Issue:
Why does the F-Secure product (SAFE / Anti-Virus) show "Security Cloud Malfunction" error notification on my Mac computer?
Resolution:
This issue may be related to a corrupt "hosts" file on the Mac.
First, you can try to restart your Mac computer. If the issue still present, follow the steps below to reset the hosts file on the Mac:
Steps:
- From the Finder, navigate to Go → Go to Folder
- Type this in the Go to Folder window: /private/etc/hosts
- From the finder window, click and drag the hosts file to the desktop. (we're doing this because we can't open the hosts file directly and edit it)
- Double-click the hosts file (on the desktop) and it will open in TextEdit (or any default text editor on your Mac)
- Erase everything in it. Copy the following piece of text and paste it into the hosts file
##
# Host Database
#
#
# localhost is used to configure the lookback interface
# when the system is booting. Do not change this entry.
##
127.0.0.1 localhost
255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
::1 localhost
fe80::1%lo0 localhost
- Save this file
- Open Go to Folder window
- Open /private/etc/hosts again
- Drag the hosts file on desktop back to the /etc/ folder. You will be asked about the existing hosts file
- Choose Replace and authenticate with the admin password when asked for it
You can also contact F-Secure Customer Support via chat for remote assistance to reset the hosts file.
Note:
As we don't rely on hosts file anymore in currently available versions, a re-installation of the F-Secure product on your Mac computer should also solve the issue.
If the issue still persists after performing the reset of hosts file above, there is a possibility that it is caused by a cleaning application (for example, MacCleaner Pro, App Cleaner or etc) that disables the third party services to improve the performance.
In order to solve this, you may consider to implement the following steps and check if there is any improvement.
1. Remove F-Secure SAFE for Mac if it is currently installed.
2. Open Terminal app. It is located in "Applications" default macOS directory.
It has a subdirectory called "Utilities". Terminal app is located there.
3. Execute all the commands below one by one.
Enter an administrator's password if it is asked by the Terminal app.
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.fscsafeadmind
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.fsmac.fsupdated_guts2
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.fsmac.guts2downloader
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.orspclient
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.fscsafesettingsd
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.fsmac.licensetool
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.fsctelemetryd
sudo launchctl enable system/com.f-secure.fsavd.dbhelper
4. Install F-Secure SAFE for Mac again.
Article no: 000002078
