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Level 1

25 points

Mystery keystrokes making remote access unusable

To remotely access my MacMini, I've used LogMeIn for years and TeamViewer for a couple of years.

PROBLEM

Starting about a few months ago, LogMeIn remote (through iOS Ignition and through web browsers on various computers) stopped being usable because of OS X keyboard entry problems through remote clients.

SYMPTOM

After successfully connecting to my MacMini through LogMeIn or Teamviewer (not running at the same time), I can't type my password into OS X's logon (unlock) dialog box: after typing 1-10 characters, all the characters become highlighted (selected), and the next keystroke destroys (replaces) everything I've typed; if I tediously deselect the selected characters after they become selected, I can type the next password character, but I have do this repeatedly. The selection problem always highlights all the typed characters in the password box; if I type very fast it sometimes doesn't select everything until the 10th or later character, but usually the highlighting occurs after just typing 1-4 characters.

I also troubleshot this while sitting right in front of my MacMini (the host). I don't think the mystery key stroke in the password dialog is a Return/Enter because the OSX password dialog box doesn't shake, which occurs after pressing Return/Enter with an incorrect password. It seems that command-a (select all) or repeating Shift-Left Arrow (select) are the only keystrokes I can think of that would do this. I doubt the latter but the former seems like a possibility for a keylogger or pseudo-keylogger, which perhaps wouldn't record each keystroke but instead might select-all/copy/paste/transmit.

I can type ok with the physical USB keyboard (locally) without any problems even after logging on with LogMeIn or TeamViewer (via a computer across the room or from my iPhone).

ATTEMPTS TO FIX

- scanning for viruses with ESET Cyber Security (didn't help)

- booting in safe mode (didn't help)

- enabling the remote software's setting to lock the host keyboard after connecting (didn't help)

- unplugging the MacMini's USB keyboard (didn't help)

- purusing the activity monitor for threats (didn't help)

- removing ESET Cyber Security (didn't help)

- Verifying disk and Repairing Permissions (didn't help)

- emptying cache files (didn't help)

- turning off the second language, leaving just Engligh (didn't help)

- upgrading to 10.8.4 (didn't help)

- trying TeamViewer instead of LogMeIn (didn't help)

- LogMeIn tech support (didn't help, but the problem happens with TeamViewer, too)

APPROXIMATE CONCURRENT CHANGES (that I remember)

- FileVault ON (whole disk encryption)

- Encrypted external TimeMachine hard drive

NEXT ATTEMPT

- Unless someone helps me with this, I'll repartition and reformat my drive then reinstall everything one a time instead of via Migration Assistant. This should guarantee to fix it, but it'll take so much time to reinstall everything, I'm hoping for a fix from someone here.

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), many computers used

Posted on Jun 10, 2013 1:57 PM

25 replies

generatech Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 25, 2013 12:33 AM in response to generatech

Apple confirmed the bug. They already knew about it:

From Apple:

"This is a follow up to Bug ID# 14172756. This bug has been closed as a Duplicate. The issue is being tracked under the original Bug ID# 12537626 which is also listed in the Related Problem section of your bug report."

generatech Author

Level 1

25 points

Jun 25, 2013 12:36 AM in response to generatech

Apple already knew anout the bug:

From Apple:

Aug 22, 2013 12:19 PM in response to generatech

generatech- did you ever hear anything more about this bug? I'm experiencing the same problem - and have been for quite some time, with iTeleport, another VNC based remoting app.

generatech Author

Level 1

25 points

Aug 22, 2013 8:45 PM in response to Hobbsicle

Apple hasn't fixed it yet. Who knows why. Maybe they know it'll go away with 10.9 right around the corner and so don't want to put resources into 10.8. Or maybe it's fixed but not worthy of another version number until more bug fixes can be included for 10.8.5. Or maybe fixing it would break the NSA's access 😉.

In the old days I'd email Steve Jobs about the lack of a fix after a long period, and he'd take care of it and the slowpokes in one meeting or call. I did this once with a Notes bug in iPhone contacts that survived a couple of iOS updates; he got it fixed fast.

timcook@apple.com ??? I don't know.

generatech Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 21, 2013 4:17 PM in response to generatech

Looks like OS X 10.8.5 fixed the issue, at least on my Mac.

I'm able to use OS X's screen share from another iMac and use LogMeIn from my iPhone.

Hurray!

generatech Author

Level 1

25 points

Sep 23, 2013 3:24 AM in response to generatech

Ugh. I was wrong. 10.8.5 didn't fix it. I forgot how to test it and mistakenly tested it without the screen save/locked screen running on the host Mac. The same old problem occurs when the locked screen's password prompt appears. My bad. It had been so long since I tried it that I forgot to test screen sharing and logmein with the screen saver/lock running.

I'm going to guess Tim Cook's email and see if he'll light a fire under the programmers to fix this ongoing stupid bug the way the Jobs did sometimes in response to customer complaints .

Sep 29, 2013 2:33 PM in response to generatech

I'm having the same exact problem. I have nothing to add to this post except a quick vent that it's driving me mental.

MisterH

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2013 5:56 AM in response to generatech

Please add me to the list of affected users. Loging in through screen sharing or ARD reacts the same way: random highlighting then replacing of characters as I attempt to input my password. Carefully clicking off the selected characters each time to de-select them, sometimes allows me to input the entire password successfully - a true pain-in-the-neck!

The machine I am attempting to login to is a Mac mini running 10.8.5. Login locally at the machine works fine. Nothing else new to add.

generatech Author

Level 1

25 points

Nov 6, 2013 2:47 PM in response to generatech

Ok, so far it seems Mavericks fixed it.

I upgraded 3 of our 5 Macs to Mavericks.

I tested Apple Screen Share by connecting from one Mac (Mt Lion) to two Mavericks Macs (one at a time), and it worked fine. (I remotely logged into two of the Mavericks Macs with Apple Screen Share while the Mavericks host Mac was locked and successfully typed into its logon screen without the problem (note: I'm describing the second logon screen, which is the OSX user logon screen on the host Mavericks Mac, not the first Screen-Share user/password prompt only visible on the remote Mac; that always worked ok.)

So it seems Mavericks fixed it. Please verify, though. and remember to test it with the host Mac locked.

cswalsh

Level 1

0 points

Jun 3, 2014 7:17 AM in response to generatech

I have had the same problem for the last six months, and am not ready to update to Mavericks. Today I found a way that works. Basically you have to slowly build the unlock password a few letters at a time, and always navigate to the end of the string for new letters using the arrow keys.

1. Use the browser Log Me In interface instead of the standalone app. (log into LogMe in via browser and select "limited interface" in browser when it prompts to download/launch the app)

2. Type in the unlock password one or two letters at a time, then stop. Remote mac will go nutty and highlight the letters. Use the arrow keys on the local machine to navigate to the end of the string and enter a few more letters/numbers, then stop. Mac goes nutty again. Arrow key navigation to end, enter letters, stop, repeat until password is entered.

3. Use the mouse/pointer to click on the white arrow/grey box "enter" button next to password entry.

4. Voila, it unlocks.

The solution above is tedious and frustrating. It's like defusing a bomb and you will fail a few times. It's too much work for frequent login, but I'm only using logmein for emergency access, so it's handy when I need it.

Turning off screensaver helps a lot too.

Mystery keystrokes making remote access unusable