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Clear system maintenance 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 system maintenance logs, enhancing user privacy by removing traces of system activity.

Derived from Mac OS X's UNIX heritage, these logs are produced by scheduled scripts that clean system logs, manage temporary files, and handle tasks such as log file rotation and system statistics reporting 1.

The logs are stored at /private/var/log/daily.out, /private/var/log/weekly.out, and /private/var/log/monthly.out. You can also access them via /var/log/{daily|weekly|monthly}.out 1 2 3, since /var links to /private/var. The configuration for these log actions are located at /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.periodic-*.plist files.

These logs include detailed records of disk usage, system uptime, and network activities 2 3. They record outputs from daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance scripts, detailing activities such as removing old logs and rotating various other log files 1. These logs are used in forensic analysis to study your behavior, posing a privacy risk 1.

Caution

Deleting these logs may hinder system troubleshooting and monitoring.

This script uses Bash (Shell script) scripting language.

Safe for General Use

This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Implementation Details

  • Language: bash

  • Required Privileges: Administrative (sudo) access

  • Compatibility: macOS only

  • Reversibility: Some changes may be permanent

Explore Categories​

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 ▶

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 system maintenance 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/daily.out"
glob_pattern="/private/var/log/daily.out"
sudo rm -fv $glob_pattern
# Delete files matching pattern: "/private/var/log/weekly.out"
glob_pattern="/private/var/log/weekly.out"
sudo rm -fv $glob_pattern
# Delete files matching pattern: "/private/var/log/monthly.out"
glob_pattern="/private/var/log/monthly.out"
sudo rm -fv $glob_pattern
  1. Paste the code into terminal.
  2. Press Enter to apply the code.

Some scripts requires restarting your computer to take affect.

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