Undeletable File

[hurtgen77]

So, I did this to myself. I downloaded something suspicious on the internet and now I have a file that:

1. Won't delete
2. If I do delete it (like using sudo or rm in terminal) it reappears a couple minutes later.
3. It creates random other files
4. It doesn't scan as a virus or malware
5. I did an entire system delete and installed a fresh copy of the OS X

It still won't go away.

The file is:

524147A4-6F63-44DD-BA45-72D4AB7AB256/ABInfo.abcdi

How can I purge this thing?

 

[revmacian]

So, I did this to myself. I downloaded something suspicious on the internet and now I have a file that:

1. Won't delete
2. If I do delete it (like using sudo or rm in terminal) it reappears a couple minutes later.
3. It creates random other files
4. It doesn't scan as a virus or malware
5. I did an entire system delete and installed a fresh copy of the OS X

It still won't go away.

The file is:

524147A4-6F63-44DD-BA45-72D4AB7AB256/ABInfo.abcdi

How can I purge this thing?

It's an Address Book file. I have several of those in: ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/Sources/<$FOLDER>/Metadata

I'm wondering if your address book got corrupted somehow. Can you right-click it and see what is listed under "Open With"? Contacts.app?"

 

[hurtgen77]

Nothing is listed under "Open With"

I tried opening it as a contact and it wasn't a contact.

Keep in mind that I deleted everything from my computer, including the OS X, and when I logged in, this file was still there.

 

[revmacian]

Nothing is listed under "Open With"

I tried opening it as a contact and it wasn't a contact.

Keep in mind that I deleted everything from my computer, including the OS X, and when I logged in, this file was still there.

Did you already log into iCloud? Contacts are kept in the cloud and brought over once logged into a new system. I'm thinking this file is a corrupt contacts file.

 

[DeltaMac]

AddressBook has similar named files - so, I think it is related to Address Book, or Contacts.

You should be able to Quick-look into that file. Just click on the file to select it, then press the space bar to view that file.
Where exactly is that file located? On your Desktop?

 

[hurtgen77]

I don't think so. And I don't keep contacts in the cloud.

Did you already log into iCloud? Contacts are kept in the cloud and brought over once logged into a new system. I'm thinking this file is a corrupt contacts file.

[automerge]1573788893[/automerge]
Ahh--ok. It is an AddressBook file.

/Users/josephhurtgen/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/Metadata

AddressBook has similar named files - so, I think it is related to Address Book, or Contacts.

You should be able to Quick-look into that file. Just click on the file to select it, then press the space bar to view that file.
Where exactly is that file located? On your Desktop?

 

[hurtgen77]

I still can't get rid of it though.

 

[DeltaMac]

Why do you think that's a problem?
If it is used by your Address Book/Contacts, then it's probably just part of your system when you log in.
You can delete it all you want, and if it is part of your contacts, then it would return within a few minutes.
(and address book would create an array of files as part of its function - part of the system's contact database)
Likely completely normal.

 

[hurtgen77]

I thought it was a problem because it appeared after I downloaded something random and comes back after getting deleted. But my computer is running fine. Is there no way to kill a file like this?

 

[S.B.G]

You can try opening the Terminal, navigating to the location the exists in and removing it with the rm command.

rm 524147A4-6F63-44DD-BA45-72D4AB7AB256/ABInfo.abcdi

 

[hurtgen77]

Good thought--doesn't work though. I even tried deleting my entire hard drive and putting on a fresh copy of OS X. The file persists.

You can try opening the Terminal, navigating to the location the exists in and removing it with the rm command.

rm 524147A4-6F63-44DD-BA45-72D4AB7AB256/ABInfo.abcdi

 

[niteflyr]

LOL. Turn off wifi. Turn off iCloud Contacts. Uncheck Contacts in your Apple ID settings. Delete all existing contacts. Uninstall Contacts application. Never go online. Your life can never be the same again.

 

[hurtgen77]

That honestly sounds great, but it's just not possible to shut everything down. Any solutions that don't involve dropping my computer into a well and then filling it with concrete?

 

[niteflyr]

How did you find this file and decide it must be deleted? Clearly it is some kind of program file. I searched and found 3 such files on my computer. Call technical support. Maybe they can advise.

 

[hurtgen77]

I accidentally downloaded something from the internet. The file appeared and is now an ever-present albatross lurking about.

 

[S.B.G]

In which folder are you seeing this file appear?

 

[hurtgen77]

/Users/josephhurtgen/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/Metadata

 

[S.B.G]

I'm curious to know how you happened to look in that folder and notice the file in the first place.

 

[DeltaMac]

I do think you already have a solution -- choose to ignore that file, as it would seem to be a normal part of your system.
Your system accesses contacts for a variety of reasons, some of which will not be visible to you.
It creates files as the contacts database is built.
Not every new file that appears deep in configuration folders can be declared as immediately suspect. (Life on computers would be quite difficult in that case . )

If you wish to continue on this quest, you might want to try out a utility that offers to notify you when any service on your Mac tries to "phone home", such as Little Snitch.
Be careful, however. That kind of monitoring might lead you to become even more suspicious, as you don't want to block everything