huntrule

Windows Prefetch File Deletion via .pf File Removal

Flags deletion of .pf files in \\Windows\\Prefetch, a possible attempt to remove execution artifacts.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
file_delete
Author
Cedric MAURUGEON (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-09-29
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

Identifies attempts to delete Windows Prefetch files by matching target paths under :\Windows\Prefetch\ and filenames ending in .pf. Attackers may remove these artifacts to hinder forensic reconstruction of recently executed processes. The detection relies on Windows file deletion telemetry that includes the deleted target filename, and optionally filters out svchost activity associated with common prefetch housekeeping patterns.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1070.004 — drag to rearrange
Suspicious Crontab Removal via Command Line (via process_creation)
Suspicious Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback and Del (via process_creation)
Malicious Self-Deletion Via Fsutil SetZeroData
Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback Delay and Del Command
Suspicious Deletion of Explorer RunMRU Values
Suspicious PowerShell Self-Delete Of Executable via Process Creation
Suspicious Prefetch Deletion for Anti-Forensics
Malicious Ransomware Self-Deletion via Ping Loopback and Del
Suspicious Self-Deletion Batch Artifact by JadeProx TriBack Loader (via file_event)
Windows Prefetch File Deletion via .pf File Removal
Pivot detection · T1070.004 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. v1
    No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.