Help with uninstalling avast! completely

It should have come with an uninstaller for you to use. Restart the computer after you uninstall.

Uninstalling Software: The Basics

Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Applications may create preference files that are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can look for them in the above location and delete them, too.

Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.

Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.

Some applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item. Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the "-" button to delete it from the list.

Some software use startup daemons or agents that are a new feature of the OS. Look for them in /Library/LaunchAgents/ and /Library/LaunchDaemons/ or in /Home/Library/LaunchAgents/.

If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term. Unfortunately Spotlight will not look in certain folders by default. You can modify Spotlight's behavior or use a third-party search utility, EasyFind, instead.

Some applications install a receipt in the /Library/Receipts/ folder. Usually with the same name as the program or the developer. The item generally has a ".pkg" extension. Be sure you also delete this item as some programs use it to determine if it's already installed.

There are many utilities that can uninstall applications. Here is a selection:

1. AppZapper

2. AppDelete

3. Automaton

4. Hazel

5. AppCleaner

6. CleanApp

7. iTrash

8. Amnesia

9. Uninstaller

10. Spring Cleaning

For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

If Allan's answer does not work:

Check for files with that name (avast) in ->System Preferences->Users & Groups->[Login Items]

If there, control-click, Show in Finder, then delete (and then uncheck in Login Items)

If not there, check these Folders:

/Library/LaunchAgents/

/Library/Library/LaunchDaemons/

/Library/StartupItems/

~/Library/LaunchAgents/

~/Library/Library/LaunchDaemons/

If there, delete (avast), and then re-boot

You don't have to uninstall Avast! if you like the software and use it. I do. I too kept get the warning signs and I was concerned just as you are.

Here's how I corrected the problem for each warning. It is a bit time consuming, but it works.

Run a full scan on your device and keep the results window open for reference.

Open Avast! Preferences and uncheck or "open" File System Shield and disable it. (If you are on line and not downloading anything, then you are still protected. I disconnected from my router to do this stage.)

Select the "Advanced" button and two other buttons will appear. "Actions" and "Exclusions." This is where it gets tricky.

Go back to Avast! and select the error message. Click show in finder and press the "+" symbol. This will enable you to add an exclusion.

Return to finder and select the first part of the system pass and get it to allow you to choose that path as part of the exclusion. That will copy the path to the "Exclusion" window on Avast! It may take trial and error to get it to appear, but you will get at least part of it to move. Then you can edit and add the rest of the filepath to the exclusion window.

After you do this, either click done, or repeat the process until all the inaccurately identified files are added. You can also add the entire Library or other folder to the exclusions, but I suggest not doing that, since in the unlikely event you are infected with malware, it might go unnoticed.

This should exclude that file and file path from future scans.

Hope this helps.

Allan, what did you do when it requested the password? On this forum

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/reset-or-remove-avast-authorization-password-to-acce ss-settings/

I read how it can set a password itself without you even knowing, but it said to delete the ansResp.dat file, but then it directed me to my C drive......

Try http://www.lancelhoff.com/how-to-remove-avast-antivirus-from-a-mac/

Allan

That is a false alarm. You can ignore it.

I want to delete it because since installing it my computer is slow as molasses.