MAC: Uninstall leftover files after Bitdefender Uninstall is run
I have a Mac and I'm running Sonoma 14.3. I've been troubleshooting my computer for over a month to figure out what's happening with CPU 100% on a couple of processes I can see on the Mac's Activity Monitor.
The experts in the Mac community advised me to uninstall bitdefender to see if that was causing issues. I used the uninstallation program and rebooted, and the problem is still there. I plan to reinstall bitdefender but after I convince myself, it's not some leftover stuff I might have had from an earlier version in the event I did not use Uninstall but instead, accidentally removed the app from the Apps folder like a typical Apple app where you can just delete the Apple app and the app is deleted and doesn't leave anything harmful behind.
How can I manually remove any of the remaining files? If I do a search using Finder, I can find BD files on the computer, but I'm afraid if I delete them, something else could happen. Is there a way to do seek and destroy BD files in Safe Mode or at least see if there are any files that should no longer be present now that I've uninstalled the app using the uninstallation tool?
TIA
Comments
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Make sure you followed the steps stated in below stated link for uninstalling Bitdefender
https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/1446/
https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/1784/
https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/13842/
Regards
Life happens, Coffee helps!
Show your Attitude, when you reach that Altitude!
Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus (user)
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I've followed each instruction but when I try to empty Trash, I get 4 messages in a row as I try to continue, indicating that these things are in use: Cache, Logs, avformac, Bitdefender.
My Trash is empty otherwise. Images below.
I can modify R/W for folders in trash and force them to be deleted, but wanted to verify this is the right thing to do and confirm if this is the correct command to enter at the Terminal prompt:
sudo rm -rf ~/.Trash/
Thank you for your help. I feel like I might be on the home stretch with ruling out Bitdefender as misbehaving so I can reinstall it again when I'm finished troubleshooting my system.
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Did you tried doing the same in safe mode
https://support.apple.com/lv-lv/guide/mac-help/mh21245/mac
Regards
Life happens, Coffee helps!
Show your Attitude, when you reach that Altitude!
Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus (user)
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I haven't tried the same in safe mode yet. Are the steps I'm doing, the correct steps to see if I can get all remaining signs of the app removed? I'm still learning as I go.
I'll report back after I try the same steps in safe mode. Thanks!
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Some files, when improperly uninstalled, leave leftovers that are sometimes used in real-time. The only way to overcome this is to use Safe Mode (applicable to both Mac and Windows). Safe Mode utilizes only the processes necessary to run the OS, allowing you to remove leftover files that couldn't be deleted in normal mode.
Regards
Life happens, Coffee helps!
Show your Attitude, when you reach that Altitude!
Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus (user)
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Yes, I'm familiar with proper versus improper uninstallation and always look for a proper way first. I visited Bitdefender's web site for instruction, then realized it came with an Uninstall app so I went to the folder and found that app and ran it. There are still extraneous files, so I went to delete those files and they're somehow locked from me being able ot remove them but the file information doesn't show that they're locked. The 'locked' setting is greyed out but unchecked. I can edit the folder properties and make the folder R/W accessible for all users on the computer (admin, guest, anyone) but that still doesn't matter.
It seems "something" may still be accessing the folders but they're all blank and I cannot see the app itself because it seems to have gotten removed like it should be but there's stuff left behind that I want off my machine.
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I did go into Safe Mode but it did not matter. I could not delete files in Safe Mode either.
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It's weird that Safe Mode didn't allow you to remove the remaining leftovers.
@Alexandru_BD, do we have any uninstall tool for Mac, as we do for Windows? I was unable to find one. If possible, could you check and provide information, and also let the developers know to develop an uninstall tool for Mac as well?
Regards
Life happens, Coffee helps!
Show your Attitude, when you reach that Altitude!
Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus (user)
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Hello @Triceratops,
I have two questions:
- did you follow the instructions sent by Flexx above?
- did you restart your device afterwards?
If the answer is yes for both, please get in touch with the Bitdefender Support teams for further investigation using this link:
https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/help/
Scroll down to state your contact reason, then choose from the available contact channels, chat, phone and email/ticket. Chat would be the fastest way to reach them.
Regards,
Alex
Premium Security & Bitdefender Endpoint Security Tools user
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Hi @Alexandru_BD ,
Yes, I followed instructions exactly and it didn't work. I will fill out the contact info as instructed and initiate a chat.
Thanks,
Tric
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