You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Notification settings have a suspicious item on macOS Sonoma

After upgrading to Sonoma, 2 of our Mac OS devices (2019 MacBook Pro and 2019 iMac) in our small business acquired a new ( different from each other) element in their respective Notifications section of System Settings.

Both devices are running Sonoma 14.1.2 and Intego Net Barrier and Virus Protection. Full-disk virus screen quarantined some files but issue is still present. The iMac with "SYSTEM NOTIFICATION" was popping up McAfee and Norton banners until I "turned off notifications".

I enclose the screen shots: what's happening?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac Pro (2019)

Posted on Dec 4, 2023 5:50 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 4, 2023 6:55 PM

logicrules wrote:

After upgrading to Sonoma, 2 of our Mac OS devices (2019 MacBook Pro and 2019 iMac) in our small business acquired a new ( different from each other) element in their respective Notifications section of System Settings.
Both devices are running Sonoma 14.1.2 and Intego Net Barrier and Virus Protection. Full-disk virus screen quarantined some files but issue is still present. The iMac with "SYSTEM NOTIFICATION" was popping up McAfee and Norton banners until I "turned off notifications".


<Intego Net Barrier and Virus Protection>


Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/Anti-Virus/VPN

all known to cause issues on the macOS


Third party AntiVirus is not recommended— it typically does nothing but add issues to the macOS and competes directly with Apple’s own built in security:


macOS - Security - Apple macOS - Security - Apple

Apple Platform Security - Apple Apple Platform Security - Apple Support





Stop Unwanted Notifications

Stop unwanted Notifications - Apple Community


About those "<app> will damage your computer" messages

About those "&lt;app&gt; will damage your… - Apple Community




2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 4, 2023 6:55 PM in response to logicrules

logicrules wrote:

After upgrading to Sonoma, 2 of our Mac OS devices (2019 MacBook Pro and 2019 iMac) in our small business acquired a new ( different from each other) element in their respective Notifications section of System Settings.
Both devices are running Sonoma 14.1.2 and Intego Net Barrier and Virus Protection. Full-disk virus screen quarantined some files but issue is still present. The iMac with "SYSTEM NOTIFICATION" was popping up McAfee and Norton banners until I "turned off notifications".


<Intego Net Barrier and Virus Protection>


Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/Anti-Virus/VPN

all known to cause issues on the macOS


Third party AntiVirus is not recommended— it typically does nothing but add issues to the macOS and competes directly with Apple’s own built in security:


macOS - Security - Apple macOS - Security - Apple

Apple Platform Security - Apple Apple Platform Security - Apple Support





Stop Unwanted Notifications

Stop unwanted Notifications - Apple Community


About those "<app> will damage your computer" messages

About those "&lt;app&gt; will damage your… - Apple Community




Dec 4, 2023 7:49 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks leroydouglas.

I was somewhat skeptical when started to read your response. The only Cleaners/Optimizers/Anti-Virus/VPN app we have is the Intego VirusBarrier, also available in the App Store, and it finds a new malware definition almost every day. And 8 other computers are doing just fine with that.


Then bingo, the "Stop Unwanted Notifications" link did the miracle. All nonsense is gone — just by better managing Safari. Can't believe it was that easy.

Thank you, most appreciated!!

Notification settings have a suspicious item on macOS Sonoma

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