MacOS – how to block Adobe, Google and others from installing crap on the Mavericks

launchdmacos

Adobe and Google insist on install crap on several folders, like update checkers and things like that.

This is the crap I have identified by Adobe.

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist

also crap from TeamViewer

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamviewer.teamviewer_desktop.plist
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamviewer.teamviewer.plist

crap like this run when the system starts and load bloatware on the memory with useless stuff.

I would like to prevent this from happening.

My first idea was to replace the original files with blank ones and set chmod to 000 but when I have to legitimate install some software from them, they replace my file with a new version. The problem is that the installation runs with root privilege.

Is there a way to block my tricky files from being replaced by an installer with root privileges?

I know what you will say… root privileges… but may be there is a way…?

Best Answer

You can disable the individual launchd job tickets using the launchctl tool:

sudo launchctl unload -w /Library/LaunchAgents/com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist

This will immediately disable the job and the -w flag will stop the job from reloading next time you restart.

Given your dislike of these features, please provide feedback to Adobe, Google, and TeamViewer.

See disable screen sharing via the command line in mountain lion for alternative approaches for disabling launchd managed processes.

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