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Removing Invisible Files
#38845 02/13/16 02:43 PM
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ryck Offline OP
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I have two files:

Launch Agent: com.avast.update-agent.plist
Launch Daemon: com.avast.update.plist

…..which appear to be invisible.

Etrechek has located them (marked as failed) but I am unable to locate them, so I assume they are invisible. I do not have the Avast Application installed, although I did quite some time ago.

As I don't care for non-functional stuff laying around on the drive, I'd like to remove them. What's the process for locating/removing invisible files?

Thanks.


ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

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Re: Removing Invisible Files
ryck #38846 02/13/16 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted By: ryck
As I don't care for non-functional stuff laying around on the drive, I'd like to remove them. What's the process for locating/removing invisible files?
  1. Click on the desktop
  2. Press Command+F to bring up a Finder search window
  3. for the search argument enter avast
  4. Select Search: This Mac
  5. at the right end of the Kind is any line click on the plus (+) sign
  6. Change the line that appears to Visibility Visible or invisible
  7. If the files still do not appear click on the plus sign and add System Files are Included
Alternatively use TinkerTool, OnyX, Cocktail, or defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true from the command line to make invisible files visible.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Removing Invisible Files
joemikeb #38849 02/13/16 06:06 PM
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ryck Offline OP
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Thanks. They have been summarily dispatched.


ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4
OS Ventura 13.6.3
Canon Pixma TR 8520 Printer
Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner c/w VueScan software
TM on 1TB LaCie USB-C
Re: Removing Invisible Files
ryck #38903 02/15/16 08:45 PM
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those appear to be automatic updater hookss for Avast! antivirus. If you've already installed and since removed Avast!, they can certainly go away, and should have been removed automatically.

OTOH, if you have Avast! installed and want it to stay that way, you have just disabled the automatic updating of definitions and will need to do them manually now.


I work for the Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Removing Invisible Files
Virtual1 #38928 02/16/16 09:45 PM
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ryck Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: Virtual1
those appear to be automatic updater hooks for Avast! antivirus. If you've already installed and since removed Avast!, they can certainly go away...

Avast was once installed but has since been removed…which caused me to wonder why anything labelled Avast should be lingering.

Originally Posted By: Virtual1
OTOH, if you have Avast! installed and want it to stay that way, you have just disabled the automatic updating of definitions...

And, even with an application installed, I would still prefer manual updating.

Last edited by ryck; 02/16/16 09:46 PM.

ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4
OS Ventura 13.6.3
Canon Pixma TR 8520 Printer
Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner c/w VueScan software
TM on 1TB LaCie USB-C
Re: Removing Invisible Files
ryck #38930 02/16/16 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted By: ryck
Originally Posted By: Virtual1
those appear to be automatic updater hooks for Avast! antivirus. If you've already installed and since removed Avast!, they can certainly go away...

Avast was once installed but has since been removed…which caused me to wonder why anything labelled Avast should be lingering.

If you used an Avast uninstaller it wouldn't be unusual for it to have left detritus in its wake.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Removing Invisible Files
artie505 #38933 02/17/16 01:25 AM
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ryck Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: artie505
If you used an Avast uninstaller it wouldn't be unusual for it to have left detritus in its wake.

Ya, that kind of stuff is a pain. A person should be able to rely on any "Uninstaller" to, well, uninstall everything. I suspect that the Avast bits are old "detritus" as I've got into the habit of using CleanApp to remove unwanted applications.

Last edited by ryck; 02/17/16 01:27 AM.

ryck

"What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" The Doobie Brothers

iMac (Retina 5K, 27", 2020), 3.8 GHz 8 Core Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 2667 MHz DDR4
OS Ventura 13.6.3
Canon Pixma TR 8520 Printer
Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner c/w VueScan software
TM on 1TB LaCie USB-C
Re: Removing Invisible Files
ryck #38934 02/17/16 01:59 AM
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I kind of understand when an app leaves stuff behind in ~/Library, but there's no reason why an uninstaller shouldn't remove everything the installer installed.

Edit: No, there is a reason...lazy developer. mad

Last edited by artie505; 02/17/16 02:03 AM.

The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire

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