Clear installation logs
- Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
- macOS onlyThis script improves your privacy on macOS
- Impact: MediumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Moderate
This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script. - Bash (Shell script)These changes use macOS system commands to update your settings.
- Fully reversible
You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using this website.
The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.
Overview
This script deletes installation logs.
These logs document software installations and updates 1 2, including dates and details 2. This data is valuable for troubleshooting and auditing.
The logs are stored at /private/var/log/install.log 1 3 on Mac OS X 10.3 and later 1.
You can also access them via /var/log/install.log, since /var links to /private/var.
Deleting these logs removes detailed records of installed software, enhancing your privacy and security. These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk 2. Unauthorized access to these logs could expose security vulnerabilities.
Keep these logs for 365 days before deletion to aid in auditing, as recommended for security reasons 3.
Deleting these logs may hinder system troubleshooting and monitoring.
This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.
Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.
This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.
Sources
- Software Install Log - Apple Community. discussions.apple.com. (2024).
Original: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1829842
Archived: https://archive.ph/2024.06.16-085343/https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1829842?sortBy=best - Mac os x 10.9 artifacts location. forensics.wiki. (2024).
Original: https://forensics.wiki/mac_os_x_10.9_artifacts_location
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240615112511/https://forensics.wiki/mac_os_x_10.9_artifacts_location/ - The macOS system must configure install.log retention to 365.. www.stigviewer.com. (2024).
Original: https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/apple_macos_14_sonoma/2024-01-10/finding/V-259558
Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240615112500/https://www.stigviewer.com/stig/apple_macos_14_sonoma/2024-01-10/finding/V-259558
Apply Now
Choose one of three ways to apply:
Help
How to apply or restore "Clear installation logs" using script
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: Web Browser
- Difficulty: Medium
- ≈ 5 instructions
- 1
Download
Download the script file by clicking on the button above.
Use button above to restore changes. - 2
Keep the file
If warned by your browser, keep the file. - 3
Open
Open the downloaded file. - 4
Exit
Once it's done, press any key to exit the window. - 5
Restart
Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.
Apply with privacy.sexy
Guided, automated application with safety checks- Recommended for most users
- Includes safety checks
- Free
- Open-source
- Popular
- Offline/Online usage
Help
How to apply or restore "Clear installation logs" using privacy.sexy
- ≈ 3 min to complete
- Tools: privacy.sexy
- Difficulty: Simple
- ≈ 4 instructions
- 2
Choose script
- Search for the script name: Clear installation logs
- Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
- 3
Run
Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.
- Apply
- Revert
# Delete files matching pattern: "/private/var/log/install.log"
glob_pattern="/private/var/log/install.log"
sudo rm -fv $glob_pattern
IiI=
Help
How to apply or restore "Clear installation logs" using commands
- ≈ 2 min to complete
- Tools: Terminal app
- Difficulty: undefined
- ≈ 3 instructions
- 1
Open terminal
Open Terminal app. - 2
Copy code
Copy the code: - 3
Paste & run
Paste the code into Terminal and press Enter to run.Some changes require a system restart to take effect
Similar Guides
Wider Goal
Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
- Clear system and app logs
- Privacy cleanup
This category includes scripts that delete various operating system logs. These logs document system operations, user activities, application behavior, a...
Same Goal
Other guides in Clear system and app logs See settings that are in the same category as this guide.Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
About the Creators
These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:
undergroundwires- Certified security professional
- 7+ years experience securing banks
- Open-source developer since 2005
- EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
- Open-Source Contributors
- Hundreds across the globe
- Testers, reviewers, developers
- Companies, military agencies
- Community since 2017
Reviewed By
This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:Expert review by undergroundwires
- Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
- Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
- Audited and verified using automated security tests
Public review by large community
- Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
- Millions of end-users tested across different environments
- Audited and verified using third-party security software
History
We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.