avast can't delete a virus

Question

avast can't delete a virus

I caught a virus while deleting spam. Avast located the file, but it cannot delete it, due to lack of permissions. I tried to find the file and delete it in the finder, but I could not. What can I do?

Here is the path of the file: /.MobileBackups/Computer/2014-01-30-035206/Volume/Users/betzalel/Library/Mail/V2/POP-nmccatty@mail.signifyde sign.com/Deleted Messages.mbox/2DEA7D9C-FD66-4FDD-94EF-CED8B4905FE2/Data/0/0/5/1/Messages/150062 4.emlx|>payment slip.zip#3269360065|>Document.exe.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Feb 2, 2014 4:55 AM

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Answer 1

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Feb 2, 2014 5:02 AM in response to Nicky McCatty

That virus is in an Email you received. It is not on or in your Mac, OS X. Delete the email and the virus file is gone.

You don't need AV software on a Mac and all they do is slow down your system. Actually they cause more problems then they solve. Remove Avast. It is a waist of HDD space and system resources

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Answer 2

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Feb 2, 2014 6:03 AM in response to Nicky McCatty

That is Windows malware, and not a threat to your computer. It is in your local snapshots, which are backups kept on your internal hard drive for one week. Anything older than one week is removed. Just ignore this, and it'll be removed on its own.

This came onto your machine via e-mail, as LowLuster points out. You should NEVER let any anti-virus software remove malware of any kind from your e-mail. Doing so will probably leave it on the server (depending on your Mail settings), where it could be re-downloaded to your computer again, and will also corrupt the mailbox indices. For proper removal, see:

How to remove infected files

Finally, note that Avast has a serious and long-standing problem with false positives. I don't generally recommend it.

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Answer 3

Feb 2, 2014 6:44 AM in response to LowLuster

Thanks, LowLuster. I had not been an antivirus user usually, but I'd read an article saying that the game had changed. I've eliminated Avast.

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Answer 4

Feb 2, 2014 6:51 AM in response to thomas_r.

Thanks, thomas r. I am reaading thatarticle, and following your recommendation about allowing time and normal deletions to do the work.

I used to use no antivirus software, but I thought that times had changed. Do you think that I should avoid other antivirus apps as well, such as Sophos?

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Answer 5

thomas_r.

Level 7

31,989 points

Feb 2, 2014 7:49 AM in response to Nicky McCatty

Do you think that I should avoid other antivirus apps as well, such as Sophos?

Sophos is one that usually works well, if you are going to use anti-virus software. However, note that use of anti-virus software is a very personal thing, depending greatly on one's everyday activities and preferences. For more information, see my Mac Malware Guide.

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