MacBook Air (early 2015) randomly shutting down and restarting after Big Sur Update (current version 11.3.1)

Immediately - CleanMyMac. Major issue and remove right away as per Developers Instruction. This software is dangerous, causes havoc, may even remove important components of the OS and even corrupt to OS requiring a reinstallation.

Plugin: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin - not needed at all

Plugin: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Silverlight.plugin - not needed at all

Plugin: /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/DirectorShockwave.plugin - not needed at all

Kernel Extensions:

/Library/Application Support/Fortinet/FortiClient/nke

[Not Loaded] avkern2.kext - com.fortinet.fct.kext.avkern2 (1.0 - SDK 10.14)

[Not Loaded] fctapnke.kext - com.fortinet.fct.kext.fctapnke (1.0 - SDK 10.14)

[Not Loaded] ipseckern.kext - com.fortinet.fct.kext.ipsec (1.0 - SDK 10.14)

[Not Loaded] fctrouternke.kext - com.fortinet.kext.fctrouternke (1.0 - SDK 10.14)

Library/Application Support/Samsung/Samsung DeX/Samsung USB Driver/ssud_installation - not needed OS can handled without this buggy software is used as HFS external drive

There is more but these are the tings that Jump to me

Do the following:  

#1 - boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support. 

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

#2 - download and run the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name.  For CleanMyMac software you'd do the following search(es): 

1 - Name contains cleanmymac

2 - Name contains macpaw

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.  

#3 - reboot normally.

Here's some food for thought:unless you're using a true VPN tunnel, such as between you and your employer's or bank's servers, they are useless from a privacy standpoint: Public VPN's are anything but private.  

Unless it's required for banking or by your employer uninstall it in addition to what Tony recommended removing.

I kind of think the VPN for schools connection is questionable at best and agree with @ Old Tony ;-) ). on the usages for Work mandated or Banking- the rest are misguided representation of False Security and Privacy on the Internet

As for CleanMyMac - the developers site for uninstall instructions or uninstaller they offer

Your system is crashing left, right and center. This is a serious concern. Besides the possibility that your SSD is failing, there is some bad stuff that you installed - of course, "cleanmymac" has to go, but even that may not be enough. Who knows what damage it has already inflicted.

gjk20 wrote:

Thanks for replying. The VPN is actually a requirement by my school that I need to access certain websites, otherwise I would have uninstalled it as well.

Gross misunderstanding here.

Your school may require you to connect via VPN, but NOT to install a third party VPN "solution" - unless whoever runs IT in your school is a complete moron.

If the school requires you to run a VPN connection, use the built-in VPN tools. They are safe and secure.

If you gotta you gotta.

Thank you too