Systems Settings>General>Login Items

[stefanmaine]

What items should be checked at "System Settings>General>Login Items" on an iMac used by an ordinary old man with no extraordinary apps or unusual computer uses or questionable habits?

I ask because this morning, just for fun, I went there, and noticed a list of 18 items (see attached list) of which checked were:: Google Updater, Displays App, Logitech Options, Malwarebytes Corporation "3 items, 2 items affect all users", SS Protect Limited, VirusBarrier Scanner App.

I unchecked several (again, see attached list), leving Malwarebytes Corporation and VirusBarrier Scanner App checked figuring they provide necessary protection.
Clicking on SS Protect Limited opened "Enter your password" so I did nothing and came here.

 

[toMACsh]

I think you only need to have apps that you use very regularly as Login Items, especially the one you tend to use first. If you don't Shut Down and Restart often, what's included as a Login Item is not too important. You will leave apps open that you've used and want to use again a short time later (even the next day). Thus, your "work flow" will determine which apps are active.

 

[stefanmaine]

That makes sense. Thank you.

 

[Rod]

In my opinion Malwarebytes is rubbish, uses an unnecessary amount of CPU resources and costs money. As you already have VirusBarrier Scanner that's all you need. I'd recommend cancelling your subscription and uninstall MWBs. Otherwise I agree with toMACsh completely.

 

[IWT]

Hear! Hear! for Rod's description of Malwarebytes. Avoid it at all costs.

Ian

 

[stefanmaine]

“VirusBarrier Scanner that's all you need”
That sounds like I do not need (want?) “SS Protect Limited” ... whatever it may be. Is that so?

 

[pine man]

SS Protect Limited

I think you will find it is a form of anti virus software which I'm sure you don't actually need.

 

[IWT]

That sounds like I do not need (want?) “SS Protect Limited” ... whatever it may be. Is that so?

Agree with pine man. Make sure that you completely erase that product.

Ideally, that should be via a "Delete" option directly connected to the app; but if there isn't one be very careful to eradicate all parts of that app.

I use AppCleaner, which is a free app, which removes all the smaller, background parts of the app.

Ian

 

[stefanmaine]

“I use AppCleaner”
So do I ... now.

“SS Protect Limited” is in the list at System Settings but not at Go>Applications or AppCleaner>Show App List. Searching, I learned that TotalAV is related to SS Protect Limited. That is a familiar name. I may have had it years ago. But it does not appear at System Settings or AppCleaner>Show App List

If I deleted SS Protect Limited/TotalAV earlier at someone’s advice (here?) and did not “inform” System Settings (that is, deleted it “improperly”), would that explain why it still appears at System Settings>General>Login items?

And if so, to effect a proper (thorough) removal, should I download and reinstall SS Protect Limited, and then remove it with AppCleaner?

 

[MacInWin]

I would suggest you use a search tool like Find Any File or EasyFind to search for "SS Protect Limited" or some combination of those words to see if there is a fragment left that is loading at boot. Also searcch for "TotalAV" to see if there is anything left behind with that in the name. You can also try Etrecheck to see if it can find what's loading and where it's coming from. Then you can try to delete it from the source to see if it stays dead then. Make a good backup first, as deleting things directly can have strange results sometimes.

If it is an AV file, it may be difficult to delete. You may have to boot into Safe mode to free up the system. In extreme cases, you might have to boot from an external drive to gain access to the library where the junk is located, but that is really rare.

 

[stefanmaine]

"if there is a fragment left that is loading at boot"

Find Any File found nothing.
Easy Find found many. I stopped the search when it passed a thousand ... and counting. Attached is a small piece of it. The only name I recognize there is Google Earth.

Two questions:
Is my suggestion not sensible — "to effect a proper (thorough) removal, should I download and reinstall SS Protect Limited, and then remove it with AppCleaner?"

If not, do I care about remaining "fragments", however many they may be? I use my computer infrequently, only for email, fussing with a website I created for fun, reading the news. For my needs, the computer works fine, no issues that I am aware of, current storage is 922.4 GB available of 1.03 TB.

 

[MacInWin]

Is my suggestion not sensible — "to effect a proper (thorough) removal, should I download and reinstall SS Protect Limited, and then remove it with AppCleaner?"

I don't know, honestly. If it were not a/v, I would say "yes." But a/v software is pretty invasive and even AppCleaner may not be able to get it all.

A quick search found this:

What is SS PROTECT LIMITED? | Komando Community

I took advantage of a recent Kim Kommando discount for Total Adblock. I downloaded it to my MacBook Air laptop. I am afraid to install it now as there is

community.komando.com

and this:

Unusual login item - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

From those two, it would appear that SS Protect Limited is associated with Total AV and Total Adblock.

There is really no need for any antivirus software for the macOS, so I would recommend totally uninstalling it.

I did look at Total AV's website and found this:

How to Uninstall TotalAV

help.totalav.com

If not, do I care about remaining "fragments", however many they may be?

That is up to you. You brought the issue here for us to help. If you don't care, you don't need to do anything, but if I were you I would get rid of any and all third-party A/V software and just let macOS do what it does. If you use smart surfing techniques (don't download anything you are not totally sure of, avoid anything "free," stay away from dodgy websites and never click on a link in an ad or email, etc.) you should be fine. Keep the OS as up-to-date as you can and install updates from Apple when they are released.

 

[IWT]

Superb advice on all your above posts, Jake.

Wish I had your skills

Ian

 

[MacInWin]

Wish I had your skills

They came with scars from personal experiences, Ian!

 

[Rod]

The challenge for me is remembering what I did about them