Fish-soap

Q: Uninstall avast but still have blocked websites

Hello, I'm new to the forum and I hope someone can help me out.

 

So I had installed Avast free antivirus (2015) on my macbook (2014, with OS X Yosemite), and it's messed up my computer. It made it so that a number of my websites that I commonly browse were blocked, so I removed the application with the help of AppCleaner and manually removed a load of documents and packages connected to avast from my computer. In retrospect I probably should have made use of the uninstaller, but I only discovered there was an uninstaller after I deleted the app. Now even more sites in my browser are blocked and can't be accessed in any way. I've been looking in my system to figure out if there were still avast documents, but I can't find any, and I'm at a loss. Thankfully I have an ipad, so I can compensate with it, but it's a nuisance.

 

I 've tried a lot of things to get my browsers to work properly again: reinstalling the app so I can properly uninstall it (doesn't allow me to install because it cannot make a connection with the server), searching through my folders (library/launchdaemon, library/applications etc) for remaining avast folders to delete, turning my firewall on and off, and turning my computer on and off.

 

FOr reference, this problem applies to all my browsers: chrome, firefox, and safari. I also can't access the appstore anymore. Also for context as to why I even installed avast in the first place: some adware had managed to infect my computer (perfetnight) and made it play ads very loudly on my speakers. I've gotten rid of the initial malware (I hope), but now Avast is haunting my computer with a vengeance! does anybody know how to fix this?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Jun 6, 2016 12:50 PM

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Q: Uninstall avast but still have blocked websites

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  • by Esquared,Solvedanswer

    Esquared Esquared Jun 19, 2016 6:41 AM in response to Fish-soap
    Level 6 (8,410 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 19, 2016 6:41 AM in response to Fish-soap

    From your description, it seems that the malware still exists. It probably is a recent nasty version of VSearch. Check the instructions by Linc Davis in this topic: Macbook Adware/Spyware/Virus

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Jun 6, 2016 1:13 PM in response to Fish-soap
    Level 8 (48,715 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 6, 2016 1:13 PM in response to Fish-soap

    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 that webpage, please boot Safe Mode by following these instructions: OS X El Capitan: Start up in safe mode. While in that mode, load the page referenced above, follow its instructions, and then reboot normally.

     

    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.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Jun 6, 2016 1:19 PM in response to Fish-soap
    Level 8 (48,715 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 6, 2016 1:19 PM in response to Fish-soap

    To properly uninstall "Avast" you should use its uninstaller, which will completely remove all its components. Using "cleaning" apps is not recommended, under any circumstances.

     

    The most recent version of "Avast" installs what can only be described as adware, and as such, is indistinguishable from malware itself. Don't use such things, since they can only increase your system's exposure to malicious interference. Excerpted from Effective defenses against malware and other threats:

     

    • Never install any product that claims to "clean up", "speed up", "optimize", "boost" or "accelerate" your Mac; to "wash" it, "tune" it, or to make it "shiny". Those claims are absurd.
      • Such products are very aggressively marketed. They are all scams.
      • They generally operate on the flawed premise that a Mac accumulates "junk" that needs to be routinely "cleaned out" for optimum performance.
      • Trial versions of those programs are successful because they provide the instant gratification of greater free disk space.
      • That increased space is the result of irreversible destruction of files, programs, or operating system components normally protected from inadvertent alteration or deletion. The eventual result will be unreliable operation, poor performance and random crashes that may not become evident for months or even years after their use, when updates to programs or OS X are eventually released.
      • Memory "cleaners" that circumvent OS X's memory management algorithms work by purging inactive memory contents to mass storage, which can only result in degraded performance and accelerated hardware failure.

     

    The only reliable defense against adware is its recognition and avoidance. To learn how to recognize adware so that you don't install it, please read How to install adware.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 7, 2016 11:40 AM in response to Fish-soap
    Level 9 (70,250 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 7, 2016 11:40 AM in response to Fish-soap

    Try running this program and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor.  Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.
      

    Etrecheck – System Information

  • by Fish-soap,

    Fish-soap Fish-soap Jun 19, 2016 6:43 AM in response to Esquared
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 19, 2016 6:43 AM in response to Esquared

    So sorry for the late reply, but this absolutely worked and everything works nicely on my computer again. It even loads faster! Learnt my lesson, will never install app 'cleaners' ever again.

  • by Allan Eckert,

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Jun 19, 2016 6:50 AM in response to Fish-soap
    Level 9 (53,491 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 19, 2016 6:50 AM in response to Fish-soap

    Please download and install EtreCheck from http://etrecheck.com/

     

    Run it and post the report here.