Weird Privacy folder?

[ghsDUDE]

I noticed a weird folder named Privacy and it's around 4GB's.

It wasn't there before 8pm last night (I looked in Time Machine)
Is it ok to delete this thing?

 

[GGJstudios]

It's normally a hidden folder, but it's supposed to be there.

 

[ghsDUDE]

It's normally a hidden folder, but it's supposed to be there.

How can I hide it again?

 

[GGJstudios]

How can I hide it again?

To show hidden files in Finder, enter the following two commands into a Terminal window
(press enter after each line):

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
killall Finder​

To hide hidden files in Finder, enter the following two commands into a Terminal window
(press enter after each line):

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
killall Finder​

You can also get to that folder in Finder by Finder > Go > Go to Folder: > /private

 

[ghsDUDE]

To hide hidden files in Finder, enter the following two commands into a Terminal window
(press enter after each line):

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
killall Finder​

You can also get to that folder in Finder by Finder > Go > Go to Folder: > /private

I did this and it's still there.
I did restore my MBP yesterday around that time.
So I shouldn't delete it?
Do you have that same folder?

 

[Jolly Jimmy]

How can I hide it again?

Open Terminal.app and type

sudo chflags hidden /private

 

[ghsDUDE]

Open Terminal.app and type

sudo chflags hidden /private

WTF man. I just did that and it gave me some big warning.
I hit Control-C to abort it...did I just mess something up?

 

[GGJstudios]

WTF man. I just did that and it gave me some big warning.
I hit Control-C to abort it...did I just mess something up?

You don't need to worry about it. It's not harming anything to leave the folder there.

Macintosh HD/private , why i am seeing this?
Why can I see the "private" folder in Macintosh HD?
"private" folder in Macintosh HD
Deleted hidden 'private' folder on Macintosh HD...
What is the "private" folder on my hd?

 

[Jolly Jimmy]

The first time you run a command in terminal that requires your password it displays that warning. It just means that mistakes can have catastrophic consequences. As long as you type in the command exactly you have nothing to worry about (copy and paste it). Also when terminal prompts you for your password, it gives no feedback when you type it in. Just enter your password and hit enter.

 

[ghsDUDE]

The first time you run a command in terminal that requires your password it displays that warning. It just means that mistakes can have catastrophic consequences. As long as you type in the command exactly you have nothing to worry about (copy and paste it). Also when terminal prompts you for your password, it gives no feedback when you type it in. Just enter your password and hit enter.

Are you sure? 100%
I did the command that was shown before and it didn't ask for my password.
I had to restore my computer (that's why I believe it's showing)
I thought you were trying to mess with me.

I looked up Sudo and it gives access to a substitute user.

So you're telling me if I type in what you told me that folder will be hidden?

 

[Jolly Jimmy]

Yes it will simply hide the folder.

 

[ghsDUDE]

Yes it will simply hide the folder.

Thanks man.
Sorry, when I saw that pop up I thought you were messing with me to erase something important.

It worked 😀

 

[GGJstudios]

Thanks man.
Sorry, when I saw that pop up I thought you were messing with me to erase something important.

Jolly Jimmy would never do that. We're here to help, not hurt.

 

[ghsDUDE]

Jolly Jimmy would never do that. We're here to help, not hurt.

I've been on some mean forums and seen kids do mean things to others to wipe their hard drive on PC's.

Glad I'm a Mac now 😉