macOS Malware Scans Slowing App Launches

Developer Jeff Johnson discovered that macOS's syspolicyd process performs malware scans on applications, causing slow launches for apps like Xcode, FileMerge, and Google Chrome. These scans consume significant CPU resources, leading to noticeable delays even for small apps. Johnson suspects syspolicyd scans not only the app itself but also its linked libraries. He resolved the issue by disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP), but this also disables some system services. The article explores the root cause and expresses frustration with this seemingly unnecessary security measure, preferring background scans to foreground interruptions.