Remove GoogleSoftwareUpdate.app from your Mac

Remove Google Software Update app from Mac because unfortunately it has qualities that are similar to malware:

  • it installs in your computer without explicit asking for your permission, nor giving the options to decline it
  • it frequently sending data back to Google without your knowledge
  • it can’t be configured via a settings menu
  • there is no uninstallation tool for you; and it will re-install by itself if you delete it.

Using a Terminal you can adjust how often it checks thus allowing the software updates to continue to happen in the background at a reduced rate:
defaults write com.google.Keystone.Agent checkInterval 604800
If you change the checkInternal to 0, Google’s no longer sending data, which should be
sufficient for most users.

If you wish to remove it completely on the other hand…
To uninstall GoogleSoftwareUpdate.app
sudo rm -R ~/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/
sudo touch ~/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate

Prevent GoogleSoftwareUpdate from being reinstalled.
sudo chmod 444 ~/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate

Google had changed a setting so GoogleSoftwareUpdate.app would install on the global level on a Mac if a user deleted it at the user level.  How devious.
sudo rm -R /Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/
sudo touch /Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate
sudo chmod 444 /Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate

To verify the updater is no-longer able to install itself and run, using chome type:
chrome://help
You will see an error: Update failed.

Reference:
https://www.imore.com/how-stop-googlesoftwareupdateapp-trying-run-your-mac

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