MITRE ATT&CK Technique
T1685.006Clear Linux or Mac System Logs
- First Reported
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- Latest Reported
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Official Description
Adversaries may clear system logs to hide evidence of an intrusion. macOS and Linux both keep track of system or user-initiated actions via system logs. The majority of native system logging is stored under the `/var/log/` directory. Subfolders in this directory categorize logs by their related functions, such as:(Citation: Linux Logs)
* `/var/log/messages:`: General and system-related messages
* `/var/log/secure or /var/log/auth.log`: Authentication logs
* `/var/log/utmp or /var/log/wtmp`: Login records
* `/var/log/kern.log`: Kernel logs
* `/var/log/cron.log`: Crond logs
* `/var/log/maillog`: Mail server logs
* `/var/log/httpd/`: Web server access and error logs
* `/var/log/messages:`: General and system-related messages
* `/var/log/secure or /var/log/auth.log`: Authentication logs
* `/var/log/utmp or /var/log/wtmp`: Login records
* `/var/log/kern.log`: Kernel logs
* `/var/log/cron.log`: Crond logs
* `/var/log/maillog`: Mail server logs
* `/var/log/httpd/`: Web server access and error logs
- Tactics
- Defense Impairment
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS
- Parent Technique
- T1685 · Disable or Modify Tools
- MITRE Version
- 1.0
- Last Modified
- May 12, 2026