I want to delete an application (Bitdefender) It installed itself with system privileges so I cannot delete with my admin privileges. It's a few years since I have been into root and I am a little wary of doing damage as I am no longer familiar with some command extensions. I would appreciate some basic unix help do I can to go into root (sudo?) and delete this folder.
Even though there are other ways that I've used, this App makes it simple to remove Apps & all their parts...
App Cleaner & Uninstaller - Remove Apps from Mac Entirely (nektony.com)
By hand you'll likely need to disable SIP///
Disabling and Enabling System Integrity Protection | Apple Developer Documentation
Errata from the previous post due to hosting software removal. Don't type the [ and ] symbols:
pkgutil --files [full bitdefender package name from above] > ~/Desktop/bitdef.txt
In the case of /Library/Application Support/Bitdefender location, I would click on the Desktop and press shift+command+G to open the FInder's Go To Folder dialog. Copy and paste /Library/Application Support into the dialog and then click Go. A Finder window will open on that location. Select the Bitdefender folder and simply drag and drop to your Trash. You enter your admin password when prompted before the move to Trash is performed.
I would prefer you removed items in this manner rather than chance using the UNIX rm command on the command line in Terminal. Too much room for accidental mayhem.
Without root privileges, you can determine where all of the Bitdefender crap was installed via the Terminal:
See if you can get a hit on the Bitdefender package receipt:
pkgutil --pkgs | egrep -i bit
List all installed file paths in the Bitdefender package and redirect to a text file on your Desktop. Do not include angle brackets around the actual Bitdefender package receipt name.
pkgutil --files <full bitdefender package name from above> > ~/Desktop/bitdef.txt
Do not become root for any reason, and rely on your administrator privileges and sudo alone to remove the individual files.
Still don't know what operating system you are currently on… You may need to reinstall the operating system and restore your home directory contents from a Time Machine backup. That should rid you of all Bitdefender crap, and then avoid their website like the plague.
HI P Philips - I responded to you 24 november outlining the problem which is the BitDefender prescribed method does not work as it assumes admin permissions, which the folder originally had. Now BitDefender have changed the permission to system I cannot delete. To make matters worse they have removed the local widget and I can only initiate a scan of anything from their website and there are no obvious ways to schedule a check - they do this. In reality I have lost control of of virus checking and they have effectively locked me out from removing their app from myMac and I need to have a network before I can do anything. I feel verystrongly about this - its almost a corporate hack to lock in a customer. I don't know why the OSX + T2 allows a 3rd party to assume system privaliges - admin OK because you can change it
Just a thought .. when II get to the /Library/Application Support/Bitdefender as admin would it be possible to access Root via the command line - Sudo and then delete the folder as system from finder- return to command line and remove system permission ( how to do this?)
I have tried drag and drop and I get the same message "The operation can’t be completed because you don’t have permission to access some of the items." when I check as admin I only have read permissions its only system which has read/write - this is the core of my problem. I have used sudo installing apps paths etc and I also am well aware of the distructive power of a miss typed command at that level especially deleting and generally I have avoided using unix delete. I guess the safest way would be to change BitDefender permissions in unix to admin and then leave the command line and sudo delete outside and use finder but permission changes can be equally frought if not done properly.
Is this posting related to the other appearing Mavericks ? https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253397867
yes - I thought I would rephrase it & I don't know how to delete it
So, in effect the suggestion by @ a brody either did not work or was was not the answer one was looking for ?
Hi VikingOSX once I have this info how can I delte them unless I have the sytem permissions?
DBAqua thanks for replying and suggesting I use nectony app - have you used this ?
Hi I am using mojave because of some legacy apps I need - totally agree about Bitdefender Ive told them of the problem and their issue resolution is very poor
Delete application folder with system permissions
