Suspicious macOS Backdoor LaunchAgent launched Plist Persistence (via file_event)
- Product
- macos
- Category
- file_event
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-10-06
- Updated
- 2026-10-06
ATT&CK techniques
Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects creation of a LaunchAgent property list whose name begins with launched. in a LaunchAgents directory on macOS. The cracked-software crypto-stealing backdoor persists via /Library/LaunchAgents/launched.<uuid>.plist, so this naming prefix indicates the implant registering itself to run at login.
Reporting behind it
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
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Also included
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