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Mac mini experiencing unexpected shutdowns

A virus keeps shutting dow my Mini Mac

I have to

manually shut off the Mac and restart the computer to be able to use the computer


help!!!!!

I can't use my computer because it is constantly being shutdown


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac mini, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 7, 2024 9:51 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 7, 2024 10:15 AM

And additionally, if you only see the alert when opening Safari, then after a restart hold the shift key down before clicking on Safari. This will open it in a new window instead of the scam you were viewing before.


It is not a virus. Malware can be installed with your permission and can be easily removed also. Many apps act like Malware including:

  • Cleaners
  • Optimizers
  • AntiVirus
16 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 7, 2024 10:15 AM in response to 910-MAD51

And additionally, if you only see the alert when opening Safari, then after a restart hold the shift key down before clicking on Safari. This will open it in a new window instead of the scam you were viewing before.


It is not a virus. Malware can be installed with your permission and can be easily removed also. Many apps act like Malware including:

  • Cleaners
  • Optimizers
  • AntiVirus

Nov 7, 2024 10:01 AM in response to 910-MAD51

910-MAD51 wrote:

I cant't get anything done. I need to use my computer! Please

If you want help, you'll need to provide people with the information they've requested.


Apple is supposed to be immune to virus and malware

That is correct. You don't have a virus. Something is certainly wrong with your computer but, until you accept that it's not a virus, people are not going to be able to help you.

Nov 9, 2024 11:32 AM in response to 910-MAD51

Reset your Mac to factory i.e. perform a full erase. See What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support on how.


For the reset procedure, avoid Time Machine and setup as new. Once up, install Apps manually and manually copy over data files (pdf, docx, jpegs, xlsx etc. from external disk - those files should be manually copied to external disk prior to reset). Be sure to not install dodgy apps that claim to protect against viruses or improve performance.


Good luck!


Nov 7, 2024 9:55 AM in response to 910-MAD51

Making such assumptions don't help anything. There are no Mac viruses. None. Zero.


Explain what you're doing right before the Mac stops responding. I have to presume that's what you mean since to most people, "shut down" and "shut off" are the same thing.


Clearly, your Mac is not shutting down.

Are you getting a kernel panic screen similar to this?


Nov 9, 2024 11:07 AM in response to 910-MAD51

That's vague. But to you mean you had your bank account open in web browser? And then - and this is important - while you had your browser open, you suddenly got a popup that your Mac was infected with some random number of viruses?


Or, I'm guessing much more likely, while Safari is open, you're getting notifications that claim you have viruses on your Mac and to download McAfee, or some other sort of garbage software?


If it's the last one, do this:


If these notices are sliding in the from the top right of the screen, a site you visited has given itself permission to send push notifications. Everything you're seeing is nothing but a scam.


Open Safari's preferences (Settings). Click on the Websites tab and then scroll down to Notifications. Clear any entries in the right hand window. You might find something similar in the Pop-up Windows heading below that. Block any you don't recognize.


Then if you want, uncheck the box to the right, as shown below here.


I personally can't think of any reason why I would ever want any website to push notices to me.


Nov 7, 2024 4:39 PM in response to 910-MAD51

910-MAD51 wrote:

What more do you want? I repeat: A VIRUS SHUTS DOWN MY COMPUTER.


While it is possible this is caused by some malware app — what you're calling a virus — crashes can also be caused by a hardware problem, and by add-on apps. The many add-on anti-virus apps available can be sources of hangs and crashes, for instance.


Please download (free) and run EtreCheck, and share the generated report to the clipboard. Then open a new reply here, and press the Additional Text button that looks (vaguely) like a printed page to get a text input box big enough to paste the hardware and software configuration report here, and please paste and post that report here.


If there are problem apps installed, then the hardware and software configuration report will usually show that. That configuration report can also show information on potential hardware errors, too.

Mac mini experiencing unexpected shutdowns

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