Uh oh Microsoft Edge

[TSE]

Hi guys. I needed to run a piece of software with Microsoft Edge or Chrome so I downloaded Edge. I did not install it, rather I ran it from the DMG if that makes sense.

Now that I'm done with what I needed it for, and I throw away the DMG and Download, do I need to worry about any other left over crap in my computer tracking me or processing in the background?

Thanks!

 

[!!!]

Now that I'm done with what I needed it for, and I throw away the DMG and Download, do I need to worry about any other left over crap in my computer tracking me or processing in the background?

Yes, Mac apps can generally be run from anywhere, and they will still place all of their files inside your ~/Library. You should use a tool such as AppCleaner to delete all the other files.

 

[TSE]

Yes, Mac apps can generally be run from anywhere, and they will still place all of their files inside your ~/Library. You should use a tool such as AppCleaner to delete all the other files.

That is so stupid. Microshaft does it again!

 

[ProTruckDriver]

That is so stupid. Microshaft does it again!

I have a Late 2015 27 inch iMac that I bought new and I put Microsoft on it and I was sorry I did. Did a uninstall and it left a bunch of crap behind.
This new Mac mini I have now will never see Microsoft. I learned my lesson. Like you said "Microshaft"

 

[TSE]

I have a Late 2015 27 inch iMac that I bought new and I put Microsoft on it and I was sorry I did. Did a uninstall and it left a bunch of crap behind.
This new Mac mini I have now will never see Microsoft. I learned my lesson. Like you said "Microshaft"

I just did a fresh install after the fiasco earlier today. No way am I giving them my data.

 

[benholt]

Even running from the DMG (not installed), Edge writes to a few standard user-space spots on first launch. The main ones to check:

~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft Edge/
~/Library/Caches/Microsoft Edge/
~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.edgemac.plist
~/Library/Saved Application State/com.microsoft.edgemac.savedState/

AppCleaner will find these plus anything I missed. Since you didn't run the installer, it can't have dropped anything under /Library or a LaunchDaemon, so there's no privileged persistence to worry about — just inert user-space files that don't do anything unless you launch the app again.

 

[TSE]

What is this AppCleaner everyone is talking about? Is it in the App Store?

 

[dmr727]

Oof...honestly man, I'd just destroy the computer and get a new one. It's the only way to be sure.

 

[Mr.Ben]

What is this AppCleaner everyone is talking about? Is it in the App Store?

This one: AppCleaner - I also use it myself.

It seems to be the one that generally crops up as the main free recommendation, but you can find plenty of other similar app suggestions on threads such as this one: New to macOS - asking for suggestion for deletion app...

 

[cateye]

That is so stupid. Microshaft does it again!

This has nothing to do with Microsoft. By putting files in ~/Library, Edge is actually doing exactly what Apple has designed MacOS to expect and what it wants apps to do. All apps will spawn a file in ~/Library/Preferences at the very least. Being able to run the executable from any location, including a DMG, is an affordance, but doesn't change this behavior.

The reason why things like App Cleaner exist is MacOS has zero built-in method for automatically removing these files, regardless of the app. The executable is considered wholly separate from its support files. This has been true since the original MacOS X Beta, and something Apple has never saw fit to change, or to provide a system-level utility like Windows' application manager.

 

[1st-alex]

Many apps don't clean up after themselves after being uninstalled because the app developers believe that the user might change their mind later and reinstall - users can pick up where they left off. If that was really the case, it would be nice if a prompt appeared during the uninstallation process asking if they would like to remove the files. But how could that be implemented when an app is uninstalled simply by deleting the app bundle from the Applications folder?

 

[mansplains]

The reason why things like App Cleaner exist is MacOS has zero built-in method for automatically removing these files, regardless of the app. The executable is considered wholly separate from its support files. This has been true since the original MacOS X Beta, and something Apple has never saw fit to change, or to provide a system-level utility like Windows' application manager.

I’ve always disliked this, especially as a musician. It’s a nightmare to troubleshoot plugins and related installers when they end up creating files in ten directories. More installers have uninstall tools now, but I still keep TrashMe around. On iOS it isn’t a problem, instead you can’t delete cache data without uninstalling the app, if the app itself doesn’t offer the option.