Removing AppStore spyware app and its daemons from Apple PC

Hi,

The apps are stored in your Applications folder. Even if you delete the MAS from the hard drive, the apps will remain.

If you want to reinstall the MAS at some point in the future, you can do that from the v10.6.6 combo update available here.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1349





Carolyn 🙂

There is no "spyware" involved.

Regards

TD

Technically, removing the App Store application from your system will not erase or remove anything downloaded through the App Store. Simply trashing App Store.app in /Applications will do- there are no "daemons"- and the App Store is most certainly not spyware. It will certainly track what applications you have downloaded through it, but it's going to send a report of everything you do on your computer. 🙂

I beg to differ on your definitions for "really good apps"...
1) I vastly prefer apps solely developed for OS X (and possibly iOS). I think the quality and design is as a rule going to be much better if a developer concentrates wholly on OS X.
2) I have many times already chosen one competing application over another simply because app_1 put their app on the Store, and app_2 steadfastly refuses to have anything to do with the Store. Guess what... I choose app_1. 🙂

Before uninstalling, you might want to take a look at this thread:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2711208

I am assuming you meant the Storeagent (which is the imbedded part of the App Store scanning your hard drive to check for applications and relaying that information) when you referred to "spyware"? It will only become active if you launch the App Store application, so there will be no scanning or checking as long as you don't use the App Store.

I've chosen not to use the App Store for now for two reasons: I prefer having actual install disks rather than take a chance since my version would no longer be available once an upgrade is available. And, I don't want or need the "helpful" assistance of Storeagent.

To remove the AppStore, drag the AppStore icon from your Applications directory to the Trashcan, and then empty the trash.

The AppStore application has no daemons, so there's nothing to install there. The closest it has is a small app that checks the current versions of AppStore-bought applications and checks for updates, but this only runs when you open the AppStore app itself, not as an ongoing process.

As for the concluding statement... to the extent that applications are available for both platforms, it's nice that they are, but frequently port between platforms are poorly executed, so it's in fact quite rare that a really good app exists both under Windows and OS X (it's generally one or the other). Both Windows and OS X have native applications that are quite good that have no parallel on the opposite platform.

Availability of software in the AppStore has no relation to the application's quality or fitness for a particular purpose. Today, it was mentioned that Microsoft is working with Apple to sell Microsoft Office through the AppStore, and many people feel it to be a very good product. It's not clear whether Microsoft will continue to sell Office outside the AppStore if it's popular. Microsoft has mentioned duplicating the AppStore functionality as a possible feature for new versions of Windows, so this is a good experiment for them.

I'm pretty sure that App Store isn't spying, though this is a conjecture.

My suspicions are based on the fact that I had a piece of software installed prior to upgrading to 10.6.6 and using the App Store, but there is no indication in App Store that I have that software already.

The versions of the software in question are identical.

-s

Did you read the previous two posts?

This excerpt is from an email to me from the Mac App Store support:

StoreAgent
+is actually a new background service that runs at startup, connecting to several itunes.com domains as well as metrics.apple.com and mechanisms for pushing updates and tracking app store performance.+

Sometimes one walks aways from their computer while in the middle of writing a post....And as I indicated, I restarted App Store and it now sees my software -- that was not purchased through the App Store.

So, I take it all back -- there is a "spying" function involved. Whether you think that is good or bad is all in your perspective.

I happen to think that allowing the Mac App Store to retrieve info about apps that weren't purchased via the App Store, without making it transparent that is happening, is a breach of trust; effectively they are spying.

-s

That should have read "As I indicated in a related thread."

-s

+And as I indicated, I restarted App Store and it now sees my software -- that was not purchased through the App Store.+

Thank you; as far as I know you are the first person to actually confirm this - my question is:

Is this Apple software or third party software (that is being seen)?

Under those definitions then OS X is also "spying" on your computer as it checks to see what printers you have installed, what version of the OS, what Apple embedded software is installed and what version it is, etc. This is what allows Software Update to function correctly i.e., if there is an update to the driver for the Magic Trackpad, which I have installed it will see that and offer the update. If you don't have this device then it won't bother to offer it to you.

The Storeagent works in the same manner and checks to see what software you have installed, so you don't try to buy software you already own, and to push updates to you. If you have purchased an app through the Mac App Store and your remove the MAS you will not be notified when any updates are available.

TomekOsiowy wrote:
Will I lost all the bought apps if I remove AppStore and AppStore Daemons

No. Deleting AppStore, and the various support items inside the System will not delete any other apps unless you delete them, too.

(in fact: spyware)

Only if you have a very strange definition of 'spyware'.

from the apple pc? How to (and what to) remove? I don't need them at all.

You need to dump the AppStore app. There are some support files which run if asked by either the AppStore.app or iTunes (both use certain files). If you kill those files then neither AppStore nor iTunes will be able to talk to Apple. You may want to have this happen. Go for it if so.

Reason to remove: really good apps are:
1) available for both: microsoft and apple PCs;

There are very few of those, and many are very large and very expensive apps. (Exceptions: some small games are dual platform. Not many, though.)

2) not available on AppStore;

Interesting. GraphicConverter, to name just one very good app, is available on the App Store.

Ah, well. I suspect that what we have here is a subpontian muttonovre.

I'll confirm it, the MAS saw Aperture and other software I had purchased through other means and reflected them as installed. Others have said it does the same thing for non-Apple software that is now offered in the MAS.

Interesting - thanks.