I ran EtreCheck to find out why I am having application memory issues on my MacBook Pro M4 and found some legacy system extensions that have no current application but are running in the background. Is there any way to find them, remove them completely?
[Running] SpyBusterExtension - version 2.9.51 (MacPaw Labs LTD)
Application: Not found!
Description: Detect potentially unwanted software
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 26.1
Based on the security profiles loaded, this looks like it is (or was) a managed system.
Add the add-on anti-malware and the tweak tools and the copy protection tools and multiple “coffee shop” VPN apps and the fan controls and the add-on TRIM enabling tools, it’s quite possibly headed for ”fun”. Then consider some of the apps here are ten or fifteen years old; positively ancient.
Not enough memory for what is running, and not enough free storage space, too.
I’d probably pick one backup strategy and test restore with it too, and that maybe with off-site storage as needed. Different uncoordinated) add-on backup tools add to the testing overhead, and to the ongoing system overhead.
Given the age of this, and all the tweaks and such, I’m with etresoft here, I’d wipe this, transfer files and documents and not apps, and start over without the add-on anti-malware, tweaks, cleaners, fan controls, etc., and preferably with current versions of Paragon NTFS and other add-on apps, if you still need some or all of those.
Too many of the add-on security and the VPN apps are themselves all too reminiscent of malware, though with an end-user license agreement.
THANK YOU ALL for the help. I have been a Mac User since 1986 and so I have a lot of legacy stuff in the system which I have tried to clean out. The old way was to dump in the trash, but it left junk behind that was harder to remove. For about 5 years or more I have used AppDelete or something similar that got the legacy junk. I have cleaned and rebooted and will test from here, as well as update to Tahoe 26.2 tonight.
Thanks again.
The good news is that modern applications do not need to use an installer anymore and all those remnant files can be included in the app bundle, so deleting the app is all that is needed, as long as developer adheres to that method. I now try to refrain from using any installer and being presented with an installer makes me think twice about if I really want this app to install files in other locations on my computer. Not all developers are on board yet, but the ones that are simply have you drag their application into your Application folder. With those there is no need for an uninstaller to remove them and dragging the application to the trash also removes any files that would have been installed in the System folders.
" Third time is a Charm " is a popular saying meaning that the third attempt at something, after two previous failures, is likely to be successful, expressing hope and luck for that final effort
Though, being retired since 2007
Have all time in the world to hunt down all the offenders and try to remove them 😎
Owl-53 wrote:
" Third time is a Charm " is a popular saying meaning that the third attempt at something, after two previous failures, is likely to be successful, expressing hope and luck for that final effort
Though, being retired since 2007
Have all time in the world to hunt down all the offenders and try to remove them 😎
Searching for app dependencies and for dangling app bits is a slog, even when getting paid to slog.
And for apps not distributed as bundles, removal tools can be hit-or-miss. If the app provides removal tooling.
And add-on third-party removal tools can themselves be a compounding error.
I’ve one install I’m dealing with going back to OS X 10.5 and Intel x86-32 circa 2007, and when that person finally goes to Apple silicon likely this year, it’ll get the nuke-and-pave.
Thank you. Although I am logged in as an Admin, some of these legacy items I don't have permission to delete or change ownership permissions.l
EtreCheck report:
Remove legacy SpyBusterExtension on MacBook Pro M4?
