Things to Know

EtreCheck is a unique app. Modern Macintosh computers are some of the most complex machines ever made. Sometimes, the details are very complicated. EtreCheck tries to help its users manage that complexity, get more enjoyment and use from their Macs, and maybe learn something along the way.

• Performance
  EtreCheck measures performance in several different ways, including CPU performance, disk drive I/O performance, and filesystem performance.
  
  In some cases, EtreCheck may report good performance when you are experiencing the opposite. This does not mean there is an error. It simply means that the kinds of tests that EtreCheck runs are looking at different things. A discrepancy between what EtreCheck reports under performance and what you experience is an important hint about where your problem exists.
  
  What performance values mean:
  
  Excellent: You have an SSD and your computer is in good health.
  
  Good: You have a mechanical hard drive and your computer is in good health. If you have an SSD, your performance should always be Excellent. If not, you have a problem, even if your performance is Good.
  
  Below average: Your computer is sick. If you have a mechanical hard drive, it may be failing. You may have some kind of software conflict.
  
  Poor: Your computer is critically sick. You should make a backup or otherwise save critical documents immediately. Your computer likely needs hardware repair.
  
  How is performance calculated?
  
  Excellent:
  • Your hard drive read and write speeds are greater than 200 MB/s;
  • Your filesystem test ran in under 60 seconds; and
  • The non-performance checks of EtreCheck ran in under 3 minutes.
  Good:
  • Your computer did not achieve an Excellent performance score but;
  • Your hard drive read and write speeds are greater than 40 MB/s;
  • Your filesystem test ran in under 90 seconds; and
  • The non-performance checks of EtreCheck ran in under 4 minutes.
  Below average:
  • Your computer did not achieve an Good performance score but;
  • Your hard drive read and write speeds are greater than 30 MB/s;
  • Your filesystem test ran in under 120 seconds; and
  • The non-performance checks of EtreCheck ran in under 8 minutes.
  Poor:
  • Your computer did not achieve an Below average performance score.
  
  
  Note: These values are very conservative to account for all of the real-world factors that may impact performance. For example, a top-of-the-line MacBook Pro can have hard drive read and write speeds of greater than 3000 MB/s, the filesystem test can run in under 30 seconds, and the rest of EtreCheck can complete in one minute.
  
  Additionaly, external drives can slow down the non-performance checks. If external drives are present, the “Good” and “Below average” ratings include a fudge-factor.
• Security
  Probably one of the most widely misunderstood topics is computer security. First of all, remember that Apple provides multiple layers of antivirus and malware protection in the macOS operating system itself. You don’t need any 3rd party antivirus protection. When you first turned on your Mac, it was probably the most secure that it has ever been. Most suggestions posted on the internet to install software or change system settings will make your computer less secure. Many popular 3rd party security products are simply scams and give you no protection of any kind.
  
  Most of the popular media headlines about security exploits do not concern your Macintosh. Do not pay attention to news media or bloggers. Trust Apple. Apple has a team of professional software engineers who specialize in system security. If your computer needs an update for security, Apple will provide it.
  
  The only security issue that is really a problem for Mac users is adware. Technically speaking, Adware is legal, although not ethical, and produced by actual companies, sometimes large companies. Adware uses deception and scams to trick you into installing it. Apple’s built-in security will not protect you from adware. Many popular 3rd security products also provide no protection from adware.
  
  EtreCheck will detect, and help you disable, virtually any current or new adware. Unlike traditional security software, EtreCheck does not rely exclusively on a signature list of known adware. Instead, EtreCheck looks at the behaviour and characteristics of software on your system in order to classify it as adware or not. EtreCheck only disables adware, rendering it a harmless file. EtreCheck cannot completely remove adware. There are a handful of other software products that can effectively and completely remove adware, but they require system modifications that could make your computer slow down or crash. These other products also cannot detect brand new adware as effectively as EtreCheck. If you have any questions about software that might be adware, EtreCheck allows you to ask for help from Apple Support Communities or directly from Etresoft itself.
• Apple Support Communities
  EtreCheck was designed for use in Apple Support Communities. On Apple Support Communities, there are thousands of knowledgeable volunteers available 24/7 to help you with your Mac problems. In virtually every case, you will receive prompt, polite, and effective help on Apple Support Communities. However, this forum is publicly accessible by anyone on the internet. Not everyone is prompt, polite, knowledgeable, or honest. Etresoft is not responsible for any suggestions or procedures that could damage your computer or cause you to lose data. Before you can copy your EtreCheck report, you will have to acknowledge this and agree to the EtreCheck Terms of Use. Unfortunately, that is just the world we live in today.