Clear installation logs

Overview

About this script

This script improves your privacy on macOS.

These changes use Mac system commands to update your settings.

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.

Caution

Deleting these logs may hinder system troubleshooting and monitoring.

This script uses Bash (Shell script) scripting language.

Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications. Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

Implementation Details

• Language: bash

• Required Privileges: Administrative (sudo) access

• Compatibility: macOS only

• Reversibility: Some changes may be permanent

Explore Categories

Clear system and app logs

This action belongs to Clear system and app logs category. This category includes scripts that delete various operating system logs. These logs document system operations, user activities, application behavior, and errors. While essential for debugging and monitoring, these logs contain sensitive information and pose privacy risks. Deleting these logs:... Read more on category page ▶

Privacy cleanup

This action belongs to Privacy cleanup category. This category configures macOS using 85 scripts. These scripts are organized in 12 categories. The category includes 6 subscripts and 6 subcategories that include more scripts and categories. Read more on category page ▶

Apply now

Choose one of three ways to apply:

1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

privacy.sexy instructions

1. Open or download the desktop application
2. Search for the script name: Clear installation logs.
3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download

Reversible

This script is reversible, you can restore your changes to the initial/default state. The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

If something goes wrong, use the Revert script provided above.

1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

   Download script

2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Alternative 3. Copy

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

1. Open Terminal app

2. Copy the following code:

Code to apply changes

# Delete files matching pattern: "/private/var/log/install.log"
glob_pattern="/private/var/log/install.log"
sudo rm -fv $glob_pattern

3. Paste the code into terminal.
4. Press Enter to apply the code.

Some scripts requires restarting your computer to take affect.

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