How do I fix very slow boot and unknown desktops on iMac?

+1 to use Safe Mode. see > Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

Then to really dig deeper into why the Startup and Mac are slow as molasses.

Download and run the free version of EtreCheckPro, from > https://etrecheck.com/en/index.html

Then post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

scottsirota wrote:

My gut feeling is that I got hijacked somewhere and someone has embedded some spyware or malware of some kind. I need help

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/c61d96a8-44d6-44e4-9360-392a2eafebfe

[Edited by Moderator]

Original Title: VERY slow to boot along with desktops that I didnt create

To have been " hijacked " or embedded " malware " ?

This would have required the user ( you ) to have purposely given expressed permission ( computer password ) to allow the malware permission to bypass Protecting against malware in macOS

Unfortunately, your suppled image is so Out of Focus and blurry

It impossible to make out anything

Not, your best bet is to use the Etrecheck application as suggested earlier @den.thed

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 

The application is free or paid for added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - Share Report >> Copy Report , then  paste  >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

1 -  Low disk space - This computer is running critically low on free hard drive space.

Size: 2.12 TB   Free: 11.08 GB   Available: 11.66 GB

As this stands right now, the computer is luck to even Boot Up At All

2 - disk0 - APPLE HDD ST2000DM001 2.00 TB (Mechanical - 7200 RPM) 

  disk1 - APPLE SSD SM0128L 121.33 GB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes) 

disk0s2 [APFS Fusion Drive] 2.00 TB

Fusion Drive which was good for additional Storage Space but even with the 7200 RPM Mechanical will be way slower that and ALL SSD Configuration

3 - SystemExtension-Site-Version - version 1.4.5 (MacPaw Inc. - installed 2022-11-07)

  Description: We use system extension to establish VPN connection for you

DuckDuckGo VPN Network Extension - version 1.155.0 (Duck Duck Go, Inc. - installed 2025-09-10)

  Application: /Applications/DuckDuckGo.app/Contents/Library/LoginItems/DuckDuckGo VPN.app - version 1.155.0 (Duck Duck Go, Inc. - installed 2025-09-10)

    Description: DuckDuckGo VPN

  [Disabled] co.clario.Antivirus.Extension - version 1.5.0 (Clario Tech Limited - installed 2021-08-16)

 These are just a few of the issues relate to why the computer is behaving as it is now

No doubt, my colleagues will find more

If this were my machine, which it is not

Start Over from Scratch 

For Apple Intel computers >>   Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac followed by How to reinstall macOS

Always make a Time Machine Backup  before  proceeding 

Or better still, if you what to extend the useful life of the machine

Get a good external enclosure and a good SSD drive from maybe www.owc.com

Install the Operating System to the External Drive making the drive the Startup drive

Elaborating a little on OWL-53 and den.thed comments ...

Just 11 GB free space out of 2 TB? That's 0.5% free space, it is recommended to keep 15%-20% free space. I am surprised this Mac is even able to function in this state. Noting also you have 40 GB RAM, so your Mac cannot even unload 1/4 of its RAM contents to disk (this is called paging to disk) when it needs more RAM, this will paralyze any computer. Even worse, yours depends on a mechanical drive (fusion) for most of its storage, and mechanical drives are VERY slow under APFS. This compounds an already untenable situation.

Also I noticed you have CleanMyMac installed. A big problem, it has been documented to foul up scores of Apple Discussion posters' Macs. One problem is that uninstalling this software can be difficult. In fact you have several executables "not found" notices in the Etrecheck report which may indicate that some apps or extensions have been deleted or partially installed but their leftover pieces are still running in the background, causing havoc with your Mac's operation. I am wondering myself if it makes sense to make a good, verified backup and then to start over from scratch with a clean system and COPY back your data only (no software or extensions). If this were a family member's Mac that is what I would do myself.

To pile it on: your actual drive performance numbers.

Performance:

System Load: 4.86 (1 min ago) 2.68 (5 min ago) 2.16 (15 min ago)

Nominal I/O usage: 0.88 MB/s

File system: 18.90 seconds

Write speed: 169 MB/s ⚠️

Read speed: 697 MB/s ⚠️

Those are horrible. 🤮

A proper Fusion drive in your nicely-appointed iMac should do Writes between 600-900MB sec and Reads up to 2000 MB/sec. Here's the good news:

— An 18-second file system score shows your drive is still healthy.

— Both a too-full drive and CleanMyWallet can account for the slowness.

— Both are correctable.

TIP: My daughter had similar too-full issues with her SSD-only 2019 iMac. I had to boot into safe mode to even start to reduce the clutter.

I see piriform.com references. Although CCleaner (piriform.com) is not loading, it is a bad actor as well. You need NO cleaning apps! All hurt performance., CCleaner was ported from Windows and early verisons had the unpleasant habit of removing critical Mac system files as " suspicious. Sloppy.

I would evict any WD software. Even WD techs have told callers that those are not needed on a Mac.

Also, use the top part of this Apple article to see if the two componets of your Fusion drive have "split," that is, lost track of each other:

How to fix a split Fusion Drive - Apple Support

Etrecheck does not suggest that it is, but I've seen a handful cases here where a split was not reported. If it is split, follow the instrticutosi that article.

👉🏻 I would NOT recommend reinstalling yet. I see enough issues with that being an issue on struggling Fusion drives that I consider it "Last Desperate Act." I would rather see you:

— first confirm your Fusion drive is not split, then

— eject the Useless-ware, and then

— address the overcrowding.

Then we can talk reinstall.

FYI: the last macOS I found needing reinstalling to fix serious issue was 10.2 Jaguar which still felt "beta" to me. 10.3 "Panther" in 2003 fixed the issues and I've never had to reinstall since, and I have maintained a fair number of Macs for family and friends.

The others have provided great advice. However, they neglected to specifically call out another cleaner/optimizer app you have installed.....CCleaner. While that app was somewhat useful for older Windows systems a decade or more ago, I personally would never trust it today since CCleaner is under new ownership who loves to sell people's personal information....I would never use it on a Mac even back in the day. Uninstall CCleaner by following the developer's instructions.

I see you also have the Firewall enabled. 99% of people have no need to enable the Firewall and it may be interfering with some aspects of your Mac. Most people operate their computers behind a router which already has a Firewall or NAT feature which prevents anyone on the Internet from actually seeing your computer (they will only see the router).

Another possibility which was not mentioned is that the internal Hard Drive portion of the Fusion Drive may be failing. If addressing all of the things mentioned in this thread does not restore full performance, then you may want to check the health of the internal Hard Drive using DriveDx (free trial period). Post the complete DriveDx text report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper on the forum editing toolbar.

As for Spyware ?

About Apple threat notifications and protecting against mercenary spyware - Apple Support

Unless you fall into one of the below categories - that is doubtful that Spyware has been installed

" According to public reporting and research by civil society organizations, technology firms, and journalists, individually targeted attacks of such exceptional cost and complexity have historically been associated with state actors, including private companies developing mercenary spyware on their behalf, such as Pegasus from the NSO Group "

To close out my portion in your question, if you would

There are 4 Categories of Third Party Software / Services that are baffling.

Why some users insist on installing and using the below software. 

In no special order 

Third Party 2 Way Firewalls 

like Lulu and Little Snitch 

Commercial VPNs 

They may not be what one believes they are doing for the computer and what they actually are doing behind the scenes They may also reduce you Internet Speeds by upwards of 30% 

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29

VPN: What you need to know - Apple Community

Third Party Security Software 

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX  Foundation and Permission Limitation. 

The Operating System resides in a Sealed and Read Only Volume that cannot be opened by the User nor by Third Party Applications.

The Only thing this Antivirus software is protecting is the Bank Account of the Developers and for zero return to the User aside from the problems this software creates.

Security. Built right in

Mac app security enhancements

The Built in Security  is all that is required to protect the computer.

Protecting against malware in macOS

Third Party Disk Cleaners / Optimizer 

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS,  is an invitation for disaster. 

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale. 

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

To put the Third Party Disk Cleaner / Optimizer in context and the damages it may have or has already done.

This type of applications can or will Muck Up your User Account ( Home Folder ) of this machine.

It does not touch the Operating System itself unless you consider your User Account ( Home Folder ) as part of the Operating System.

The Operating System is hosed

To brake from my earlier statement regarding " To close out my portion in your question, if you would "

I think that with all the support from each and every contributor above

The fear of having been Hijacked or Spyware being planted onto this computer was really not so at all

There has been a great analysis done by one and all

Where you are go, that this point, seems self evident, no ?

Personally, I wish to express my personal thanks to the " team " of contributors for working together on this your issue

Try a Safe Boot, holding shift key at startup.

The iMac's Storage drive is full.

You need to free up and keep 100 to 200GB of free space.

see > Free up storage space on Mac - Apple Support

At least one of us picked up CCleaner. 😉

Yes, nice teamwork folks! Feels good.