Windows losing focus.

You must have some application or process that is stealing focus. Try running 'etrecheck':

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck

And post back, that may show us what's grabbing focus. I've been running Mavericks on many machines for months and have no issues with focus stealing.

You have a LOT going on with your system. I mean a LOT LOT LOT going on ;-)

You have startup items for both VirtualBox and for VMware Fusion. I can't imagine you're using both?

Also, Sophos is all over the place. Do you need it? (Hint: Not really). SIMBL agent can also be a problem: It allows various applications to be hacked (er, "extended") in various ways. I don't necessarily know if it's involved.

Nothing really jumps out at me as the possible direct cause of the focus stealing. But what I do notice is there are like 15 more background process than I typically run in my setup, and the odds are that one of them is related :-/

Ugh what an 'icky mess…

Trekker56 wrote:

Startup Items:

Executor - Path: /Library/StartupItems/Executor

HP IO - Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP IO

VirtualBox - Path: /Library/StartupItems/VirtualBox

Kernel Extensions:

com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.2.2)

com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.2.2)

com.Logitech.Control Center.HID

org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (4.1.6)

org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (4.1.6)

com.avatron.AVExVideo (1.7)

com.sophos.nke.swi (9.0.53)

com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.5.3)

com.avatron.AVExFramebuffer (1.7)

com.sophos.kext.sav (9.0.53)

Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist

[loaded] com.backblaze.bzserv.plist

[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist

[not loaded] com.hidden.daemon.plist

[loaded] com.micromat.CheckmateIdleDaemon.plist

[loaded] com.micromat.CheckmateWorkerDaemon.plist

[loaded] com.micromat.TechToolProDaemon.plist

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist

[loaded] com.rogueamoeba.hermes.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.autoupdate.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.configuration.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.intercheck.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.notification.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.scan.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.sxld.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.webd.plist

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist

[failed] xxx.qnation.PeerGuardian.kextload.plist

Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist

[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist

[loaded] com.Logitech.Control Center.Daemon.plist

[loaded] com.micromat.CheckmateAgent.plist

[loaded] com.micromat.TechToolProAgent.plist

[loaded] com.onlinebackup.daemon.plist

[loaded] com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist

[loaded] com.sophos.uiserver.plist

[loaded] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist

User Launch Agents:

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist

[loaded] com.backblaze.bzbmenu.plist

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist

User Login Items:

SMARTReporter

VMware Fusion Helper

ClustersHelper

SMARTReporter

Kodak EasyShare Wireless Listener

AppTrap

SMARTReporter

Spanning Sync Notifier

Rogue Amoeba Schedule Helper

pplogger

SIMBL Agent

BitTorrent

handyPrintDaemon

Dropbox

AirDisplayStatusItem

ScreenCapture

uTorrent

3rd Party Preference Panes:

Air Display Preferences

Backblaze Backup

Déjà Vu

DiscRotate

Flash Player

handyPrint

Java

Perian

Secrets

TechTool Protection

Internet Plug-ins:

AdobePDFViewer.plugin

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin.plugin

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101736.plugin

Coupon.plugin

CouponPrinter-FireFox_v2.plugin

Default Browser.plugin

Flash Player.plugin

FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin

FolxNetscapePlugIn.plugin

googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin

iPhotoPhotocast.plugin

JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin

o1dbrowserplugin.plugin

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin.plugin

PDF Browser Plugin.plugin

PDEPrint.plugin

QuickTime Plugin.plugin

RealPlayer Plugin.plugin

SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin

Silverlight.plugin

VLC Plugin.plugin

User Internet Plug-ins:

EMusic.plugin

Folx3Plugin.plugin

FolxNetscapePlugIn.plugin

Top Processes by CPU:

99% MacScan

3% InterCheck

2% bztransmit

Red items are loaded at the system level

Blue items are loaded at the user level

Your issues could be any due to any of those items above!

It's also possible one of the haxies (Secrets or SIMBL) is causing it or it could be a weird 'defaults write' hack that is conflicting.

Frankly I would backup & erase this mess & start over, however if you want to clean up it might be possible to turn into a working Mac.

Have you tried safe mode?

It will disable the third party tools & show you what your Mac does without all that stuff running.

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1455

Cleanup:

All the usual caveats apply, backup before you modify the system, delete the items (or move them to another disk or folder if you are worried about deleting the wrong thing) but ensure the originals are gone or updated.

Use the Finders "Go menu > Go to Folder…" to open the hidden ~/Library (your users library).

Reboot for the system changes to take effect.

How to find updates:

The critical launchd jobs & kernel extensions use reverse domain notation e.g.

com.logmein.hamachi.plist means look at http://logmein.com for updates (if you don't recognize it removing it may be appropriate)

In short: You want to try to update or remove all the system level items.

• Update or remove the StartupItems (ideally via the app's uninstallers)
• Update or remove the Kernel Extensions (ideally via the app's uninstallers)
• Uninstall SIMBL & all the SIMBL plugins (paths mentioned at http://www.culater.net/software/SIMBL/SIMBL.php)
• I'd also rip out Sophos & Techtool Pro & Seagate's drivers (the OS seems to read disks OK without additional drivers)
• Update all the login items & pref panes & internet plugins …
• Lots of the software looks old (VirtualBox, Soundflower from Oct 2010, Logitech Control Center, Secrets…)

Background info

Startup Items: Stored in /Library/StartupItems/

Startup Items have been discontinued by Apple since Mac OS 10.4. They are responsible for making changes at a system level. Remove them all or spend time ensuring ALL related software is up to date. You need a very good reason to have anything installed in here. The developers are ignoring Apple guidelines by installing these - not a good sign.

Kernel Extensions: Stored in /Library/Extensions/

Kernel Extensions also load third party code, but they insert it into the 'core' of the OS. These can be safe, however you must ensure the related tools or apps are up to date, otherwise the system is basically built upon quicksand. Remove them all & see if the OS works better.

Launchd jobs: several types

LaunchAgents - Stored in /Library/LaunchAgents

LaunchDaemons - Stored in /Library/LaunchDaemons

User LaunchAgents - Stored in ~/Library/LaunchAgents

These are all background jobs, they are not necessarily bad, but if they are loading old code it could be doing untold damage to the performance & stability of the entire OS. Focus on the System level jobs (the ones inside /Library - the system level) also remove ['failed'] jobs.

EtreCheck gives a status on launchd jobs…

[loaded] - a running job

[not loaded] - jobs that are set not to run, basically harmless, remove them unless you plan to use the associated software (if it is up to date)

[failed] - jobs in a crashed or unknown state, it could be forking processes or using all the system resources, remove these.

User login items:

Applications and helpers that are managed inside 'Systems Preferences > Users and groups > Login Items tab'.

These are loaded at the 'User level', consider removing all of them whilst you troubleshoot. When you decide to re-add them ensure the software is up to date.

3rd Party Preference Panes: & Internet Plug-ins:

/Library/PreferencePanes/ and ~/Library/PreferencePanes/

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ and ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/

Once again these items all must be up to date, or remove them from your system. If the prefpanes manage additional software use the uninstaller or see the developers site for uninstall instructions. You can also right click to remove 3rd party preference panes in System preferences

Read the list of Internet plug-ins carefully, there are often duplicate Flash player versions that won't help stability, it's just wasted space too.

Don't forget to also update Safari's extensions in it's preferences (if you have any).

Re-run EtreCheck after cleaning up to see if items have returned (some apps will reload the background jobs when re-opened, so either update or remove the software).

Hope that isn't too daunting, the OS should be better if there are less old items running at the system level.

Thanks Drew,

that 'learns' us as well! 🙂

A similar thread suggests 'Cox backup'? I can't see it in the report though.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5470393

No problem,

Just focus on the red & then move on to the blue.

Personaly I'd remove the login items to try to speed things up whilst you troubleshoot. Update the apps as you add them back (or as you launch them).

Personally I use ClamXAV for virus/ malware scanning. It's free, Open Source & seems to try to focus on one job. Sophos & the other commercial apps seem to want several background jobs and are invasive IMO.

That's good news.

It can be a pain to clear out, but it often helps after a big update.

All the best,

D

Hi William,

I am having the same issues. Here is my EtreCheck log:

Hardware Information:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4 cores

16 GB RAM

Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 512 MB

AMD Radeon HD 6770M - VRAM: 1024 MB

System Software:

OS X 10.9.2 (13C64) - Uptime: 0 days 0:14:55

Disk Information:

TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF disk0 : (750.16 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 749.3 GB (272.63 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB

HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS31N

USB Information:

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

FireWire Information:

Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

Kernel Extensions:

com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.6 - SDK 10.6)

com.avira.kext.FileAccessControl (1.0.0d1 - SDK 10.8)

Startup Items:

ChmodBPF: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ChmodBPF

Launch Daemons:

[System] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.dbcleaner.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.ipm.loader.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.helper.watchdox.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist 3rd-Party support link

Launch Agents:

[System] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.ipm.ui.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.odscan.default.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.scheduler.agent.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.systray.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.update.default.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.google.keystone.agent.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.netgear.NETGEARGenie.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.onlinebackup.daemon.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist 3rd-Party support link

User Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.google.Chrome.framework.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.memeo.Memeod.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist 3rd-Party support link

User Login Items:

iTunesHelper

Google Drive

Dropbox

Yahoo! Messenger

Amazon Cloud Drive

Internet Plug-ins:

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 25 Outdated! Update

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

AdobeExManDetect: Version: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 3rd-Party support link

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101736: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 12.0.0.70 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

Flash Player: Version: 12.0.0.70 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20513.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

GarminGpsControl: Version: 4.0.4.0 Release - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.0.4r144 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

Safari Extensions:

Video Converter: Version: 3.1.0

eWallet AutoPass: Version: 1.1

Audio Plug-ins:

BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9

AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.9

AppleAVBAudio: Version: 203.2 - SDK 10.9

iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9

iTunes Plug-ins:

Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.9

3rd Party Preference Panes:

Akamai NetSession Preferences 3rd-Party support link

Charter Cloud Drive™ Backup 3rd-Party support link

Flash Player 3rd-Party support link

Growl 3rd-Party support link

Java 3rd-Party support link

Old Applications:

dynamiclinkmediaserver: Version: 6.0.1 - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link

/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/dynamiclinkmediaserver/1.0/dynamiclinkmediaserver.app

SLLauncher: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link

/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Silverlight/OutOfBrowser/SLLauncher.app

CrucialMacScanner: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.0 3rd-Party support link

/Users/[redacted]/Downloads/CrucialMacScanner.app

Epson Printer Utility 4: Version: 9.17 - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link

/Library/Printers/EPSON/InkjetPrinter2/Utility/UT4/Epson Printer Utility 4.app

SA Color Finesse 3 UI: Version: 3.0.6(275) - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link

/Applications/Adobe After Effects CS6/Plug-ins/Effects/Synthetic Aperture/(CF3 Support)/SA Color Finesse 3 UI.app

dynamiclinkmanager: Version: 6.0.0 - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link

/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/dynamiclink/CS6/dynamiclinkmanager.app

/Applications/iWork '09

Smilebox: Version: 1.0.0.24744 - SDK 10.5 3rd-Party support link

Amazon MP3 Downloader: Version: INFO_PLIST_VERSION - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link

Time Machine:

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: ON

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 697.84 GB Disk used: 443.93 GB

Destinations:

Sheesha Backup [Local] (Last used)

Total size: 1

Total number of backups: 2

Oldest backup: 2012-08-23 04:09:47 +0000

Last backup: 2013-10-17 22:59:25 +0000

Size of backup disk: Adequate

Backup size 1 > (Disk used 443.93 GB X 3)

Time Machine details may not be accurate.

All volumes being backed up may not be listed.

Top Processes by CPU:

3% WindowServer

2% EtreCheck

1% avguard-ondemand-mgmt

1% Google Chrome

1% NETGEARGenieDaemon

Top Processes by Memory:

279 MB savapi

279 MB mds_stores

262 MB avguard.bin

213 MB Finder

213 MB iTunes

Virtual Memory Information:

10.60 GB Free RAM

3.26 GB Active RAM

686 MB Inactive RAM

1.47 GB Wired RAM

510 MB Page-ins

0 B Page-outs

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

sheesha143 wrote:

Kernel Extensions:

com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.6.6 - SDK 10.6)

com.avira.kext.FileAccessControl (1.0.0d1 - SDK 10.8)

Startup Items:

ChmodBPF: Path: /Library/StartupItems/ChmodBPF <--Wireshark

Launch Daemons:

[System] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.dbcleaner.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.ipm.loader.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.helper.watchdox.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist 3rd-Party support link

Launch Agents:

[System] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.ipm.ui.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.odscan.default.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.scheduler.agent.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.systray.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.avira.antivirus.update.default.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.google.keystone.agent.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.netgear.NETGEARGenie.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.onlinebackup.daemon.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist 3rd-Party support link

[System] com.seagate.SeagateStorageGauge.plist 3rd-Party support link

User Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.akamai.single-user-client.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.google.Chrome.framework.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.memeo.Memeod.plist 3rd-Party support link

[not loaded] com.zeobit.MacKeeper.Helper.plist 3rd-Party support link

User Login Items:

iTunesHelper

Google Drive

Dropbox

Yahoo! Messenger

Amazon Cloud Drive

Internet Plug-ins:

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 25 Outdated! Update

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

AdobeExManDetect: Version: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 3rd-Party support link

AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 1.0.0.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101736: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 3rd-Party support link

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 12.0.0.70 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

Flash Player: Version: 12.0.0.70 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20513.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.0 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

GarminGpsControl: Version: 4.0.4.0 Release - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.0.4r144 - SDK 10.6 3rd-Party support link

Safari Extensions:

Video Converter: Version: 3.1.0

eWallet AutoPass: Version: 1.1

3rd Party Preference Panes:

Akamai NetSession Preferences 3rd-Party support link

Charter Cloud Drive™ Backup 3rd-Party support link

Flash Player 3rd-Party support link

Growl 3rd-Party support link

Java 3rd-Party support link

How many antivirus background jobs do you need to run at the system level? I count about 8?!

The background notes I posted to Trekker56 will mostly apply to you too…

Backup all the data before you do anything.

All of those jobs labeled [system] should be updated or removed. Google drive has been known to have issues so ensure it's up to date or remove it to see if your issues go away.

You have MacKeeper installed - it has a terrible reputation around here. It seems possible that it could be causing many issues you have. Search these threads for a second opinion - it appears to be little more than scamware as far as I can see. It may also encourage you to 'clean' files that the system needs, so if you have used it to 'improve performance' it may be easier to start from a clean installation.

Wireshark appears to be using a startup item (these are out of date methods) to tweak how networking works at every boot - it that up to date? Do you need it all the time?

Also update all the user login items and user launch agents or remove them.

Akamai NetSession appears to be a way for Akamai to cache content on your system to help speed up their network delivery system - is there any actual reason for you to give CPU time & some of your network throughput away for free? Akamai can afford to pay thier own bills, let them handle the caching too.

Adobe & Google software might be OK - but only if it is up to date & is listed on their site as being supported, if it's unsupported make sure it isn't running background jobs.

Personally I'd clone the disk as a backup, erase in Disk Utility and then reinstall ONLY the items you need.

It may help you find a bit of extra space since your HD is filling up. A spinning HD will read & write more slowly the more data you have on it - so that doesn't help overall performance.

16GB of RAM should make the Mac pretty smooth - all the junk piled into the RAM will make it misbehave.

FYI- I just went thru mine and had older JavaAppletPlug-in. Updated to this (from Update 25) and working ok now!

jre-7u51-macosx-x64