I have a mid-2011 iMac running 10.11.6.
I am suddenly having problems finding my HP printer. I tried all the usual troubleshooting tricks. I called HP and the tech guy from India immediately tried to sell me some firewall protection for $249 for 3 years. He said I had a trojan. Is this a scare technique? Is HP really selling firewall protection?
iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)
Mac OS was designed from it's very beginnings to be extremely secure, if simply kept up-to-date it will remain so. Mac OS does not require any antivirus, cleaning or any other third party "maintenance" apps to run well. Most of these types of apps have just the opposite affect on your system than what you want including damaging Mac OS, harming performance and creating instability.
Your system has the Avast antivirus app installed, please locate the developers instructions for uninstalling it and then uninstall.
After Avast has been uninstalled then restart in Safe Mode to clear some caches per the directions in Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support and then restart normally and re-test. If you would like you can post a fresh EtreCheck report and we can review it for you.
Mac OS was designed from it's very beginnings to be extremely secure, if simply kept up-to-date it will remain so. Mac OS does not require any antivirus, cleaning or any other third party "maintenance" apps to run well. Most of these types of apps have just the opposite affect on your system than what you want including damaging Mac OS, harming performance and creating instability.
Your system has the Avast antivirus app installed, please locate the developers instructions for uninstalling it and then uninstall.
After Avast has been uninstalled then restart in Safe Mode to clear some caches per the directions in Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support and then restart normally and re-test. If you would like you can post a fresh EtreCheck report and we can review it for you.
If you use a router, turn off your Mac Firewall, it's redundant and serves no purpose.
If you suspect something is wrong with your computer please follow the directions below.
Please post an EtreCheck report of your system and we can look for any obvious issues. Please click the link, download and run the app and then post the complete report it produces as your reply to this message.
I won't call it a scam however I will say it's 100% unneccessary as your existing router already has a firewall and if you need redundancy Mac OS has another firewall you can turn on however that is almost certainly unneccessary.
My iMac firewall is on. I do seem to be having a slow-down when accessing the Internet. Could I have a virus or a Trojan Horse on my Mac?
Thank you, I hope you can understand what this all means.
EtreCheck version: 4.1.4 (4A203)
Report generated: 2018-04-06 16:12:45
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime: 7:41
Performance: Below Average
Problem: Beachballing
Description:
Computer is slow, then it runs fine then slow again.
Major Issues: None
Minor Issues:
These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems.
Clean up - There are orphan files that could be removed.
Unsigned files - There is unsigned software installed. They appear to be legitimate but should be reviewed.
Low performance - EtreCheck report took over 5 minutes to run. This is unusual.
Hardware Information:
iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2011)
iMac Model: iMac12,1
1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-2500S) CPU: 4-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1333 ok
BANK 0/DIMM1
Empty
BANK 1/DIMM1
Empty
Video Information:
AMD Radeon HD 6770M - VRAM: 512 MB
iMac 1920 x 1080
Drives:
disk0 - ST31000528AS 1.00 TB (Mechanical)
Internal SATA 3 Gigabit Serial ATA
disk0s1 - EFI [EFI] 210 MB
disk0s2 - Macintosh HD (Journaled HFS+) 999.35 GB
disk0s3 - Recovery HD [Recovery] 650 MB
disk1 - External USB 3.0 3.00 TB
External USB
Mounted Volumes:
disk0s2 - Macintosh HD 999.35 GB (800.63 GB free)
Journaled HFS+
Mount point: /
disk1s2 - T*********T 3.00 TB (2.23 TB free)
Case-sensitive Journaled HFS+
Mount point: /Volumes/T*********T
Network:
Interface en0: Ethernet
Interface fw0: FireWire
Interface en1: Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n
One IPv4 address
3 IPv6 addresses
Interface en3: Bluetooth PAN
Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge
System Software:
OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G19009)
Time since boot: About 2 days
System Load: 1.50 (1 min ago) 1.49 (5 min ago) 1.60 (15 min ago)
Security:
| System | Status |
|---|---|
| Gatekeeper | Mac App Store and identified developers |
| System Integrity Protection | Enabled |
Unsigned Files:
Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.avast.userinit.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Avast/hub/userinit.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.avast.osx.secureline.userinit.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvastSecureLine/hub/userinit.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.osx.secureline.uninstall.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvastSecureLine/hub/autouninstall.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.uninstall.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Avast/hub/autouninstall.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.osx.secureline.update.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvastSecureLine/components/update/update.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.osx.secureline.init.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/AvastSecureLine/hub/init.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/SwitchBoard/SwitchBoard.app/Contents/MacOS/launch.switchboard
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist
Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/Helper-Tool
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist
Executable: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Resources/Java Updater.app/Contents/MacOS/Java Updater -bgcheck
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.bombich.ccc.plist
Executable: /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.bombich.ccc
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.init.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Avast/hub/init.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Flash Player Install Manager/fpsaud
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.motive.systemDaemon.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/ATT/8.3.1.7/local/bin/node /Library/Application Support/ATT/8.3.1.7/ma/Main.js
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.avast.osx.secureline.home.userinit.plist
Executable: ~/Library/Application Support/AvastSecureLine/hub/userinit.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.update.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/Avast/components/update/update.sh
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.motive.userAgent.plist
Executable: /Library/Application Support/ATT/8.3.1.7/local/bin/node /Library/Application Support/ATT/8.3.1.7/ma/UserExecutor.js
Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK
Kernel Extensions:
/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/fileshield/signed
[Loaded] AvastFileShield.kext (AVAST Software a.s., 4.0.0 - SDK 10.12)
/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/proxy/signed
[Loaded] AvastPacketForwarder.kext (AVAST Software a.s., 2.1 - SDK 10.12)
/Library/Extensions
[Not Loaded] FTDIKext.kext (Wacom Technology Corp., 1.0 - SDK 10.12)
/System/Library/Extensions
[Not Loaded] Wacom Tablet.kext (Wacom Tablet 6.3.7-3 - SDK 10.8)
System Launch Agents:
| [Not Loaded] | 6 Apple tasks |
| [Loaded] | 156 Apple tasks |
| [Running] | 78 Apple tasks |
System Launch Daemons:
| [Not Loaded] | 43 Apple tasks |
| [Loaded] | 148 Apple tasks |
| [Running] | 99 Apple tasks |
| [Other] | 2 Apple tasks |
Launch Agents:
| [Loaded] | com.avast.userinit.plist (? bb25154c - installed 2018-03-08) |
| [Running] | com.avast.osx.secureline.update-agent.plist (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2018-03-28) |
| [Not Loaded] | com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (? ffb65062 - installed 2014-10-19) |
| [Loaded] | com.avast.osx.secureline.userinit.plist (? 2fc1004f - installed 2018-03-28) |
| [Running] | com.wacom.wacomtablet.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2017-07-18) |
| [Running] | com.motive.userAgent.plist (? 643f27bc - installed 2013-09-20) |
| [Loaded] | com.google.keystone.agent.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2018-02-03) |
| [Loaded] | com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (? 556c6cc2 - installed 2016-12-12) |
| [Loaded] | 6H4HRTU5E3.com.avast.passwords.Agent.plist (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2018-03-25) |
Launch Daemons:
| [Loaded] | 6H4HRTU5E3.com.avast.passwords.AgentXPC.plist (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2018-03-25) |
| [Loaded] | com.oracle.JavaInstallHelper.plist (Oracle America, Inc. - installed 2017-08-22) |
| [Loaded] | com.bombich.ccc.plist (? 41245744 - installed 2014-04-26) |
| [Loaded] | com.avast.uninstall.plist (? 22f94791 - installed 2018-03-08) |
| [Loaded] | com.avast.init.plist (? fc55b6fa - installed 2018-03-08) |
| [Loaded] | com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (Malwarebytes Corporation - installed 2017-07-22) |
| [Loaded] | com.avast.osx.secureline.init.plist (? 1bda83b1 - installed 2018-03-28) |
| [Not Loaded] | com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist (? 68cad67 - installed 2012-09-13) |
| [Loaded] | com.wacom.displayhelper.plist (Apple, Inc. - installed 2018-01-10) |
| [Loaded] | com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (? 2afb3af7 - installed 2017-08-29) |
| [Loaded] | com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (? e3fefdd2 - installed 2016-12-12) |
| [Running] | com.wacom.TabletHelper.plist (Wacom Technology Corp. - installed 2017-07-18) |
| [Loaded] | com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2018-03-05) |
| [Running] | com.motive.systemDaemon.plist (? 686bc090 - installed 2013-09-20) |
| [Running] | com.avast.osx.secureline.update.plist (? f50a649c - installed 2018-03-28) |
| [Loaded] | com.avast.update.plist (? 5c6ac355 - installed 2018-03-08) |
| [Loaded] | com.avast.osx.secureline.uninstall.plist (? ba7a0061 - installed 2018-03-28) |
User Launch Agents:
| [Other] | com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-daynemail@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist (? 0 - installed ) |
| [Loaded] | com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (Dropbox, Inc. - installed 2017-08-10) |
| [Other] | com.avast.home.userinit.plist (? 0 - installed ) |
| [Running] | com.hp.devicemonitor.plist (HP Inc. - installed 2017-08-29) |
| [Loaded] | com.adobe.ARM.df0ab5bbe6f698196fcc21e3c1e66dcb758bd911f4d637272d9d8109.plist (? 0 - installed 2014-05-08) |
| [Loaded] | com.citrixonline.GoToMeeting.G2MUpdate.plist (? 0 - installed 2016-11-19) |
| [Running] | com.hp.productresearch.plist (HP Inc. - installed 2017-08-29) |
| [Loaded] | com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (? 0 - installed 2012-04-03) |
| [Loaded] | com.google.Chrome.framework.plist (Google, Inc. - installed 2018-03-20) |
| [Loaded] | com.adobe.ARM.202f4087f2bbde52e3ac2df389f53a4f123223c9cc56a8fd83a6f7ae.plist (? 0 - installed 2013-12-20) |
| [Loaded] | com.avast.osx.secureline.home.userinit.plist (? 0 - installed 2018-03-28) |
User Login Items:
iTunesHelper Application (Apple, Inc. - installed 2018-03-30)
(/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
Dropbox Application (Dropbox, Inc.
(/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Backup and Sync from Google Application (Google, Inc.
(/Applications/Backup and Sync.app)
AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application
(/Applications/Adobe Reader.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)
AdobeResourceSynchronizer Application
(/Applications/Adobe Acrobat X Pro/Adobe Acrobat Pro.app/Contents/Support/AdobeResourceSynchronizer.app)
SpeechSynthesisServer Application
(/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks /SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesisServer.app)
Backup and Sync from Google Application (Google, Inc.
(/Applications/Backup and Sync.app)
HP Product Research SMLoginItem (HP Inc. - installed 2017-10-25)
(/Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HPPU Plugins/ProductImprovementStudy.hptask/Contents/Helpers/HP Product Research Manager.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/HP Product Research.app)
HP Device Monitor SMLoginItem (HP Inc. - installed 2017-10-25)
(/Library/Printers/hp/Frameworks/HPDeviceMonitoring.framework/Versions/1.0/Help ers/HP Device Monitor Manager.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/HP Device Monitor.app)
Avast Passwords Service SMLoginItem (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2018-03-07)
(/Applications/Avast Passwords.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/Avast Passwords Service.app)
6H4HRTU5E3.com.avast.osx.secureline.avastsecurelinehelper SMLoginItem (AVAST Software a.s. - installed 2018-03-21)
(/Applications/AvastSecureLine.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/6H4HRTU5E3.com.a vast.osx.secureline.avastsecurelinehelper.app)
com.adobe.SwitchBoard.monitor.plist MachInit
(/etc/mach_init_per_user.d/com.adobe.SwitchBoard.monitor.plist)
Internet Plug-ins:
o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 (installed 2015-12-16)
WacomNetscape: 2.1.0-1 (installed 2014-02-01)
Default Browser: 601 (installed 2016-07-27)
AdobeExManDetect: AdobeExManDetect 1.1.0.0 (installed 2014-10-19)
npMotive: 1.0.0 (installed 2013-08-26)
WacomTabletPlugin: WacomTabletPlugin 2.1.0.6 (installed 2017-07-18)
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 11.0.06 (installed 2014-01-24)
FlashPlayer-10.6: 27.0.0.130 (installed 2017-09-19)
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2018-03-15)
Flash Player: 27.0.0.130 (installed 2017-09-19)
googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 (installed 2015-12-11)
AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.06 (installed 2014-01-24)
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 121 build 13 (installed 2017-03-19)
User Internet Plug-ins:
npBcsMcTcIO: Unknown (installed 2013-11-07)
Safari Extensions:
| Adblock Plus.safariextz - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (installed 2017-07-23) |
| Avast Passwords.safariextz - AVAST Software s.r.o. - https://www.avast.com/passwords (installed 2018-04-04) |
| racksearch.safariextz - me - (installed 2017-07-22) |
3rd Party Preference Panes:
Flash Player (installed 2017-08-29)
Java (installed 2017-03-19)
WacomTablet (installed 2017-07-18)
Time Machine:
Skip System Files: No
Mobile backups: No
Auto backup: Yes
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB - Disk used: 198.72 GB
Destinations:
T*********T [Local] (Last used)
Total size: 3.00 TB
Total number of backups: 186
Oldest backup: 2014-04-28 17:24:59
Last backup: 2018-04-06 15:50:39
Top Processes by CPU:
| Process (count) | Source | % of CPU |
| Google Chrome Helper (14) | Google, Inc. | 18 |
| Google Chrome | Google, Inc. | 5 |
| WindowServer | Apple | 1 |
| kernel_task | Apple | 1 |
| HP Device Monitor | HP Inc. | 1 |
Top Processes by Memory:
| Process (count) | Source | RAM usage |
| Google Chrome Helper (14) | Google, Inc. | 1.79 GB |
| kernel_task | Apple | 746 MB |
| Google Chrome | Google, Inc. | 336 MB |
| Adobe InDesign CS6 | 237 MB | |
| com.avast.daemon | AVAST Software a.s. | 219 MB |
Top Processes by Energy Use:
| Process (count) | Source | Energy usage (0-100) |
| HP Device Monitor | HP Inc. | 2 |
| WindowServer | Apple | 1 |
| Google Chrome Helper (14) | Google, Inc. | 1 |
| distnoted (3) | Apple | 1 |
| launchd | Apple | 0 |
Virtual Memory Information:
| Available RAM | 2.25 GB |
| Free RAM | 23 MB |
| Used RAM | 5.75 GB |
| Cached files | 2.23 GB |
| Swap Used | 220 MB |
Clean up:
~***********************************************************l@m***************** **************t
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/OSServices.framewor k/Versions/A/Support/CSConfigDotMacCert
Executable not found
~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.avast.home.userinit.plist
~/Library/Application Support/Avast/hub/userinit.sh
Executable not found
Diagnostics Information (past 7 days):
2018-04-04 22:17:13 mDNSResponder Crash (once)
mDNSResponder mDNSResponder-625.60.2 (Jun 1 2016 21:57:20) |
2018-04-04 22:13:32 Minecraft.app Crash (once)
2018-04-04 09:51:48 OpenOffice.app Hang (once)
End of report
Thank you so much for all your help. I will do exactly as you say.
An HP tech tried to sell me a firewall for $249. Is this a scam?
