Clicking on Finder restarts iMac

This is a very weird behavior that my Mac has since Monterrey launched. From time to time, when I'm performing any task on any program and suddenly I click in the finder (to drag or open a file, for example), my mac immediately restarts.

I have cleaned my mac with almost all maintenance clean apps, reset the pram, the smc, etc, but this situation has plagued me for the last 2 years... there's a way to avoid that sudden restart?


I'm using a 2019 4k retina imac with Ventura 13.5, 32G RAM

iMac 21.5″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Jul 25, 2023 3:18 AM

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Posted on Jul 25, 2023 12:11 PM

First, there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  


There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   


Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.


There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  


So, as you've already been informed, you should uninstall any app falling in the categories above according to their developer's instructions.


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Question marked as Best reply

Jul 25, 2023 12:11 PM in response to chombeaux

First, there is no reason to ever install or run any 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus, VPN or security apps on your Mac.  This documents describe what you need to know and do in order to protect your Mac: Effective defenses against malware and other threats - Apple Community and Recognize and avoid phishing messages, phony support calls, and other scams - Apple Support.  


There are no known viruses, i.e. self propagating, for Macs.  There are, however, adware and malware which require the user to install although unwittingly most of the time thru sneaky links, etc.   


Anti Virus developers try to group all types as viruses into their ad campaigns of fear.  They do a poor job of the detecting and isolating the adware and malware.  Since there are no viruses these apps use up a lot of system resources searching for what is non-existent and adversely affect system and app performance.


There is one app, Malwarebytes, which was developed by a long time contributor to these forums and a highly respected member of the computer security community, that is designed solely to seek out adware and known malware and remove it.  The free version is more than adequate for most users.  


So, as you've already been informed, you should uninstall any app falling in the categories above according to their developer's instructions.


Clicking on Finder restarts iMac

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