I was just using my mac, and I noticed that a login item/background item automatically added itself to the list. What is Google LLC? Is this something I should be worried about?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
This happened to me too. It added itself without any action on my part, and without any Google crud open, to my knowledge. How can I determine what added it, so that I can remove it with prejudice?
Update:
Ran `sfltool dumpbtm`
#3:
UUID: E3C582DB-F60F-43FA-9A38-2325000511D8
Name: GoogleUpdater
Developer Name: Google LLC
Team Identifier: EQHXZ8M8AV
Type: legacy agent (0x10008)
Disposition: [enabled, disallowed, visible, notified] (9)
Identifier: com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake
URL: file:///Users/<snip>/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake.plist
Executable Path: /Users/<snip>/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/Current/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater
Generation: 2
Parent Identifier: Google LLC
Update 2:
Contents of `com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake.plist` show it's Google Chrome related:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>AbandonProcessGroup</key>
<true/>
<key>Label</key>
<string>com.google.GoogleUpdater.wake</string>
<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
<string>Aqua</string>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/Users/<snip>/Library/Application Support/Google/GoogleUpdater/Current/GoogleUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleUpdater</string>
<string>--wake-all</string>
<string>--enable-logging</string>
<string>--vmodule=*/components/update_client/*=2,*/chrome/updater/*=2</string>
</array>
<key>StartInterval</key>
<integer>3600</integer>
</dict>
</plist>
Still not sure how it got installed when I've got Google background services disabled.
If you delete the files, Google will just replace them and automatically enable them, not unlike malware. I've removed read/write permissions to the files. Untested in the long run, but should render them inoperable and unreplaceable:
chmod 000 ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.google.*
Malwarebytes? Interesting. I do have Malwarebytes installed. Perhaps that is the culprit.
Malwarebytes also installs two of its own Login Items:
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes Corporation
That means Malwarebytes ends up installing four Login Items (at least!).
The moment you installed any Google software, you HAD to provide your passport, hence you provided them the permission. Another question is, of course, why macOS allowed the software to automatically add itself to the background allowance list without your specific consent? Every single software I use which requires background activity asks me for permission BEFORE the fact!
Well, apparently this is a general issue with a lot of Mac user, so it's not an issue related only to the OP's Mac, so I don't see why everyone should start a separate thread about the same general issue.
The fact of the matter is that Google installed a new login item without the user's specific consent and macOS allowed Google to do that. THIS is the real issue.
Claiming that you gave your consent to this whenever you installed a Google software in the past is nonsense, since this new item was NOT part of the contract back then. So basically Google unilaterally modified the contract, which makes it void.
Moreover, I specifically disallow every single background activity and every single automatic update feature for anything I don't deem important. So, this item was not only installed without my specific consent, it was installed against my specific prohibition (ie. disabling automatic updates).
So, I think that instead of trying to make this a "no biggie" and passing the blame to the user, we should really ask the question WHY macOS even allowed this to happen! On this premise, any other software company could just do whatever they wanted on your Mac and Apple would allow it!
I hope you get my point.
To be fair, I noticed a notification banner about this item being added after Chrome updated. It could be easy to miss, though it did appear even despite the DnD mode.
I believe Google would prefer the browser to constantly auto-update for many reasons, including good (0day fixes) and probably not-so-good reasons (various new tracking tech and whatnot, I imagine). It’s understandable that many power users would dislike this, of course…
I just want to know if this is allowing Google to track me in ways I may not want or doing something else vaguely nefarious.
I have the option of turning it off in "Login Items" but I don't know if that will affect the functionality of Chrome - unfortunately, I have to have Chrome for one particular application that won't work on Firefox or Safari, but I won't use it for anything else.
I have never "installed Google," nor would I, and still have had this added.
This is getting even more interesting :)
So you are saying you have no Google software whatsoever installed on your Mac, and this login item was still added???
If this is the case, then this implies this was actually added by Apple, which would be outrageous!
Quid pro quo.
Of course, there has always been some level of cooperation & communication between the two ... consider the development of standards for network communications as an example. But this appears to be a new twist.
anyone have more concrete info on this?
I'm seeing such drastic mixed things from; its just google doing its thing, to its a possible virus. Which is very conflicting and concerning.
Is it important? Can it just be deleted? If so how?
Where even is it installed on mac? the only place I see it is in login items, under, "allow in background."
anyone with concrete info would be much appreciated.
Issue with MacBook Reboot: "Google LLC" Login Screen
Hello,
I purchased a second-hand MacBook a few years ago and it has been working well. Recently, I attempted to reset the MacBook to its factory settings, but I encountered a problem. After rebooting, instead of the usual Apple logo, a login screen with "Google LLC" appears. As a result, I can't access macOS or any system preferences, and the device is essentially unusable.
From what I’ve gathered, it seems the previous owner might have set up Google MDM (Mobile Device Management). I’m seeking advice on how to resolve this issue.
What I’ve Tried:
If anyone has experience with this issue or knows how to fix it, your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Wendylash wrote:
what is google LLC
Youtube is also owned by them. You search in Safari through it....and so on...
When you say we installed "google", are you referring to google chrome?
You do not have to use Google to search. In Safari's settings, go to the "Search" tab.
What exactly does "uninstall Google" mean? You can uninstall Chrome. You can uninstall Google Drive, Google Earth, etc.. But, as far as I know, there is no way to "uninstall Google".
Youtube is not owned by Google. Meta (Facebook) now owns Youtube.
Brian Teaman wrote:
Youtube is not owned by Google. Meta (Facebook) now owns Youtube.
Also fascinating.
I am constantly amazed by what can be learned from this site.
Google LLC Running in Background on Mac
