What are GenUtility and fmpd? They want access to private things.

Correct, I told my computer to only let App Store apps run, but before that, it had the option to install anything

McAfee acknowledges the "contacts" access violation as a "Known Issue/Product Defect" (fmpd, n.d.) and is going to change fmpd and other programs in the future (fmpd, n.d.). See options and description/fixes below.

For any users who have seen FMPD: Yes, I just installed McAfee and fmpd asked me for permission to see my contacts. In the past, McAfee protected me from other programs accessing my contacts, that is why I installed it again. I told mcafee no.

As far as Viruses. Yes, my MacBook got a Trojan style virus recently after installing Adobe Flash. Next, I found three apps installed without permission. Luckily, flash is going away soon. Flash was required by a school link, but the version provided was not from Adobe, at least not the other apps with it. F-Secure did not remove historic / TMP files so I am hoping McAfee fairs better.

As far as Contacts, I have had random utility apps try to access my contacts before. Unfortunately, I had run one of them without antivirus at first. I probably lost my contacts to someone out there.

Hope that people can maintain some privacy.

From McAfee:

"fmpd or GenUtility would like to access your contacts or photos

Document ID: TS102882

'Problem 

When you try to install McAfee security software for Mac, such as LiveSafe or Total Protection, or run it for the first time, you might see one of the following messages: 

·      "fmpd" would like to access your contacts.

·      "fmpd" would like to access your photos.

"The message looks like the following:

     <<Image located on McAfee site>>

[   “fmpd” would like to access your contacts. ]

[   ?                              [Don’t’ Allow}  [OK]      ]

"You might also see these variations of the message that reference other McAfee components: 

·      "McAfeeMacInstaller" would like to access your contacts.

·      “GenUtility” would like to access your contacts.

"NOTES: 

·      This issue occurs only on macOS Mojave (10.14) or later.

·      You might also see the above messages when you are uninstalling or removing your McAfee software from your Mac.

Cause

The messages shown above are displayed because of changes in the way that macOS Mojave manages access to operating system components that might contain personal information, such as: 

·      Your Mac's location

·      Your photos

·      Your contacts

·      Your calendar and reminders

·      Your camera

·      Your microphone

"Starting with macOS Mojave, when an app tries to access any of these items of information, you are prompted to allow or deny access.

"Solution 

McAfee does not need access to your contacts or photos, and so this issue will be fixed in a future software update to our Mac security software. In the meantime, use the Workaround shown below.

"NOTE: Some apps use your personal information to provide you with additional services and features. For example, an app might use your contacts to help you address emails or share messages with friends.

"Workaround 

When you see one of the messages shown above: 

1.   Click Don't Allow. McAfee security software for Mac does not need access to your photos or contacts.

2.   Restart your Mac.

"If you have already authorized access to your photos or contacts, you can revoke this access at any time by following the steps below: 

1.   Click the Apple menu icon on the top left of your desktop.

2.   Click System Preferences.

3.   Click Security & Privacy.

4.   Click the Privacy tab:

5.    <<Image located on McAfee site>>

6.   Click the lock icon at bottom left and type your password. System Preferences unlocks.

7.   Click Contact and deselect fmpd or any other McAfee services.

8.   Check the other items, such as Photos, and perform the same steps to revoke access to any McAfee services if you have previously granted them access.

"You can learn more about controlling the personal information that you share with apps by viewing this Apple Support document" ("fmpd or GenUtility would like to access your contacts or photos." (n.d.). Customer Support: Knowledge Center. Retrieved from McAfee KB - fmpd or GenUtility would like to access your ...OR https://service.mcafee.com/webcenter/portal/cp/home/articleview?locale=en_US&articleId=TS102882).

ShinehahGnolaum wrote:

.... I didn't think Apple allows third party software on Mac mini without me downloading them first. I don't remember downloading those things.

They don't. Both items belong to the Mcafee Antivirus application which you must have installed yourself.

Why Mcafee requires access to your contacts is a different matter, and should be addressed to them.

Note, that in general AntiVirus applications are not required on a Mac and generally just cause performance and other issues on the computer. You may want to think about removing McAfee.

T_Kamp wrote:

You beat me to it. I was just about to reply to you. On further investigation on my Macbook I found both files in my list of items that have recently requested permissions from my apps in Security & Privacy. When right-clicking on the file in the list it gives a "show in finder" selection. When you click that it does in fact show the file path from McAfee and the files exist within. Both GenUtility and fmpd appear to be some type of Execute file. Not sure what for.

Also, I closed my livechat and opened a new one to get a new technician. This one did confirm they are files related to McAfee and that they pose to risk or issue to the computer. The McAfee research team allegedly is currently working on correcting the issue of the pop up.

Good to know.

Glad you got a more knowledgeable technician the second time.

You beat me to it. I was just about to reply to you. On further investigation on my Macbook I found both files in my list of items that have recently requested permissions from my apps in Security & Privacy. When right-clicking on the file in the list it gives a "show in finder" selection. When you click that it does in fact show the file path from McAfee and the files exist within. Both GenUtility and fmpd appear to be some type of Execute file. Not sure what for.

Also, I closed my livechat and opened a new one to get a new technician. This one did confirm they are files related to McAfee and that they pose to risk or issue to the computer. The McAfee research team allegedly is currently working on correcting the issue of the pop up.

Whoever you chatted with seems to be ill informed about their own products.

From their own Knowledge Center:

FMPD: Antivirus Software and Internet Security For Your PC or Mac | McAfee

fmdp is located inside McAfee's own folder: /usr/local/McAfee/fmp/bin/fmpd

Genutility 5 is also in the bin folder there: /usr/local/McAfee/fmp/bin/GenUtility 5

Both would then appear to be installed by Mcafee there, as there's no other conceivable way they would be there.

Mac viruses are very very very few. In general Antivirus for Mac only scans for Windows viruses that would not affect the Mac, and only cause performance issues and slowdowns.

Also, Macs already have built in security to prevent virus and malware infections through several mechanisms.

Read here: macOS - Security - Apple

Hi!

I had the same messages today after an installation of McAfee.

I try to dowload something yesterday and thought my macbook was attack by a virus

so I download McAfee, I found the virus today and delete it, and since then I have thoses messages with "Gen Utility" and "fmpd" for access to my contact.

I don't know what to do now, because it seems Mcafee did his job with one of the spiware but on the other hand, it slows my OS and it's terrible...

I installed MacAfee after getting a virus on my MAC, which upset me a LOT! It was a minor virus...took over my safari but wasn't one that stole any data. That didn't matter to me, what it told me was that the MAC antivirus didn't do it's job. I can't remember the name of it now, but I had to google it to find out how to remove it, and that was simple, but I'm still not ready to trust apple yet.

Phil,

I reached out to McAfee via LiveChat and the tech there claims that "GenUtility" and "fmpd" are NOT related to McAfee. Do you have any other information on these items? Or any other way to verify if they are in-fact from McAfee? I have the same request pop-ups and am trying to figure the best course of action.

hey, let us not be gassed by saying MacOS cant be infected by viruses.... it sounds like a big lie to me but in fact its a Big lie. My iMac was infected, Safari kept loading pages after pages....in short until I install McAfee.

First I called McAfee, but they wouldn't talk to me because I got their program from Cox. So I calledI and they told me that fmpd would back up my contacts and calendar. I decided that since McAfee wasn't up front about what they were doing (assuming Cox was correct), I didn't want to deal with them any more. In my experience, McAfee is not acting in an honest, cybersecurity conscious way. Bye, bye. Now that you've reported the same security issues from BlueStacks, I'm not sure that it was McAfee.

There are other antivirus programs around.

I’m currently infected with MacOSDefender and MacPerfarmance

Do not so sure about the can’t be infected with viruses

I got virus one may iMac , because i turn off the firewall , but only then . But i have had problems because of the McAfee so that program have to go .

Get rid of McAfee. You don't need it. Like all third party anti-virus applications it can seriously interfere with MacOS.

No viruses in the wild have ever been noted to affect MacOS, an operating system that includes all the security features you need.