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Hi, I need to remove a program, which is called AVAST Security from my MAC. I know usually, you just grab a program from the finder menu & drag it to the trash, but it will not go into the trash, as a message pops up saying it is still open. I took it off the bar at the bottom, but I have NO IDEA how to close this program. If I click on it from the finder menu it wants to ask if I want an upgrade. The dang thing will NOT close. HELP!!
Mac Pro
Boot into Safe Mode (How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support) which prevents all 3rd party software from running.
NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing some system cache cleaning, volume verifying and directory repairing.
Then download and run Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or developer's name in the file name. For example for Avast software you'd do the following search:
1 - Name contains avast
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.
How to take a screenshot on your Mac
(⌘⬆︎3) Command-Shift-3 Capture the screen to a file
(⌘⬆︎⌃3) Command-Shift-Control-3 Capture the screen to the Clipboard
(⌘⬆︎4) Command-Shift-4 Capture a selection of the screen to a file
(⌘⬆︎⌃4) Command-Shift-Control-4 Capture a selection to the Clipboard
(⌘⬆︎5) Command-Shift-5 Invoke new screen grabber
Your concern is very similar if not identical to this recent Discussion: Avast and AVG application removal and Administator Library
Go ahead and read it, just beware that Discussion went off the rails with differences in terminology. I concluded the eventual cause was installing "Avast" prior to upgrading that system to Catalina or perhaps Mojave. That may describe your dilemma. Although "Avast" was easily removed using their uninstallation instructions, I surmise that upgrading macOS caused those directories to henceforth become sealed off and inaccessible, meaning their uninstallation instructions will no longer apply.
If that is in fact true it's not a good outcome.
Not sure why it would say I do not have access to my own computer!!
Right. Well, that's the sort of thing when you invite malware into your Mac, which all non-Apple "anti-virus" junk is, in effect. Malware.
Having said that, I think it may be worthwhile installing it for the sole purpose of uninstalling it as you found elsewhere:
Somewhere else on line someone suggested re-adding the Avast software and then using their un-install program. I really am afraid to add their software again into my computer. Not sure if it is safe.
It's not safe, but then again it never was. The uncomfortable next step is a nuke and pave and never do that again, preceded of course by a Time Machine backup so that you can repopulate your Mac with your essential work files.
Uninstall according to the developer's instructions: Uninstalling Avast Security from Mac | Official Avast Support. A simple Google search found that.
There is no need to ever run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up" or anti-virus apps on a Mac. If you have uninstall them according to the developer's instructions.
Thanks, Old Toad....OK, here is what the screen looked like when I opened all the sub folders: AND....
This this is the window message that popped up when I tried to delete one of those files......
Not sure why it would say I do not have access to my own computer!! When I say yes, delete them, it keeps popping this same screen up. The only good thing so far, is since I deleted over 112 files, I am not getting any more pop up messages from AVAST that I have "unsecured" files that need to be taken care of by them. When their software asked me for permission to access my complete HD, I refused.
I really do appreciate your helping me on this. I went to the Avast web page & sent them a message asking them to help me delete this APP, but since I got a "free" intro copy, they have no info from me, and no record or desire to help, besides the fact that they are closed down mostly because of the Virus thing. Any ideas on how to proceed?
Thanks!
BTW.....How did you find the page for info on doing the screen shot? I admit I have difficulty finding some things, but I take direction well. ;)
Double click on the Applications folder in the FAF search window to open it in the Finder.
Then select the Avast application and use the key combination of ⌥ + ⌘ (Option + Command) + Delete. You'll get this window and click on Delete.
See if that will work.
Hi Old Toad. Nice to hear from you again. Hope you and your family re doing OK during this shutdown. In response to your answer, I have to say & tried the uninstall directions, but my Avast is a "free" basic model, not an advance Pro model, so no, there is no way to go to a menu to shut this dang disease down and uninstall it. Every time I try to uninstall I get a message that says I have to close it before I can do that, but there is NO WAY to close the dang thing. I think it is somehow latched onto my HD and is slowing down my access to web pages. I will go to their "help" desk on their web page and threaten them with legal action. Maybe that will move this along.
Hi Old Toad, Well, I turned on the MAC in Safe Mode, which only took a few seconds, downloaded the FAF software from the App Store, and went searching for anything with "Avast" in the title. There were 112 files!! I was able to delete all but about 7 of them. When it got down to the AVAST app, and a few other Kernel files that I tried to delete, I got a window that popped up saying I did not have authorization to delete the files!! I closed the FAF program, re-booted in safe mode, and tried again, and it asked me for authorization for FAF to delete the files, which I did, but I STILL got the message that I don't have the authorization to delete the AVAST files. I am so livid!! Grrrr....What do I do now??
Hi Old Toad, other things have kept me away for a while. Tried to do as you suggested, but again, got the pop up window that says "You do not have permission to move the files to the trash." I am not sure what to do now. Somewhere else on line someone suggested re-adding the Avast software and then using their un-install program. I really am afraid to add their software again into my computer. Not sure if it is safe. I tried contacting the manufacturer directly, and got a blanket email that they are not working right now. ( Probably due to the Covid. Any other ideas?
Hi John, I will try what you suggested. Grrrr. Not happy about having to re-load the Avast software so I can delete it. I will get back to you if it succeeds. If not, and I have to re-load the MAC - I have a question - will the Time Machine backup have the same Avast software kernels still in it? I backed up my computer to the icloud before I upgraded to Catalina. I don't think I had Avast in there either, but if I did, will I just be going in circles?
Thanks in advance for any help.
I believe reinstalling it followed by using its uninstaller is definitely worth trying. It certainly won't make anything worse. I rather doubt it's going to help though, if the locations where it hides its stuff have been rendered off-limits in Catalina (or perhaps Mojave).
The other Discussion I referenced was never resolved, but it became too convoluted over its unproductive preoccupation with terminology.
- will the Time Machine backup have the same Avast software kernels still in it?
... probably... but it's not possible to know for certain. Any backup preceding its installation is likely to be too old to consider restoring. However, it is an essential prerequisite for advancing toward an eventual solution, which I suspect is going to be the scorched-Earth nuke and pave approach.
It might not be as bad as you might think, in that an erase and reinstall from scratch followed by migrating Time Machine's User Account information will omit the /Library/ files where you already identified Avast's recalcitrant components are hiding. That's identical to the approach I use for Macs that have been affected by any similarly categorized junk. It's usually the solution that results in the least amount of one's time and constant interaction.
The most important prerequisite is a Time Machine backup, which everyone ought to have anyway. Ideally, more than just one.
The fact you have at least some documents or work products in iCloud is also advantageous. That's the way Apple is going as far as a backup strategy is concerned. After all iPhones don't have Time Machine.
I called an Apple Support person, and he suggested I download a free copy of Malwarebytes, which worked great to quarantine some malware. He said after looking at the files that Avast left on my computer, that they would not be working anyway, so there is no problem with them being there. If I have to, I can re-load everything from iCloud after an update.
See the instructions on their support site: https://support.avast.com/en-eu/article/Uninstall-Mac-Security
If you have access to another Mac you can connect to your Mac you should be able to r3emove those files via Target Disk Mode.
Post a screenshot of the FAF search results window. Use this mode:
Removing Program from my MAC
