Avast for Mac trickery. Beware.

Question

Level 1

9 points

Avast for Mac trickery. Beware.

I installed Avast Mac Security and its sister VPN app. I ran a scan and found lots of adware and dumped them. I accepted it default settings and went back to work. However, while I was able to search topics using Google, I couldn't open any webpage links. So I decided to uninstall Avast. Bis mistake 1...I dumped the app to Trash (didn't use the uninstall process). Went back to work, couldn't get any internet to work, no email nothing.

I found it had left extensions in the preferences in each of the browsers (safari, firefox and chrome). I removed these and email worked. But most web pages still cannot be opened.

I am assuming Avast has left me with a little gift for uninstalling it incorrectly. Does anyone know how to get rid of it completely? Files hidden in Library or Active Monitor or what the file names might be? Any help would be appreciated.

BTW - I rang Avast for support. They told me they could fix it, but that I have to pay them $179 for technical support. Nice customer service....

I am using a macbook pro running on 10.10.5

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), Find my iPhone app

Posted on Jun 3, 2016 7:28 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

154,756 points

Jun 5, 2016 6:36 AM in response to diuleiyah

diuleiyah wrote:

... But most web pages still cannot be opened.

Assuming you can load the page, follow all the instructions in this Apple Support document: If Safari doesn't load a page or webpage items are missing - Apple Support

If you cannot load the page, boot Safe Mode, load the page, follow its instructions, then reboot normally: OS X Yosemite: Start up in safe mode

If you still cannot load the page or if following the above instructions doesn't fix the problem, reinstall OS X: How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jun 3, 2016 7:42 PM in response to Allan Eckert

Uninstall Avast

https://howtouninstallonmac.net/uninstall-avast-free-antivirus-on-mac/

Use manual uninstall instructions

(Do NOT use CleanMy Mac)

Find your Application folder and open it.
Find Avast Free Antivirus icon there.
Hold and drag it to your Trash in the right bottom corner of your Desktop.
Right click on the Trash icon and click “Empty Trash”.

Done! Yay, it was really easy. But we haven’t finished yet, because you have to understand that manual removing the application doesn’t remove all other relative files on your Mac. This way just removes the app folder – that’s it. All the other related files which still hold your free space are still there, in your system, you can try to find them in these folders and delete them too:

~/Library/Preferences/

~/Library/Application Support/

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Answer 3

diuleiyah Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 3, 2016 7:44 PM in response to Allan Eckert

Thanks. Unfortunately I dumped Avast in trash rather than using the uninstall facility. This is my problem. It has left some file somewhere in Library files or a process running in Activity Monitor or something... I can no longer access Avast or webpages to download anything to fix the issue.

Does anyone know the name of the Library files to delete or Activity process to stop?

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Answer 4

diuleiyah Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 3, 2016 7:51 PM in response to Ferd II

I tried this too. Funny thing is, I can access their support web page, but cannot download the app again (aborts during virus definitions check stage). I think their strategy is to get me to pay $179 in support so they can tell me which system files to delete. Scammed!

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Answer 5

diuleiyah Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 3, 2016 8:22 PM in response to macjack

I didn't find Avast in either of those folders. I did find .com.avast.secureline.avastsecureline and avastsecurelinehelper in Library/Caches

still going through line by line to see if any more are buried in there

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Answer 6

WZZZ

Level 6

13,238 points

Jun 4, 2016 7:33 AM in response to diuleiyah

Get FindAnyFile (Shareware $6, but you can pay when you're satisfied with it), enter "Avast" or any other name that might be associated with it, if you know of any. Hold Option key down and hit Find, which will search in Root, meaning it will look in locations not ordinarily accessible. Some items you will be able to move to Trash directly, for others you will need to use Reveal in Finder, and give your admin password in order to (right-click) Move to Trash.

Should be able to find everything that's been left behind.

There's also EasyFind, but it won't be able to search in Root, like FAF.

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Answer 7

appreciate

Level 4

1,278 points

Jun 4, 2016 7:59 PM in response to diuleiyah

Open finder > applications > Avast > right click on it and move it to trash , if it is in download folder move it to trash .

Then , click on go > computer > macintosh HD > launch Daemons , privileged Helper tools .Find the Avast related files and move it to trash .

Finally ,click on go > hold option key > library > application support , preferences .Find Avast related files from here and move them to trash .

Restart from apple logo and empty the trash .

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Answer 8

diuleiyah Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 5, 2016 4:18 AM in response to appreciate

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate the help. I have done as advised and removed the files, but still has not helped.

I can't access a standard webpage (I can only access secure webpages - https) so I can't download the FAF or EasyFind apps.

I think Avast has made a change or inserted some setting to block content from my server or domain. Some rule setting ? Anyone know abt this?

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Answer 9

Ferd II

Level 10

104,865 points

Jun 3, 2016 7:46 PM in response to diuleiyah

Diuleiyah,

As much as it hurts me to say this...reinstall Avast, and then use the uninstall facility.

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Answer 10

Jun 3, 2016 7:34 PM in response to diuleiyah

I suggest you just uninstall Avast and let their support look for another sucker to fleece.

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Answer 11

Ferd II

Level 10

104,865 points

Jun 3, 2016 7:53 PM in response to diuleiyah

Bummer. 😢

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Answer 12

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Jun 3, 2016 8:04 PM in response to diuleiyah

Did you try looking in ~/Library/Preferences/ and

~/Library/Application Support/ ?

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Answer 13

diuleiyah Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 3, 2016 9:18 PM in response to diuleiyah

I deleted those files but no fix. But now I see that I can access secured websites (such as this one, sites with https://) only. So the setting Avast has made, has to do with this

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Answer 14

diuleiyah Author

Level 1

9 points

Jun 4, 2016 6:29 PM in response to WZZZ

Unfortunately I can only open secure sites. Whatever Avast did, it blocks me from accessing websites that are not https.

But thanks for the suggestion.

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Answer 15

WZZZ

Level 6

13,238 points

Jun 4, 2016 7:32 PM in response to diuleiyah

FAF, link above, is not HTTPS. Same for EasyFind.

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