Suspicious macOS Trojan-Proxy LaunchAgent GoogleHelperUpdater Persistence (via file_event)

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1543.001Launch Agent
Priv Esc
- T1543.001Launch Agent
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1090Proxy
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of a LaunchAgent property list named GoogleHelperUpdater.plist. The macOS Trojan-Proxy bundled with cracked software installs this masquerading Google-branded LaunchAgent to persist and relay traffic through the victim host, so this plist name in a LaunchAgents directory indicates the proxy implant establishing persistence.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious macOS Trojan-Proxy LaunchAgent GoogleHelperUpdater Persistence (via file_event)

Pivot detection · T1090 · 9 related

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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