Apple Security Manager excessive CPU usage

Question

Level 1

22 points

Apple Security Manager excessive CPU usage

I installed iCloud for Windows on a brand-new Windows 10 PC. It worked fine, but eventually I noticed that a background process was consuming a large amount of CPU. This process is Apple Security Manager (secd.exe).

Here is what I have found so far:

The process runs constantly (100% of one CPU core) for a minute or so, then stops, then starts up again about 10 seconds later.
The PC is otherwise idle; there is no actual iCloud activity on this PC or any of my other devices that use iCloud.
If I log out from iCloud on the PC, the background process stops. If I log back in, it starts up again.
Restarting the PC does not help; the background process starts up again shortly after restart.
Uninstalling and reinstalling iCloud for Windows does not help.
Turning off firewall (Windows Defender) and backup (CrashPlan) does not help.

Can anyone suggest additional things to try to troubleshoot this problem?

null-OTHER, Windows 10

Posted on Nov 23, 2016 4:07 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Ruupster

Level 1

4 points

Apr 27, 2017 9:06 AM in response to EatCroc3

I'm sure disabling 2FA is a possible solution, but it's definitly a horrible one if you ask me.

Seems the software isn't working as it's suppose to and I'm against disabling 2FA as a solution.

I've managed to solve this issue by doing the following:

1. Make sure you logout.

2. Uninstall iCloud.

3. re-install iCloud.

4. Login with your Apple ID.

This worked for me and it's persistent after reboot(s).

Hope this helped you to keep your account safe, aswell as a pleasure to work with :-).

Kind regards,

Reply

Answer 2

Oct 23, 2017 7:44 AM in response to Community User

Tested a little bit around.

This problem only occurs if you have two factor auth. activated and install icloud for windows.

No problems with two step auth..

Aswell no problems if you activate two factor auth. after you installed icloud for windows, it just occurs if you install it after two factor auth. was activated.

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 16, 2017 3:59 PM in response to mgroleau

I can confirm I am having the same issue with Windows 10 as of April 16, 2017 so Apple has not fixed this.

I have both 2-factor ID and iCloud installed. I guess I'll have to disable 2-Factor ID reducing my on-line security although 2-Factor ID works just fine for Microsoft and Google apps and services but apparently not Apple.

First the Mac Pro hasn't been updated in 4 years so Windows systems (especially multi-GPU setups) run rings around it and now security is less on Windows than MacOS for Apple software.

Way to keep customers, Apple.

Reply

Answer 4

abuhirra

Level 1

4 points

Apr 23, 2017 9:29 AM in response to Som1c

My CPU usage on my new Windows laptop for Apple Security Manager was hovering around 37%. With no other processes running, my laptop was getting too hot to have on my lap and the fan was running constantly.

Turning off Two Factor Authentication made no difference.

Signing out of icloud on my laptop did it - the fan stopped and the laptop cooled right down.

Obviously this is a bug - surely it can be fixed if somebody can be bothered.

Reply

Answer 5

Apr 25, 2017 12:14 AM in response to EatCroc3

I have the same problem for some time now, using Windows 10. I disable 2FA , uninstalled and reinstalled iCloud for Windows but with no effect, I have the same CPU usage by the Apple Security.

I just have to uninstall iCloud for Windows and go back 10 years and use a USB cable again to download my photos and video from my phone.

I have so many other problems with my iPhone and don`t have the time to search a solution for all of them, the only solution that I will apply is to buy a Android phone again and never go back to Apple 😟

Reply

Answer 6

Apr 27, 2017 9:10 AM in response to Ruupster

I'm unable to logout iCloud, when I click to exit Icloud from that button its just keeps loading but no logout is made. 2FA si disabled. The only solution that I found is to disable all iCloud services from boot and start iCloud manually when I need to sync my photos.
When I have the time I will reinstall Windows and start from zero.

Reply

Answer 7

Apr 25, 2017 4:12 AM in response to Anturaju93

Got home from work and I have the same problem, 2FA is still not active ... thanks Apple for making me use the cable again !

Reply

Answer 8

Rostokko

Level 1

4 points

Nov 24, 2016 6:38 AM in response to EatCroc3

I started having the same exact problem yesterday (11/23), on my two Windows 7 machines.

Reply

Answer 9

Dec 1, 2016 5:48 PM in response to EatCroc3

Me too.

Definitely a new thing. I just did a fresh install of win10pro64 a few weeks ago, and the boot time has been painfully slow. secd.exe and windows Antimalware Service Executable bring my 6-core Xeon and Samsung 840 EVO to a crawl.

I'm going to try software like Windows Startup Helper, etc to see if I can at least delay those two (and a few others) at bootup.

Out of curiosity, have either of you recently set up Two Factor Authentication with Apple? I did this when they updated Sierra to allow my Apple Watch to unlock my iMac. I wonder if this is a factor. I did have to authenticate iCloud on this win10 PC after that fresh install. But I don't recall having to re-authenticate between setting up 2FA & the fresh install, nor do I recall the excesive CPU usage.

Service Startup delay guide I found-

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/set-delay-time-startup-programs-windows

Reply

Answer 10

EatCroc3 Author

Level 1

22 points

Dec 13, 2016 9:52 AM in response to Durf Diggler

Well, that is interesting! Indeed, I had Two Factor Authentication enabled on my iCloud account. I turned it off and tried installing iCloud for Windows on my PC once again.

Result: It works fine now -- no longer seeing excessive CPU usage by the Apple Security Manager background process.

Perhaps this is coincidental; Apple might have fixed something on the iCloud side. But if anyone else is still seeing this problem, you might try turning off 2FA.

Reply