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Zoom Anti-Spyware: Fully Remove Zoom and Its Hidden Garbage

Zoom: It's not just a video conferencing tool; it's a clutter factory and, arguably, spyware. While you think uninstalling Zoom via macOS is enough, think again. Zoom loves to fill your computer with background services, spyware-like components, and files that persist across uninstallation attempts—making it behave more like malware than a meeting tool.

What This Script Does

This script:

  • Stops any sneaky Zoom processes, daemons, and auto-start services.
  • Deletes every trace of Zoom from your system: applications, support files, logs, caches, daemons, and receipts.
  • Ensures Zoom cannot "mysteriously" reinstall itself after you’ve told it to leave.
  • Verifies that your system is truly Zoom-free.

Why You Should Care

Here’s why you should really think twice about trusting Zoom:

  1. A Spyware-Like Trail: Zoom installs unnecessary daemons and leaves long-living cruft all over your filesystem.
  2. Persistent Reinstallation: Even when you uninstall it through macOS, Zoom’s services stay behind and can reinstall the app without your consent.
  3. Exposed for Lying to Customers: Zoom has a long history of leaking customer data and misleading its users about security and privacy practices.
  4. Suspicious EULA: Their End-User License Agreement is vague and troubling, giving Zoom access to far more data than you might expect.
  5. Shady Business Practices: Zoom hires well-known, high-reputation figures as a smokescreen for what are likely unethical data practices.

Why tolerate all this from a tool that should just help you join a meeting?

Quick Start: Uninstall Zoom in One Command

Run this single command in your terminal to remove Zoom entirely. Ensure you trust the script source before running this.

curl -s https://git.nixc.us/colin/zoom-antispyware/raw/branch/main/uninstall-zoom.sh | bash

This will:

  1. Download the uninstall-zoom.sh script from the repository.
  2. Execute the script to completely remove Zoom and all its junk files.

What’s Inside the Script?

Here’s what the script does:

  1. Stops any Zoom-related background processes and daemons using launchctl.
  2. Deletes Zoom and all its related files from these directories:
    • /Applications
    • ~/Library/Application Support
    • /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools
    • /Library/LaunchDaemons
    • System caches, logs, and receipts
  3. Ensures no persistent components remain.
  4. Recommends rebooting your system to clear any lingering processes or cached services.

Why You Can’t Just Drag Zoom to the Trash

Uninstalling Zoom the "normal" way through macOS doesn’t remove:

  • Background services like ZoomDaemon that continue to run in the background.
  • Files in hidden system directories that allow Zoom to reinstall itself.
  • Junk that clogs your system long after you’ve "uninstalled" the app.

Zoom is notorious for hiding files in places you wouldn’t expect and running processes you didn’t agree to.

How to Verify Zoom Is Gone

Once you’ve run the script, double-check that no Zoom files remain on your system:

find ~/Library /Library -iname "*zoom*" 2>/dev/null

If no files appear, you’re finally free of Zoom’s spyware-like grasp.

A Final Word on Zoom

Zoom has proven itself to be:

  • Dishonest: Exposed multiple times for leaking user data and misleading customers.
  • Overreaching: Filling your filesystem with junk and running unnecessary services.
  • Untrustworthy: Their suspicious EULA and shady practices show a lack of respect for users' privacy.

By removing Zoom from your computer, you’re taking back control over your system and protecting your data from a company that has shown it doesn’t deserve your trust.

Feedback or Issues?

Found something the script missed? Open an issue or submit a PR on this repository. Let’s make sure Zoom finally cleans up after itself.