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Lots of things are running in the background of my mac

2013 MacBook Air '13, OS X El Capitan 10.11.5

This happened. Im not sure what caused it, but there is a lot, and it makes my mac lag. Any idea how to clear whatever is causing this without manually quitting each of the files? Thanks.User uploaded file

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Oct 13, 2016 2:42 AM

Reply
11 replies

Oct 13, 2016 2:49 AM in response to YWLeong

Hi,


Try this:

1. Go to About this mac under the apple in the upper left and click on More info

2. Click on system report

3. make a note of what it says after Model Identifier

4. go to your master drive – System -Library – Extensions – IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext -Contents – Plugins – ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext – Contents – Resources – find the name from step 3 and move it to a folder that you can find again if needed.

3. Restart

Oct 14, 2016 5:57 AM in response to YWLeong

You have received some bad advice with regard to Malwarebytes.


The Malwarebytes XPC Service process is only running when Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac itself is running. When you quit Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, that process also ends. Further, it should only be consuming CPU time when you are actually running a scan. My guess would be that you took that screenshot while running a scan.


However, it looks like that scan may have been running for 20 minutes. If that's the case, that's indicative of other problems. It is not normal for Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac scans to take 20 minutes. Try restarting in safe mode:


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


You will know that you have rebooted in safe mode because it will take much longer, and the screen may redraw very slowly now and then. Also, none of the programs that will normally load at startup will be loaded.


While in safe mode, try running the scan again.


In addition, you should not be delving into /System/Library/Extensions/ and removing things. That's a sure-fire way to break your system, badly enough to cause it to become unable to start up.


The best thing you can do is contact Apple directly for support. If there's an Apple Store nearby, make an appointment at the Genius Bar and take the machine in for diagnosis.


If that's not a possibility, and you really need to continue trying to solve the problem here, download EtreCheck:


https://etrecheck.com


Run it and paste the output into a reply to this message.

Oct 15, 2016 11:19 PM in response to thomas_r.

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for the advice. I ran Malwarebytes Anti-Malware while in safe mode but it didn't fix the problem at hand (although it fixed other problems). Unfortunately I can't bring it to an Apple store, so I ran EtreCheck and these are the results:


EtreCheck version: 3.0.6 (315)

Report generated 2016-10-16 14:17:33

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 1:55

Performance: Excellent


Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.


Problem: Other problem

Description:

Things are running in the background



Hardware Information:

MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

MacBook Air - model: MacBookAir6,2

1 1.7 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core

8 GB RAM Not upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en0: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 209


Video Information:

Intel HD Graphics 5000

Color LCD 1440 x 900


System Software:

OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: about 2 days


Disk Information:

APPLE SSD SD0256F disk0 : (251 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

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

Macintosh HD (disk1) / [Startup]: 249.77 GB (140.77 GB free)

Core Storage: disk0s2 250.14 GB Online


USB Information:

Apple Card Reader

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

B&N NOOK SimpleTouch


Thunderbolt Information:

Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus


Gatekeeper:

Anywhere


Kernel Extensions:

/Applications/Windscribe.app

[not loaded] com.chungwasoft.Shimo.tap (1.1 - 2016-07-25) [Support]

[not loaded] com.chungwasoft.Shimo.tun (1.1 - 2016-07-25) [Support]


/Library/Application Support/VirtualBox

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (5.0.4 - 2015-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (5.0.4 - 2015-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (5.0.4 - 2015-09-22) [Support]

[loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (5.0.4 - 2015-09-22) [Support]


System Launch Agents:

[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks

[loaded] 150 Apple tasks

[running] 81 Apple tasks


System Launch Daemons:

[not loaded] 48 Apple tasks

[loaded] 147 Apple tasks

[running] 95 Apple tasks


Launch Agents:

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2016-02-19) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-10-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist (2015-06-21) [Support]

[running] com.epson.easyinteractivedriverv2.plist (2014-01-09) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-11-03) [Support]

[running] com.promethean.activhardwareservice.plist (2013-02-26) [Support]

[loaded] com.promethean.activmgr.plist (2013-02-26) [Support]

[failed] com.promethean.flashextension.plist (2013-02-26) [Support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2014-08-12) [Support]


Launch Daemons:

[loaded] com.BlueStacks.AppPlayer.bstservice_helper.plist (2016-08-28) [Support]

[loaded] com.DesignScience.DSMTTool.plist (2014-01-10) [Support]

[running] com.aaa.windscribe.OVPNHelper.plist (2016-10-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.aaa.windscribe.firewall_on.plist (2016-10-14)

[loaded] com.acronis.acep.plist (2016-07-01) [Support]

[failed] com.acronis.mms_mini.plist (2016-07-01) [Support]

[running] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2016-02-15) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-10-12) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-10-12) [Support]

[running] com.adobe.adobeupdatedaemon.plist (2016-02-19) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.agsservice.plist (2015-09-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-09-24) [Support]

[loaded] com.cyberghostsrl.CyberghostPrivilegedHelper.plist (2016-06-29) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]

[loaded] com.jdi.vpn.VPNHelper.plist (2016-06-29) [Support]

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (2016-09-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2012-11-05) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-11-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.torch.update.agent.plist (2015-03-09) [Support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2014-08-12) [Support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.startup.plist (2015-09-22) [Support]


User Launch Agents:

[failed] com.acronis.monitor.plist (2016-07-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2014-11-23) [Support]

[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2014-11-05) [Support]

[loaded] com.bittorrent.BitTorrent.plist (2016-06-27)

[loaded] com.bittorrent.uTorrent.plist (2016-05-16)

[failed] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2014-09-24) [Support]

[not loaded] com.linotype.FontFolderProtector.plist (2015-04-28) [Support]

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-10-14) [Support]

[loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist (2016-09-13) [Support]

[failed] com.wondershare.AnjoyTunesHelper.plist (2015-10-20) [Support]

[not loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist (2015-09-22) [Support]


User Login Items:

iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)

Google Drive Application (/Applications/Google Drive.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

Spotify Application Hidden (/Applications/Spotify.app)

Wondershare TunesGo Helper Application (~/Library/Application Support/wondershare_TunesGo/Wondershare TunesGo Helper.app)

Windscribe Application (/Applications/Windscribe.app)

Google Chrome Application Hidden (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)


Internet Plug-ins:

MeetingJoinPlugin: Unknown - SDK 10.6 (2014-07-02) [Support]

o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2016-02-04) [Support]

Unity Web Player: UnityPlayer version 5.3.1f1 - SDK 10.6 (2016-01-22) [Support]

Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-01)

AdobeExManDetect: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 - SDK 10.7 (2014-05-28) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 (2014-01-09) [Support]

AdobeAAMDetect: 3.0.0.0 - SDK 10.9 (2015-07-16) [Support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-10-02) [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.185 - SDK 10.9 (2016-10-12) [Support]

Silverlight: 5.1.10411.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-07-02) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-01)

Flash Player: 23.0.0.185 - SDK 10.9 (2016-10-12) [Support]

googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-12) [Support]

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2014-07-02)

AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-10-02) [Support]

SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.3.9 - SDK 10.6 (2014-01-10) [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 31 (2015-04-22) Check version


User internet Plug-ins:

Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2013-10-08) [Support]


Safari Extensions:

Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-09-28)

PanicButton - Thomas Greiner - http://www.greiner.bnet.at/extensions/panicbutton (2016-01-28)


3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player (2016-09-24) [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV (2013-03-30) [Support]

Java (2015-03-01) [Support]


Time Machine:

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 249.77 GB Disk used: 109.00 GB

Destinations:

YW StoreJet [Local]

Total size: 160.04 GB

Total number of backups: 0

Oldest backup: -

Last backup: -

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 160.04 GB < (Disk used 109.00 GB X 3)


Top Processes by CPU:

4% WindowServer

2% fontd

1% kernel_task

0% cloudpaird


Top Processes by Memory:

739 MB kernel_task

90 MB cfprefsd(3)

74 MB mds_stores

49 MB WindowServer

41 MB mdworker(3)


Virtual Memory Information:

5.04 GB Free RAM

2.96 GB Used RAM (1.13 GB Cached)

348 MB Swap Used


Diagnostics Information:

Oct 15, 2016, 04:41:09 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/DeSmuME_2016-10-15-164109_[redacted].crash

org.desmume.DeSmuME - /Users/[redacted]/Downloads/*/DeSmuME.app/Contents/MacOS/DeSmuME

Oct 15, 2016, 03:22:51 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/DeSmuME_2016-10-15-152251_[redacted].crash

Oct 15, 2016, 10:55:53 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/DeSmuME_2016-10-15-105553_[redacted].crash

Oct 14, 2016, 04:40:21 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/DeSmuME_2016-10-14-164021_[redacted].crash

Oct 14, 2016, 01:59:26 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/flashbridge-wrapper-crossplatform_2016-10-14-1 35926_[redacted].crash

com.promethean.flashbridge - /Applications/Promethean/*/Promethean SDK - Flash proxy.app/Contents/MacOS/flashbridge-wrapper-crossplatform

Oct 14, 2016, 01:58:36 PM Self test - passed

Oct 14, 2016, 11:32:26 AM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/flashbridge-wrapper-crossplatform_2016-10-14-1 13226_[redacted].crash

Oct 13, 2016, 07:04:14 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/nwjs Helper EH_2016-10-13-190414_[redacted].crash

/Users/[redacted]/Downloads/*/Pokemon Showdown.app/Contents/Frameworks/nwjs Helper EH.app/Contents/MacOS/nwjs Helper EH

Oct 13, 2016, 05:58:43 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/DeSmuME_2016-10-13-175843_[redacted].crash

Oct 13, 2016, 05:49:31 PM ~/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/flashbridge-wrapper-crossplatform_2016-10-13-1 74931_[redacted].crash



Thanks for all the help!

Oct 16, 2016 5:23 AM in response to YWLeong

In all honesty, your system's a bit of a mess. You've got a LOT of stuff installed and running in the background at all times. I'd be surprised if that system ran smoothly.


First, I noticed you have VirtualBox installed, but have only 8 GB of RAM. If you are frequently running VirtualBox while attempting to do other things, 8 GB of RAM is probably not enough.


Second, you have three different VPN programs installed, one of which (TotalVPN) looks like it may be made by a known scamware company under the cover of a shell company. Remove TotalVPN and one of the other VPNs... you only need one good VPN.


Third, you've got uTorrent installed - as well as Torch, which is a browser that is useless except as a torrent downloader. uTorrent is known to install adware on the user's computer, and Torch is often involved in some unsavory activities. Further, most people who have torrent apps are involved in activities that increase their chances of getting infected with adware or malware. And on top of all that, torrent apps turn your machine into a server, using your processing power and bandwidth to extend the torrent network.


Those are just some examples, there's a lot of other software installed that you may no longer be using or that may have little utility. You should clean up the system by uninstalling a bunch of stuff. Do not use generic "cleaning" or "uninstall" apps for this purpose. Find the official uninstaller provided by each piece of software that you want to remove.

Oct 16, 2016 5:45 AM in response to YWLeong

regarding your torrent use that thomas_r. mentions - I will be more blunt

Trading media is participating in a conspiracy to pirate

Giving away or receiving apps purchased by others is VERY likely to violate any standard Software License Agreement


Intellectual property - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property


Copyright Act of 1976 - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Act_of_1976


Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright,_Designs_and_Patents_Act_1988


Copyright Term Extension Act - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_Term_Extension_Act


Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988 - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berne_Convention_Implementation_Act_of_1988


Digital Millennium Copyright Act - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act

Lots of things are running in the background of my mac

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