Safari can't establish a secure connection

Hi Eric,

as you suggested, I logged-in using another admin account - the issue remained.

However, looking at my Sophos dashboard I saw that Sophos had blocked said site (along with an online latin dictionary) under these parameters: Webfiltering - Adult and Potentially Inappropriate - Proxies and Translators. This is the first time ever! I set the block to "Warn" and gained renewed access to PIA. So it appears that the culprit is found.

As for Sophos itself, I use the free home version for years as I occasionally receive MS word files, and recently it eliminated a malware threat contained in a download. Get rid off it anyway? How about using free Malwarebytes in frequent checkups?

I'll try that later, Eric, as I have to leave now. Thanks for the info, I'll follow up on your suggestion asap.

For now, see below the EtreCheck report just created:

EtreCheck version: 4.1.4 (4A203)

Report generated: 2018-04-05 13:08:55

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime: 6:08

Performance: Below Average

Problem: No problem - just checking

Major Issues: None

Minor Issues:

These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems.

Time Machine auto backup disabled- Time Machine auto backups are disabled.

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.

32-bit Apps- This machine has 32-bits apps that may have problems in the future.

Hardware Information:

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)

iMac Model: iMac14,1

1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-4570R) CPU: 4-core

8 GB RAMUpgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

4 GB DDR3 1600 ok

Video Information:

Intel Iris Pro - VRAM: 1536 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080

Drives:

disk0 - APPLE HDD HTS541010A9E662 1.00 TB (Mechanical)

Internal SATA 3 Gigabit Serial ATA

disk0s1 - EFI (MS-DOS FAT32) [EFI] 210 MB

disk0s2 [Core Storage Container] 999.35 GB

disk1 - Macintosh HD (Journaled HFS+) 999.01 GB

disk0s3 - Recovery HD [Recovery] 650 MB

Mounted Volumes:

disk1 - Macintosh HD 999.01 GB (553.93 GB free)

Journaled HFS+

Mount point: /

Network:

Interface Bluetooth-Modem: Bluetooth DUN

Interface en0: Ethernet

One IPv4 address

Interface en1: Wi-Fi

802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

One IPv4 address

Interface en4: Bluetooth PAN

Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge

iCloud Quota: 5.00 GB available

System Software:

macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 (17E199)

Time since boot: About 2 hours

System Load: 1.64 (1 min ago) 1.57 (5 min ago) 1.57 (15 min ago)

Security:

Unsigned Files:

Launchd: /Library/LaunchAgents/com.privateinternetaccess.osx.PIA-VPN.plist

Executable: /Applications/Private Internet Access.app/Contents/MacOS/run.sh --startup

Details: Exact match found in the whitelist - probably OK

32-bit Applications:

40 32-bit apps

Kernel Extensions:

/Library/Extensions

[Loaded] MB_MBAM_Protection.kext (Malwarebytes Corporation, 3.2 - SDK 10.13)

[Loaded] SophosFileProtection.kext (Sophos, 9.7.4 - SDK 10.12)

[Loaded] SophosWebProtection.kext (Sophos, 9.7.4 - SDK 10.12)

/System/Library/Extensions

[Not Loaded] iavkfs.kext (1.0.1)

[Not Loaded] RoxioBluRaySupport.kext (1.1.6)

~/Library/Services/ToastIt.service/Contents/MacOS

[Not Loaded] TDIXController.kext (2.0)

System Launch Agents:

System Launch Daemons:

Launch Agents:

Launch Daemons:

User Launch Agents:

User Login Items:

Mail Application (Apple, Inc.

(/Applications/Mail.app)

iTunesHelper Application (Apple, Inc. - installed 2018-03-30)

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

Android File Transfer Agent Application

(~/Library/Application Support/Google/Android File Transfer/Android File Transfer Agent.app)

AppCleaner SmartDelete SMLoginItem (Julien Ramseier - installed 2016-11-02)

(/Applications/AppCleaner.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/AppCleaner SmartDelete.app)

Internet Plug-ins:

FlashPlayer-10.6: 29.0.0.113 (installed 2018-03-13)

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (installed 2018-03-30)

Flash Player: 29.0.0.113 (installed 2018-03-13)

EPPEX Plugin: 3.0.5.0 (installed 2015-07-09)

PepperFlashPlayer: 29.0.0.113 (installed 2018-03-13)

DirectorShockwave: 11.5.2r602 (installed 2015-07-09)

iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (installed 2015-07-09)

Safari Extensions:

3rd Party Preference Panes:

Flash Player (installed 2018-02-23)

Time Machine:

Skip System Files:

Mobile backups: No

Auto backup: No

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.01 GB - Disk used: 445.08 GB

Destinations:

D**a [Network] (Last used)

Total size: 2.00 TB

Total number of backups: 35

Oldest backup: 2016-08-02 02:24:43

Last backup: 2018-04-01 20:27:18

Top Processes by CPU:

Top Processes by Memory:

Top Processes by Network Use:

Top Processes by Energy Use:

Virtual Memory Information:

Software Installs (past 30 days):

Diagnostics Information (past 7 days):

2018-04-05 10:57:57 Last Shutdown Cause: 0 - Power loss (once)

End of report

OK, Eric. By the way, from what I can see, free Malwarebytes does automatically check for database protection updates. But contrary to the upgrade, the free version does not offer real-time protection so a user must engage the software manually when deemed fit. I figure that's why it is recommended to complement the free version with real-time AV protection. Anyway, I am glad we sorted this out - thank you for your support and my best wishes to you!

Eric, can you help me with another issue concerning mail attachments (see below)? I tried to open a new thread for this but somehow it didn't work (Post button unresponsive), so I thought about you...no bad feelings if you're not inclined...

Some images contained in the Photos library will not load in the mail message body as before - see pics:

from top to bottom 1) see one image in question - the one with the red figure - as displayed in Photos; 2) when trying to attach to a mail, this message is displayed - clicking the arrow prompts me to download the image file (never happened before!); 3) download fails giving this message though the file is obviously in the Photos library.

What's going on?

Hi Eric,

thanks again for your help!

How come I need a "workaround" for some images now? I never had this problem before! What went wrong? Is it a Mail issue? A Photos issue? A recent Mac glitch? Do you have an idea?

Same thing. As I understand it, Mail doesn't see/find the file for some reason.

Anyway, it's late here now, I am going to quit for today. I'll look at it again tomorrow and get back to you if you don't mind. Be well, Eric!

Hi Eric,

again, I tried to open a new thread with the recent Mail/Photos issue, but after I entered the text and added the three snapshots, the "Post" button was again unresponsive and nothing happened, so I am back here, continuing this under our old thread, which, if you ask me, is kind of misleading for whoever observes this. What's going on with the support community's page? How come I cannot post save for when continuing old threads? Also the option of choosing a particular support group was absent. Any idea?

Anyway, you suggested the workaround of putting the image from Photos into a new folder (I put it on the desktop) and to attach it to an email from there. But when I tried to drag the image into the folder, I got again the "...there is no such file" message. However, I did never delete the image! So, that's where we're at right now. Any other suggestions?