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DeferredInstall

This time it's for real. The sky is fallng.


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Try It

Boy some people sure are dumb. Most of these people could probably act smarter if given half a chance, but when Apple user experience engineers get hired because they're so good at thinking like the dumbest of the dumb, there's not much hope.

The latest crack in the celestial dome is the directory /System/DeferredInstall. You have to be a bit lucky to see it.

The name gives the game away. But you wouldn't know it by reading the forums.

You gotta be careful who you ask of course. Especially on the Apple boards. Some of the gits there are downright mean.



Perhaps the best comes from a board not run by Cupertino.



There's something inherently pointless in trying to deal with someone who can't read and can't type. Things wouldn't have been this bad half a generation ago when people still had to work as hard at their computers as they do to learn to drive a car.

But that's not the case anymore - there's big money in stupid people - and things like DeferredInstall happen.

DeferredInstall install contains - hold on tight now - files for a deferred install. It is not a new occurrence. The quote above is from 2012. The practice has been around a while. But here's nineteen new people noticing it less than two days ago:



Apple just came out with a security update and a Safari update. Some of that stuff gets installed in single user mode.

Here's the full list of files courtesy Terminal.app and Rixstep.

total 0
drwx------  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x+ 4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwx------  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 Root
drwx------  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 Scripts

DeferredInstall/Root:
total 0
drwx------  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwx------  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 System
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 usr

DeferredInstall/Root/System:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwx------  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 Library

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 PreferencePanes

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 Security.prefPane
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 SoftwareUpdate.prefPane

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  7 root  wheel  238 Mar 23 23:35 Contents

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x   7 root  wheel   238 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x   3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  1395 Mar 23 23:35 Info.plist
drwxr-xr-x   3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 MacOS
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel  1122 Mar 23 23:35 Resources
drwxr-xr-x   3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 _CodeSignature
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   459 Mar 23 23:35 version.plist

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/MacOS:
total 456
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel     102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  7 root  wheel     238 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  629648 Mar 23 23:35 Security

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel  1122 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x   7 root  wheel   238 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 Dutch.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 English.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 French.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 German.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 Italian.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 Japanese.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 Security.scripting
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 Spanish.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 ar.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 ca.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 cs.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 da.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel   306 Mar 23 23:35 el.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 fi.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 he.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 hr.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 hu.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 ko.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 no.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 pl.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 pt.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 pt_PT.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel   306 Mar 23 23:35 ro.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 ru.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel   306 Mar 23 23:35 sk.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 sv.lproj
drwxr-xr-x  10 root  wheel   340 Mar 23 23:35 th.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 tr.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel   306 Mar 23 23:35 uk.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 zh_CN.lproj
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel   272 Mar 23 23:35 zh_TW.lproj

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Dutch.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12604 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   21335 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5998 Jan 30 04:03 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5033 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  132312 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8067 Jan 30 04:03 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/English.lproj:
total 152
drwxr-xr-x   3 root  wheel     102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  134127 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/French.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12734 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22910 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6089 Jan 30 04:03 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5150 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  140581 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8175 Jan 30 04:03 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/German.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12706 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   23006 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5990 Jan 23 06:34 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5019 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  139017 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8106 Jan 23 06:34 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Italian.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12607 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22275 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5981 Jan 30 04:05 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5030 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  135215 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8060 Jan 30 04:05 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Japanese.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12593 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   21190 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5973 Jan 30 04:03 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5018 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  131546 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8049 Jan 30 04:03 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Security.scripting:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x   3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel  1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x   6 root  wheel   204 Mar 23 23:35 Contents

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Security.scripting/Contents:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  6 root  wheel   204 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel  1066 Mar 23 23:35 Info.plist
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 MacOS
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 _CodeSignature
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel   459 Mar 23 23:35 version.plist

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Security.scripting/Contents/MacOS:
total 48
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel    102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  6 root  wheel    204 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  75200 Mar 23 23:35 Security

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Security.scripting/Contents/_CodeSignature:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  6 root  wheel   204 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel  1935 Mar 23 23:35 CodeResources

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/Spanish.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12744 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22495 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6036 Jan 30 04:03 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5133 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  139429 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8135 Jan 30 04:03 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/ar.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12760 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22287 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6040 Jan 23 06:36 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5131 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  135911 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8132 Jan 23 06:36 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/ca.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12680 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22671 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6041 Jan 30 04:03 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5115 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  138518 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8131 Jan 30 04:03 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/cs.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12716 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22681 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6037 Jan 23 06:36 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5080 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  137026 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8088 Jan 23 06:36 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/da.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12609 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22543 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5981 Jan 30 04:04 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5049 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  137272 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8073 Jan 30 04:04 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/el.lproj:
total 264
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel     306 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12715 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   23216 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6053 Jan 30 04:03 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   38859 Mar 23 23:35 Localizable.strings
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5172 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  141377 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8152 Jan 30 04:03 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12670 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22120 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6035 Jan 23 06:31 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5087 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  137318 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8038 Jan 23 06:31 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/he.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12714 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   21993 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6007 Jan 23 06:40 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5074 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  134365 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8103 Jan 23 06:40 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/hr.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12681 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22466 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5999 Jan 23 06:39 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5116 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  137139 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8063 Jan 23 06:39 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/hu.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12745 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22812 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6077 Jan 23 06:38 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5092 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  139580 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8102 Jan 23 06:38 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/ko.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12619 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   21348 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5961 Jan 23 06:35 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5026 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  130401 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8026 Jan 23 06:35 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/no.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12580 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22502 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5972 Jan 30 04:05 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5044 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  136356 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8034 Jan 30 04:05 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/pl.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12714 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22571 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6003 Jan 23 06:36 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5129 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  138070 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8083 Jan 23 06:36 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/pt.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12632 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22738 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6065 Jan 26 03:17 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5087 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  138993 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8039 Jan 26 03:17 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/pt_PT.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12718 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22598 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6029 Jan 30 04:03 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5117 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  139809 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8116 Jan 30 04:03 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/ro.lproj:
total 264
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel     306 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12717 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22933 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6032 Jan 23 06:37 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   34865 Mar 23 23:35 Localizable.strings
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5098 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  139359 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8110 Jan 23 06:37 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/ru.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12749 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22731 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6048 Jan 23 06:33 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5108 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  139357 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8119 Jan 23 06:33 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/sk.lproj:
total 264
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel     306 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12714 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22572 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6043 Jan 23 06:39 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   30549 Mar 23 23:35 Localizable.strings
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5106 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  137303 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8104 Jan 23 06:39 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/sv.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12684 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22492 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6051 Jan 30 04:05 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5065 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  137260 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8111 Jan 30 04:05 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/th.lproj:
total 264
drwxr-xr-x  10 root  wheel     340 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12716 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22194 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6013 Jan 23 06:34 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   29451 Mar 23 23:35 Localizable.strings
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5096 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6050 Mar 23 23:35 Security.searchTerms
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  136356 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8098 Jan 23 06:34 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/tr.lproj:
total 240
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12710 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22543 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6051 Jan 23 06:35 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5079 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  137593 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8076 Jan 23 06:35 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/uk.lproj:
total 264
drwxr-xr-x   9 root  wheel     306 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12745 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   22893 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    6053 Jan 23 06:39 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   31846 Mar 23 23:35 Localizable.strings
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5130 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  138074 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8128 Jan 23 06:39 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/zh_CN.lproj:
total 232
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12601 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   20819 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5927 Jan 23 06:35 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    4998 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  127963 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8014 Jan 23 06:35 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj:
total 232
drwxr-xr-x   8 root  wheel     272 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  33 root  wheel    1122 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   12603 Mar 23 23:35 ChangeUserPassword.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel   20752 Mar 23 23:35 FDERecovery.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    5937 Jan 26 03:17 FDEUserRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    4998 Mar 23 23:35 LocationAppRow.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel  128009 Mar 23 23:35 SecurityPref.nib
-rw-r--r--   1 root  wheel    8016 Jan 26 03:17 SetPassword.nib

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Security.prefPane/Contents/_CodeSignature:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  7 root  wheel   238 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel  2828 Mar 23 23:35 CodeResources

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/SoftwareUpdate.prefPane:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  6 root  wheel  204 Mar 23 23:35 Contents

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/SoftwareUpdate.prefPane/Contents:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  6 root  wheel   204 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel  1384 Mar 23 23:35 Info.plist
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 MacOS
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 _CodeSignature
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel   461 Mar 23 23:35 version.plist

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/SoftwareUpdate.prefPane/Contents/MacOS:
total 32
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel    102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  6 root  wheel    204 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  60656 Mar 23 23:35 SoftwareUpdate

DeferredInstall/Root/System/Library/PreferencePanes/SoftwareUpdate.prefPane/Contents/_CodeSignature:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel   102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  6 root  wheel   204 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel  1835 Mar 23 23:35 CodeResources

DeferredInstall/Root/usr:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwx------  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 lib
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 share

DeferredInstall/Root/usr/lib:
total 288
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel     102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel     136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rwxr-xr-x  1 root  wheel  383216 Mar 23 23:35 libsandbox.1.dylib

DeferredInstall/Root/usr/share:
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 icu

DeferredInstall/Root/usr/share/icu:
total 11984
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel       102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwxr-xr-x  3 root  wheel       102 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-rw-r--r--  1 root  wheel  16402752 Mar 23 23:35 icudt46l.dat

DeferredInstall/Scripts:
total 8
drwx------  3 root  wheel  102 Mar 23 23:35 .
drwx------  4 root  wheel  136 Mar 23 23:35 ..
-r-x------  1 root  wheel  241 Feb 23 20:40 Shove

You can also run Tracker to see what happens when you reboot.

But printing Tracker's file list here (over 1 MB) isn't going to happen this time. Apple had a system upgrade, and that's that.

Apple needed to get at some of your system stuff, and that's either very difficult or outright impossible when you're logged in.

And the directory /System/DeferredInstall - and all its contents - disappears once the upgrade is complete. Of course it does.

But there is an issue here. Your /System directory is locked down really good. It's owned by root:wheel and only writeable by root:wheel. Meaning only root:wheel can put DeferredInstall in there to begin with.

  • Do you know how to become root:wheel? No?

  • Do you remember giving Apple permission to put files in /System?

  • Do you remember seeing an authorisation panel - a password prompt?

  • How does it feel knowing Apple control your computer remotely better than you do?

  • Are you sure it was Apple? How can you be sure?

The sky might be falling at last. And in such case, it's Apple putting the cracks in it.

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