ARCHIVE: How to remove Cisco AnyConnect from macOS

How to remove Cisco AnyConnect Mobility from macOS

 

If you are getting an error after updating Catalina or Big Sur indicating that certain files "will damage your computer", this is due to changes in security tools with these updates from Apple. Uninstalling and reinstalling AnyConnect will usually solve this problem. Below find several methods for doing this.

 

Note that this is tested with Big Sur & expected to work with Catalina, although that is untested at this time.

https://community.cisco.com/t5/vpn/how-to-remove-cisco-anyconnect-mobility-from-osx-big-sur/td-p/4303190

 

It is probably best if you perform the following from an account with admin access.

Have you followed the following steps?

1. From the Finder go to the Applications folder.
2. Look for the Cisco folder and open it
3. Then double click on Uninstall Anyconnect to start the uninstall process
4. Follow instructions to uninstall the VPN program

If you have already tried the above-mentioned steps, then try the following procedure for manually uninstalling the AnyConnect client from macOS system:

As root, run the following shell script from the Terminal:

 

$ sudo /opt/cisco/anyconnect/bin/vpn_uninstall.sh

Note: You will be prompted for your password. Once you enter it, just follow the steps.

 

If you are still having trouble and/or the new Cisco AnyConnect installation complains that you have a version installed, follow these steps:
Enter these commands to clean out the old Cisco VPN kernel extension and reboot the system.

sudo -s
rm -rf /System/Library/StartupItems/CiscoVPN
rm -rf /Library/StartupItems/CiscoVPN
rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions/CiscoVPN.kext
rm -rf /Library/Extensions/CiscoVPN.kext
rm -rf /Library/Receipts/vpnclient-kext.pkg
rm -rf /Library/Receipts/vpnclient-startup.pkg
reboot

 

If you installed the Cisco VPN for Mac version 4.1.08005 package, enter these commands to delete the misplaced files. The deletion of these files will not affect your system, since applications do not use these misplaced files in their current location.

sudo -s
rm -rf /Cisco\ VPN\ Client.mpkg
rm -rf /com.nexUmoja.Shimo.plist
rm -rf /Profiles
rm -rf /Shimo.app
exit

Enter these commands if you no longer need the old Cisco VPN Client or Shimo.

sudo -s
rm -rf /Library/Application\ Support/Shimo
rm -rf /Library/Frameworks/cisco-vpnclient.framework
rm -rf /Library/Extensions/tun.kext
rm -rf /Library/Extensions/tap.kext
rm -rf /private/opt/cisco-vpnclient
rm -rf /Applications/VPNClient.app
rm -rf /Applications/Shimo.app
rm -rf /private/etc/opt/cisco-vpnclient
rm -rf /Library/Receipts/vpnclient-api.pkg
rm -rf /Library/Receipts/vpnclient-bin.pkg
rm -rf /Library/Receipts/vpnclient-gui.pkg
rm -rf /Library/Receipts/vpnclient-profiles.pkg
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.nexUmoja.Shimo.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Shimo
rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.cisco.VPNClient.plist
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/SyncServices/Local/TFSM/com.
nexumoja.Shimo.Profiles
rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/Shimo*
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Shimo
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Growl/Tickets/Shimo.growlTicket
exit

Finally this.

sudo pkgutil --forget com.cisco.pkg.anyconnect.vpn

 

Restart and install the latest version of AnyConnect.