MacOS – Chrome Helper process…without Chrome running

Apparently there is a Google Software Update process that is queued to run periodically, which is why it's not always there. (I couldn't grab a screenshot of it, it was too sneaky). It's not just for Chrome, but for Google Earth and Picasa too. It was a bit of a breadcrumb hunt finding info about it.

I think the Google updater isn't a proces that runs all the time, but a launchd job that runs when you boot and every so often after that. Google com.google.keystone.user.agent and you'll find a number of explanations of what they've done (and how to get rid of it if you want).

charlie (Apple Discussions)

From Google's Help Page:

Google Software Update is a background application for the Mac OS that helps ensure that you always have the most up-to-date, stable, and secure versions of the Google software you have installed. Google Software Update may run two services: GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent and GoogleSoftwareUpdateDaemon. These services allow Google applications to be safely and securely updated.

I couldn't find, and I'm not aware of any reason it mounts a partition, but it's probably either:

• A bunch of information about which updates are available and for what apps
• Updates for products, Google Chrome updates are quite regular
• An Update for the Updater

Ah the endless mysteries of HardwareGrowler. Entertainment for the whole family!

ps -axc -o comm

• -a displays processes from all users (or root)
• -x includes processes that don't have a controlling terminal
• -o comm outputs command paths or names
• -c makes -o comm output names only

tell app "System Events" to name of application processes would list only processes launched from an application bundle.