Noticeable lags when switch between desktops as well as browser tabs

You have brand new hardware and a relatively new OS. This increases the probability of third party software conflicts. I would uninstall Avast (apparently not running, but still there) and, especially, all the paragon stuff. Then test. If that doesn't help, try uninstalling cisco vpn stuff. Usually the cisco stuff works ok, but maybe it is not compatible with the newest hardware/OS.

ohuohuo wrote:

Thank you! but how do you protect your mac system?

Your Mac has built in protection. https://www.apple.com/macos/security/

Apple uses its Software Update service (which also drives the system software updates that show in the App Store) as a mechanism for installing “background and critical” updates that are installed silently in the background with no notifications to the user.

The macOS uses these to combat malware:

Gatekeeper mechanism, central to security services, which tries to ensure that any code loaded is ‘safe’. Code signatures are only part of this.

XProtect checks the security and integrity of files, including in broader ways too, vulnerable document types, such as JPEG images, are also screened to ensure that they’re not malicious.

Apple’s Malware Removal Tool (MRT) an app which often complements XProtect’s signature-based screening, and can automatically remove all traces of many different species of malware.

System Integrity Protection (SIP) which ensures that nothing can tamper with key system files, or even Apple’s bundled apps.

The new Catalina also continues to make improvements:

About the read-only system volume in macOS Catalina

You can ref John Galt: Effective defenses against malware and other threats

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-8841

recent—

https://i.blackhat.com/USA-19/Thursday/us-19-Krstic-Behind-The-Scenes-Of-IOS-And-Mas-Security.pdf

ohuohuo wrote:

• Like the title says, the lag is noticeable, like 1~2 secs. For example:

Right after I close the System Preference pane and switch to another desktop using 4 fingers, it lags, the whole GUI stalls for 1-2 secs then starts switching.

• When I click another browser tabs (Chrome), it stalls for 1~2 secs.

There's no heavy load on the computer, just simple browsing without Flash, or dynamic pages.

Also it happens quite frequent I'd say, probably everyday.

Very disappointing. Would like to know what the problem is and how to solve it. Thanks in advance.

To get a good look at your System config. for conflicts or issues, you can run this utility http://etrecheck.com

If you need help interpreting the report you can post it here in its entirety in the "Additional Text" box in the editing toolbar below, in your reply.

You can set its preference to "Allow full Disk Access", with this you get a digest of issues from the last 7 days that are saved in your system.

Avast

Uninstall the Avast AV using their official uninstaller.

This is known to cause nothing but issue with no upside.

Not sure what this is <Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client 1 (Cisco)>

as aside note, I had to scroll a mile to get to one end of your report to the other—typically etrecheck makes it much more readable then this.

Uninstall the AV, test your machine, run another etrecheck w/ Full Disk Access and follow the how to share the report. Re-post here if necessary.