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"Updates for this Mac are managed by swscan.apple.com" - what is it?

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Apr 16, 2020
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For this first time, I'm seeing this message in the Software Update preferences on my Mac (M1 mini Big Sur 11.5.1) for the available 11.5.2 update. There's an option to restore default update settings? I'm quite sure I didn't change anything related to this. I researched a bit but couldn't find a good answer.

What does it mean and are there any advantages or disadvantages of letting it stand or restoring the default method?

Screen Shot 2021-08-11 at 3.52.19 PM.png
 
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Sounds like an MDM profile might have been pushed. Company asset?
 
NoBoMac said:
Sounds like an MDM profile might have been pushed. Company asset?
Click to expand...
No, it's my personal machine. The only new software installed in the last six weeks is the Surfshark VPN -- could that be related?
 
Shouldn't. Only other thing that I can think of is if you ever had a beta on there. Maybe some leftovers causing hiccups.

At this point, I'd probably just go with "Restore Defaults". Get to a clean(ish) setup.
 
NoBoMac said:
Shouldn't. Only other thing that I can think of is if you ever had a beta on there. Maybe some leftovers causing hiccups.

At this point, I'd probably just go with "Restore Defaults". Get to a clean(ish) setup.
Click to expand...
No betas on this machine. I reopened SW Update and that message is gone. How odd. I'm going to dig around for more info.
 
I did find a bit more info about apparently that message is related to the Big Sur betas, but I haven't even been to the beta page and never enrolled, installed or anything related to it. Seems odd but maybe it was something temporary when the 15.2 was released.

mrmacintosh.com

Big Sur Beta not Showing up in Software Update + Troubleshooting

Big Sur Beta is live! Are you having trouble downloading it? Having a hard time just getting the new update to show in Software Update? + Install Problems
mrmacintosh.com mrmacintosh.com

Thanks @NoBoMac for jumping in. Your input is always appreciated.
 
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The issue is not OS specific. swscan.apple.com is the server address for Apple's update server. It looks like the settings for updates has got changed on the OP's computer and as such it is asking the OP do they want to restore the update settings back to default.

All it is are settings that help updating the computer be as smooth and as less human interaction as possible. Maybe updates was turned off or the time of day updates are checked was changed, things like that.
 
I've had the same several times earlier this year and had to click Restore Defaults and additionally manually reboot to get that to go away.

Have also had Software Update offering to install beta versions of the Xcode Command Line Tools.

I've never opted into any beta program from Apple, so evidently they are getting sloppy in terms of different update channels being fenced off from each other.
 
Last edited:
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Weird, just saw this for the first time. I've been intending to update to 11.5.2 but I'm still on 11.5.1. I needed to reboot so was finally going to hit "go" on the upgrade. I still saw the red (1) badge on Software Update but when I go into the panel it says "Your Mac is up to date -- macOS Big Sur 11.5.1. Last checked: Today at 3:57 pm" and I see this new badge on the left under the gears "Updates for this Mac are manager by 'swscan.apple.com' Details …"

It's concerning. Not a work machine, no MDM profiles or entitlements. I do have XProtect enabled ("Install system data files and security updates").
 
tedd4u said:
Weird, just saw this for the first time. I've been intending to update to 11.5.2 but I'm still on 11.5.1. I needed to reboot so was finally going to hit "go" on the upgrade. I still saw the red (1) badge on Software Update but when I go into the panel it says "Your Mac is up to date -- macOS Big Sur 11.5.1. Last checked: Today at 3:57 pm" and I see this new badge on the left under the gears "Updates for this Mac are manager by 'swscan.apple.com' Details …"

It's concerning. Not a work machine, no MDM profiles or entitlements. I do have XProtect enabled ("Install system data files and security updates").
Click to expand...

Totally bizarre. I hit ⌘R in the Software Update window and now it knows about 11.5.2 again and the "swscan.apple.com" text disappeared. Hope someone figures out what's going on here. Doesn't breed confidence.
 
tedd4u said:
Totally bizarre. I hit ⌘R in the Software Update window and now it knows about 11.5.2 again and the "swscan.apple.com" text disappeared. Hope someone figures out what's going on here. Doesn't breed confidence.
Click to expand...
I went ahead with the update which apparently had been partially downloaded and got these two messages

Failed to personalize the software update. Please try again.
An error occurred while downloading the selected updates. Please check your internet connection and try again.
Click to expand...
 
I was wondering why the latest beta was not showing up on my M1 Mini - then I noticed the swscan. Reset did nothing but reinstalling the Beta Key did.
 
Well that did not work - the beta looked and looked for an update but was just stuck.

I found a teddy thread where someone claimed to have a magical terminal trick that you did in recovery mode. That had some effect but again the system updater was stuck in a loop and would endlessly look for an update.

The only thing that worked was to reinstall the system software from recovery mode - one positive the recovery mode updater recognized that I was on the Beta and updated to the latest Beta saving me the hassle of updating and then reinstalling the Beta.
 
WildSky said:
For this first time, I'm seeing this message in the Software Update preferences on my Mac (M1 mini Big Sur 11.5.1) for the available 11.5.2 update. There's an option to restore default update settings? I'm quite sure I didn't change anything related to this. I researched a bit but couldn't find a good answer.

What does it mean and are there any advantages or disadvantages of letting it stand or restoring the default method?

View attachment 1817476
Click to expand...
This has reared its head again in Monterey as well:
1635197116555.png
 
My iMac has this and it's great. Since it thinks updates are managed, it never prompts me to install Big Sur (and now Monterey). After all, it's not actually talking to a management system.

I wish I knew where the software switch was so I could do the same thing to my laptop.
 
Just to confirm, what are the results for
Code: 
sudo /usr/bin/profiles -P
and
Code: 
sudo /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Seeding.framework/Versions/A/Resources/seedutil current
?
 
Founds this on Apples disccusion forum from 2014

swscan.apple.com error - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com discussions.apple.com

Where it is ticked as solved by OP, the person who gave the advice said it was being caused by a trojan virus called iWorm. Is that really what is going on in this thread with peoples machines!!??
 
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