Need help with Kernel Panic Report

I'm going out on a limb to says that your kernel panics may disappear when you get rid of the fearware. As Norton and AVG are trying to to the same thing, they may be having a catfight and causing issues. One AV is bad enough; having two is terrible.

Even if they are not the direct cause, they are likely masking what is.

Be sure to use the app developers' uninstall instructions to get rid of them. Otherwise, bits may be left behind that will still be messin' with your Mac. Do not download a generic universal uninstaller app; they are too ofter scambait. These are the ones you need:

https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/v134746139

https://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?l=en&urlName=Uninstall-AVG-Antivirus&q=How+to+uninstall+AVG+AntiVirus+for+Mac&supportType=home

That report does not provide enough information to determine what is causing the Kernel Panic.

Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

Avast's own instructions for removal: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Uninstall-Mac-Security/#mac

Norton's own instructions for removal: https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/home/current/solutions/kb20080427024142EN

Then you can search the file system for remnants if need be.

Also, I noticed in your EtreCheck report an item about 86 unsafe shutdowns (S.M.A.R.T. Details: 4% used, 260.54 TB written, 100% health, 86 unsafe shutdowns) in your drive listings. Are you often having to hard reboot the computer by holding down the power button?

I see some issues in your report. First is you have AVG Antivirus installed which is considered malware by most experienced users on these forums. Mac OS is catlike in that it cleans itself, Mac OS does not benefit from nor does it require any of the following types of third party apps:

·      Antivirus Apps

·      Cleaning Apps

·      Security Apps

·      VPN Apps

·      Maintenance Apps

What these types of apps do is the exact opposite of what users want. They make Mac OS slow, appear buggy, can damage Mac OS and sometimes create unwanted behaviors. In short, they are really bad news!

So the first order of business for your computer is that you need to locate the developers. uninstall instructions for AVG and please uninstall it. Because AVG is pretty nasty stuff it tends to leave parts behind after being uninstalled, a testimony to how poorly written the app is! To fully ensure you have uninstalled it please download the free version of FindAnyFile directly from the developer.

Have it Trash any files with "AVG" in them and then ensure the Trash is empty. 

After you have completed uninstalling AVG, please restart the computer in Safe Mode. Please makes sure you connect the wireless keyboard to the back of the iMac using the charging cable it came with and of course also plugged into the back of the iMac. Also ensure ALL wired peripherals are physically disconnected prior to restarting in Safe Mode. Hold down the Shift Key until the computer restarts in Safe Mode, this can take up to 10 minutes.

Next, restart normally and run a new EtreCheck report and analyze it to see if there is ANY mention of AVG in the report, if there is then it's still installed and you will need to use another method to fully uninstall. Let us know what you find.

Finally, there is no evidence I noticed that shows you backup your computer. If this is correct (no backup) this is a critical user error and you are putting all of your data at risk. It is not a matter of "if you lose data" it is a matter of when. Backing up using Time Machine is recommended, Time Machine is already pre-installed on the computer and only needs an inexpensive external HD to backup to, the one many users on these forums recommend is the OWC Mercury Elite Pro due to it's reasonable cost, high reliability rating, ease of use and the service OWC offers.

Both AVG and Norton are STIll installed, I am about 90% sure that one or both are the cause of your KPs. I recommend that you do an erase and install and start over however before going to that extreme please download and use FindAnyFile and have it search for the following names and get rid of them: Look for anything with the words:

• AVG
• Norton
• Symantec

Have it do the search on all of your drives. The run another EtreCheck.

Also, please order a 2-4 TB Mercury Elite Pro and once this problem is fully handled and ALL the AV garbageware is gone then begin backing up. This should be your #1 priority, this computer is 5 plus years old and you have been VERY VERY lucky to not lose data, that luck could run out at ANY time.

+1 on the EtreCheck report please.

OK, so not only does a SSD not need to be defragmented (in fact, the concept is meaningless for a SSD)...hard power-offs like that are actually more risky. It kills power without doing a proper shutdown of any running processes, including ones that might be writing to disk.

Now, APFS write operations are pretty atomic and the risk of data corruption is still pretty low - but not impossible - and sudden low of power in an unprepared state is bad for other components. If she wants to shut down the computer, please remind her to do it properly, from the Apple menu.

+1 In addition to AVG, I also see that you have Norton installed on your iMac.