In OSX, is it OK to delete fonts that keep hanging up Bitdefender Virus Scanner?

SummerHaven wrote:

I have 10.15.7 (Catalina) on my 12 year old iMac.

Have been using Bitdefender Virus Scanner (free version) religiously for over a decade ... it will sit for hours and hours on just one particular font (always stuck on it, so it never finishes the scan even after, last night, 12+ hours!) which is really annoying.

In macOS Catalina and later, the System volume is mounted on startup read-only, so it is impossible for a virus to replicate or make changes in the macOS System volume. Your post points up the hazards of using such antivirus software as you are now tempted to make changes that may reduce functionality of your Mac. And all for naught because your Mac cannot be infiltrated by a virus, the read-only system volume makes that impossible.

You can read about this here:

Signed system volume security - Apple Support

Pay attention to BDAqua's post. Indeed, it may be very difficult to remove BitDefender completely. As such, BitDefender is behaving itself in a manner akin to malware or virus by being embedded on your Mac, causing unwanted effects, and possibly very hard to remove. The "cure" is worse here than the disease (which you are immune to anyway).

BDAqua wrote:

Another vote for getting rid of Bit Defender, & you may fid that tougher than you'd want.

Here are the vendor's pages on how to do it.

BitDefender – How to uninstall Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac

BitDefender – Can’t uninstall Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac? Here’s what to do

Get rid of bitdefender. It's worthless.

3rd party antivirus software serves no purpose on macOS.

It would be better to remove Bitdefender. Macs have their own built-in antivirus and other security features. Third-party antivirus apps are not necessary and usually create more problems than they solve, sometimes serious problems.

Perhaps (only perhaps) 10+ years ago, long before modern versions of macOS, Bitdefender may have added a bit of protection. But that's not the case any more, especially since you already have macOS Catalina.

If a virus scanner constantly hung up when scanning innocuous fonts, I'd be tempted to get rid of the scanner – rather than getting rid of the fonts.

If you insist on deleting fonts anyway, you can use the Font Book application to deactivate or remove fonts. There may be some fonts that the Mac won't let you delete. I'm guessing that it would let you delete those two, but I do not feel like deleting my copies just to test.

Interesting, App Store in 10.1.3.6 saw it, could download it, but not run that version, I was able copy the link from 10.13.6 Appstore, paste the link in 10.14.6 & the App Store opened the free download link, downloaded running now...

Another vote for getting rid of Bit Defender, & you may fid that tougher than you'd want.

Get App Cleaner & Uninstaller, which is my goto cleanup app…

https://nektony.com/mac-app-cleaner

Mac Cleaner Pro...

https://nektony.com/mac-cleaner-pro

BDAqua wrote:

Thanks, I'd try it to check them out, but I don't see a free trial without giving them my SSA#!.:)

I wasn't suggesting installing BitDefender just to try out the uninstall instructions …

… but maybe the OP will find the vendors's instructions "Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick" (to use one of the ratings on the MacAddict magazine ratings scale).

There was an even worse ratings level: "Please pass the sharp stick."

Oh, no, didn't think you were suggesting it, just I don't trust these doom sellers, & in the past I think I tried everyone of the AV vendors, & the uninstallers failed miserably, or worked great if the object was to leave phone home parts intact.:)

Thanks, I'd try it to check them out, but I don't see a free trial without giving them my SSA#!.:)