System preferences missing

So keep getting this pop up about optical updater virus. And online it says to remove it I have to go to my system preferences only to find out that those are now missing. Can anybody help me? This is for a iMac.

iMac 27″, macOS 14.2

Posted on Dec 21, 2023 8:56 AM

Similar questions

How to get rid of pop ups in my iMac? There have been a lot of these threads, but I have yet to see a solution. I saw some suggestions to delete /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist and reboot, but I cannot find this file in Finder. I have a iMac Retina 5K 27" 2017 running Ventura 13.6.9. All of my OS software has been updated (there are zero updates noted in the software update in Settings). Has anyone figured out how to get rid of this stupid pop-up? It's been haunting me for about a month now. My computer is always on and plugged in so if it was a real update, it could auto-run like all the others. [Re-Titled by Moderator]
733 10
How do I stop 'Malware Blocked' pop-up (PT.updd) from repeatedly appearing on Mac? UPDATE: i went to the activity monitor, alphabetised all files and found ander PT.updd file. managed to delete it. Seems to have done the trick! I was here: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/PT.updd Hi! Since this morning the same pop up (see photo) keeps popping up. Malware blocked. PT.updd was not opened because it contains malware. Very annoying. After reading up in the community I looked at ~/Library/LaunchAgents /Library/LaunchDaemons /Library/LaunchAgents And deleted a PT.updd file, as well as some other weird files. I thought that would do it. But no. I also emptied the trash and restarted my computer. I don’t have popcorn time installed. Now I am at a loss for what to do next. I will be so grateful for some help, I have to give an important presentation later today and this is making me quite nervous and distracted. Thanks! Barbara [Re-Titled by Moderator]
2485 2
“ElementaryTypefld” will damage your computer popup keeps showing up and I cannot remove it from my Mac. What should I remove? A pop up titled "“ElementaryTypefld” will damage your computer. This file was downloaded on an unknown date." continuously pops on on my Mac's screen and I cannot remove it no matter how many times I click okay or show in finder. Below is an image of the popup, my Launch Agents Screen, Launch Daemons Screen and my second Launch Agents Screen. Does anything look like it needs to be deleted? I am on Mac OS Big Sur Version 11.7.6
4397 6

3 replies

Dec 22, 2023 4:12 AM in response to amber_byard78

Try a restart. If that fails, try a safe start by holding down the Shift key upon starting. Once into safe mode, let it sit for a couple of minutes then restart normally and retest.

You have no virus ... that a scam you should ignore. Stay away from the malicious site.

Dec 22, 2023 7:48 AM in response to amber_byard78

sorry if this is over simplified, but as of Ventura, system preferences is now called system settings. are you saying you have no system settings?

Ronasara

Level 6

15,575 points

Dec 22, 2023 8:35 AM in response to jeffreythefrog

Good point. I would add that the app , being part go the Mac's operating system, cannot b deleted. It can be found in the Applications folder.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

System preferences missing