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The macOS 15 Sequoia update causes compatibility issues with some antivirus programs, web browsers, VPNs, and cybersecurity products.
According to reports on the Internet, the update, which was released on September 16, has caused problems with ESET software, Windows Defender for Endpoint, CrowdStrike Falcon, Mullvad VPN, and even the Firefox and Google Chrome browsers.
Some of these compatibility issues can be resolved by opening your Mac’s Terminal app and typing specific commands. Firefox and Chrome users will need to open their Terminal apps. As software engineer Waclaw Jacek explains, macOS Sequoia users will need to add their third-party web browsers to their device’s firewall to re-enable web browsing.
A Firefox representative told PCMag in a statement, “We’ve received reports from some users that Firefox is being blocked by the macOS firewall after upgrading to macOS 15. We’ve reported the issue to Apple, but we have not been able to reproduce the issue in our own testing.” Firefox’s website notes that the issue may only impact those who had the macOS firewall enabled before upgrading.
CrowdStrike, whose software caused a massive Windows outage this summer, won’t support macOS Sequoia at launch. A CrowdStrike engineer reportedly said in an internal Slack channel that “a ton” of changes are happening and that it should fix its code in a future sensor update.
Cybersecurity firm ESET’s software also has compatibility issues with the latest macOS update. Affected users should go to System Settings > Network > Filters > ESET Network and select the “minus” icon to remove it. If that doesn’t work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the latest version of the software.
If you have Microsoft Defender for Endpoint installed on your Mac, Microsoft says it’s best to hold off on installing macOS Sequoia for the time being. “If you have Network Protection enabled, you may see network extension (NetExt) crashes,” Microsoft explains on its site. “This will result in intermittent network connectivity issues for end users. We recommend that customers who have Network Protection enabled in their organizations avoid upgrading to Sequoia builds at this time.”
Several Norton users have reported problems with their antivirus software after upgrading to Sequoia. But MalwareBytes says its software is compatible with the update; it has released a series of troubleshooting steps if you’re installing it for the first time. Bitdefender and SentinelOne also say their software is compatible with Sequoia. A representative for Gen Digital, which owns Avast, tells PCMag that it’s not aware of any compatibility issues with its products.
As for VPNs on Mac, Proton, Bitdefender, NordVPN, and Kaspersky should work fine, but some Reddit users are reporting compatibility issues with ExpressVPN and MullvadVPN after the Sequoia update.
While Sequoia does have some compatibility issues, it does bring some major new features, including iPhone Mirroring, easier window organization, Safari updates, a dedicated Password app, and updates to Apple’s Messages, Maps, Notes, and Photos, to name a few.