Total AV Removal

Hello, VenerableP.

Click the Apple icon  > Force Quit... and force quit the Total AV app if it is still running.

If TAV is not running and you still get that message, restart your iMac and try to drag the TAV app into the trash again.

You might also try to restart the Mac in safe mode – How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support – and try to delete the app while logged in that way.

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 the TotalAV software you'd do the following search(es): 

1 - Name contains totalav

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.

Only for Future reference - There are no known Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS. There are Malware and Adware that does affect macOS and are often times downloaded as part of an Application from Third Party UnTrusted Site and get installed along with the Application. For this purpose, use  Malwarebytes for Mac.