adding third party antivirus, cleaning, security and other types of maintenance apps to Mac OS adds no additional level of security. The only thing these apps do is have the opposite affect users want. They make Mac OS slow, unstable, generate odd behavior (much like you are experiencing) and make Mac OS appear buggy.

Please locate the developers uninstall instructions for CleanMyMac and follow to the letter. Then restart in Safe Mode per the directions in Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac and then restart normally.

Notes:

1. Delete CleanMyMac immediately. and anything else "MacPaw". This might be cause of the issue. CleanMyMac might have already done too much damage.
2. Delete ipvanish, unless you really need it.

Then do the following:

• PRAM Reset: Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support
• SMC Reset: How to reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support
• First Aid: How to repair a Mac disk with Disk Utility - Apple Support
• Safe Mode: Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support. (boot up in safe mode, login, then restart into normal mode.)

Cheers,

Jack

Hi Mr Matt Lux,

I believe we need to proceed with an EtreCheck report. EtreCheck is a useful app to diagnose issues, both hardware and software. It is trusted by many users. Please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Go to the Mac App Store and search for "EtreCheck."
2. Download it. It is a free and trusted app; as it is on the Mac App Store, and only trusted apps can be submitted.
3. Run the report, and put it in a post, as seen here - https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250000211 We will then examine the report for issues in your Mac.
4. If it asks for Full Disk Access, follow the prompts to enable it.

I think that you should also run Apple Diagnostics -  Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support Please post the Reference code when done.

Please post results of both!

Cheers,

Jack

Try this guide: https://support.ipvanish.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022266233-Manual-Uninstall-of-IPVanish-App-for-MacOS-devices.

Also, to make sure you do not have malware, please get the free version of Malwarebytes for Mac and run a scan: https://www.malwarebytes.com/mac/. It is the only good anti malware for Mac.

Cheers,

Jack

..."adds no additional level of security"... well it's comment like these that make our life's less secure. I've been hacking' for the past 30 years and I can confirm to anyone a "naked" Mac isn't secure. As to a "naked" iOS, tvOS, iPadOS - we're at the same place.

When Apple clients need help, help them. There is no amount of points in this community that will make you better or right on these things. Ask a hacker. Cheers.

deijmaster wrote:

..."adds no additional level of security"... well it's comment like these that make our life's less secure. I've been hacking' for the past 30 years and I can confirm to anyone a "naked" Mac isn't secure. As to a "naked" iOS, tvOS, iPadOS - we're at the same place.

When Apple clients need help, help them. There is no amount of points in this community that will make you better or right on these things. Ask a hacker. Cheers.

• That is why there is a Firewall: Block connections to your Mac with a firewall - Apple Support.
• Built in Security: Protecting against malware in macOS - Apple Support.
• The read-only macOS System Volume: About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina - Apple Support, What is a signed system volume? - Apple Support, and https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=3xpv8r2m.
• And human common sense.

If you still feel not safe on a Mac, get Malwarebytes.

Cheers,

Jack

Absolutely Jack. Thing is, it's people like me and my team that get paid day-in-day-out to check and test similar setups, situations and solutions. I'm fine with my setup and understanding. Because I deeply understand the risks a computer has (device or software really - private or public networks) I especially know what should and shouldn't help and try my best to show clients and friends.

The last thing anyone competent should say is "Security is all good for this, just leave it as is".

Note : Every single one of my clients for the past 30 years have been shown, by my team and I, why it isn't. I certainly can't change the world, but I'll make sure to help people. Now if that bothers some, cool, I don't mind.

If you have a mac or PC protect it. Use a browser? Protect it. If you have anything online... protect them. Don't think Apple or any other company has your back by default; be responsible and knowledgeable. Cheers.

These type of people (deijmaster) are best left ignored. That's why I didn't respond.