When you uninstall an antivirus program, you should remove in the standard way:
On a PC, you should go to Start -> Settings -> Apps, select the program under Installed Apps and click it to get the Uninstall button.
On a Mac, you would use Finder to go to your Applications area, and drag the app to the trashbin.
But that doesn’t always work. The removal may fail. Or it may be incomplete and leave part of the AV still running. Uninstall glitches happen often enough that the antivirus companies have created specific tools to help. If something goes wrong, you’ll probably need an Antivirus Uninstall Tool.
I’ll link below to the big-name removal tools. If you ever meet with failure during a normal uninstallation of an antivirus, these could help. And if I’ve missed a particular antivirus that is balking at an uninstall, drop me a line about it. I’ll research it and add it to this list.
Norton software: use the Norton Remove and Reinstall Tool
Symantec Endpoint Protection: download the CleanWipe tool from the bottom of this page
McAfee software: use the McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool
AVG Antivirus: use the AVG Clear tool
Avast Antivirus: use Avast Clear
Kaspersky software: use the Kavremover tool
Bitdefender has 3 categories of uninstall tools:
- Paid Consumer software: find your tool on this page
- Free software: find your tool on this page
- Business-grade software: use the BEST Uninstall Tool
Malwarebytes: use their Support Tool
Trend Micro software: use their Trend Micro Uninstall Tool
Comodo software: use the Comodo Uninstall Tool
ESET software: use the ESET AV Remover
Webroot software: try the two different utilities at the bottom of this page
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