cannot scan, already uninstalled and reinstalled

[tomstockfisch]

I suddenly got a "-" subscript on my top bar icon for malwarebytes.

If I open the app and try to scan I get

BACKGROUND SERVICE IS OFFLINE

 

I  have tried restarting, and also uninstalling and reinstalling.

Nothing helps.

 

[alvarnell]

Normally, both those things indicate that you don't have Internet connectivity. But if you posted to the Forum from that Mac, we can rule that out.

It's also possible that there is an issue with the Malwarebytes server that verifies your subscription and / or updates your malware database, in which case you can only wait for service to be available again.

If you using some sort of 3rd party firewall software (e.g. Little Snitch, Hands Off or LuLu) make sure that Malwarebytes has all connectivity needs enabled.

[tomstockfisch]

Actually, what turned out to be the case is that I added a 2d user to my laptop earlier in the day, using dscl from the terminal command line.

As soon as I deleted the 2d user Malwarebytes started working again.

I don't have any 3rd party firewell software, and I only have the free personal version.

[alvarnell]

Interesting.

Curious why you chose to use dscl rather than System Preferences->Users & Groups to add that second user?

[treed]

I suspect that something must have been done improperly with dscl, and that messed up the state of the system and the loaded launch agents/daemons.