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Artefactos forenses de macOS

Una página por artefacto: dónde está en cada versión de macOS, qué prueba, cómo funcionan sus marcas de tiempo, cuánto se conserva y cómo adquirirlo y analizarlo con herramientas de código abierto.

Chuleta imprimible48 artefactos

Los artefactos más usados están traducidos. Las entradas marcadas «Inglés» abren la página en inglés.

Versión de macOS

Ejecución

Persistencia

  • Configuration Profiles and MDM: macOS Managed SettingsInglés

    macOS configuration profiles and MDM enrollment records show which policies, certificates, VPNs, TCC grants and extensions were pushed to a Mac, and when.

    /private/var/db/ConfigurationProfiles/

  • cron, at and periodic: macOS Scheduled Job PersistenceInglés

    Legacy macOS schedulers (cron tabs, at jobs, periodic scripts, emond rules): where they live, which versions still run them and how to spot abuse.

    /usr/lib/cron/tabs/

  • Ítems de inicio y base de datos BTM en macOS

    Los ítems de inicio y el almacén Background Task Management (Ventura+) listan ítems, agentes y daemons con desarrollador, team ID y estado de aprobación.

    /private/var/db/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagement/BackgroundItems-v*.btm

  • Kernel and System Extensions: macOS kext EvidenceInglés

    Kernel extensions and system extensions on macOS: KextPolicy load history, the SystemExtensions database and what they show about drivers, EDR and rootkits.

    /Library/SystemExtensions/db.plist and /private/var/db/SystemPolicyConfiguration/KextPolicy

  • LaunchAgents y LaunchDaemons: persistencia en macOS

    Los plists de launchd en LaunchAgents y LaunchDaemons definen qué inicia macOS al arrancar, al iniciar sesión o con horario: el principal punto de persistencia.

    ~/Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchDaemons

Acceso a archivos

  • Cloud Storage Clients on Mac: Dropbox, Drive, OneDriveInglés

    Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive on macOS keep sync databases, logs and File Provider folders that show which files were synced, shared or uploaded.

    ~/Library/CloudStorage/ plus each client's Application Support, Group Container and log folders

  • CUPS Print Jobs and Logs: macOS Printing ForensicsInglés

    macOS prints through CUPS: spool control files, page_log and access_log show which documents were printed, by whom, on which printer and when.

    /private/var/spool/cups/ and /private/var/log/cups/

  • FSEvents (.fseventsd): cambios del sistema de archivos

    Logs gzip por volumen escritos por fseventsd: rutas creadas, modificadas, renombradas y borradas, a menudo la única huella de un archivo eliminado.

    /System/Volumes/Data/.fseventsd/

  • iCloud Drive (CloudDocs): macOS Sync Folders and DatabasesInglés

    iCloud Drive local folders and the CloudDocs client.db and server.db databases that list synced files, versions and the devices that wrote them.

    ~/Library/Application Support/CloudDocs/session/db/client.db

  • Marcas de tiempo APFS y snapshots locales en macOS

    Marcas de tiempo APFS en nanosegundos, Date Added de directorio y snapshots locales de Time Machine: la base de las líneas de tiempo y la recuperación en macOS.

    /System/Volumes/Data

  • Microsoft Office and Outlook for Mac: MRU and Mailbox DataInglés

    Office for Mac keeps recent-file lists in securebookmarks plists and MicrosoftRegistrationDB.reg; Outlook for Mac stores mail in a local profile database.

    ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.<App>/ and ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/

  • Photos.sqlite: macOS Photos Library MetadataInglés

    Photos.sqlite in the macOS Photos library records each photo and video with capture time, location, import source, trash state and original filename.

    ~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/database/Photos.sqlite

  • QuarantineEventsV2 y xattr de cuarentena en macOS

    QuarantineEventsV2 y el atributo com.apple.quarantine registran qué se descargó, desde qué URL, con qué app y cuándo, a menudo aunque el archivo ya no exista.

    ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.QuarantineEventsV2

  • QuickLook Thumbnail Cache: macOS File Preview EvidenceInglés

    The QuickLook thumbnail cache (index.sqlite and thumbnails.data) records files previewed in Finder, with paths, hit counts and cached images.

    $(getconf DARWIN_USER_CACHE_DIR)/com.apple.quicklook.ThumbnailsAgent/com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache/

  • Recent Items (.sfl2/.sfl3): macOS Shared File ListsInglés

    sharedfilelistd lists of recent documents, apps, servers and per-app Open Recent entries, stored as NSKeyedArchiver plists with bookmarks.

    ~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.sharedfilelist/

  • Spotlight Store (.Spotlight-V100): macOS Metadata IndexInglés

    Per-volume Spotlight index and per-user CoreSpotlight stores holding file metadata such as download origin, last used date and use count.

    /System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V2/<UUID>/store.db

  • Time Machine Backups: macOS Configuration and HistoryInglés

    Time Machine settings, destinations and backup sets on HFS+ and APFS disks: a source of older file versions and proof of when backups ran.

    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist

Actividad del usuario

  • Apple Mail: Envelope Index and EMLX on macOSInglés

    Apple Mail keeps message metadata in the Envelope Index SQLite database and each message as an .emlx file, showing email sent, received and opened.

    ~/Library/Mail/V10/MailData/Envelope Index

  • Apple Notes NoteStore.sqlite: macOS Notes ForensicsInglés

    NoteStore.sqlite holds Apple Notes on macOS: note text as compressed protobuf, folders, accounts, attachments, locked notes and Recently Deleted items.

    ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/NoteStore.sqlite

  • Calendar, Contacts and Reminders Databases on macOSInglés

    Where macOS stores Calendar events, Contacts (AddressBook .abcddb) and Reminders, and what they show about meetings, relationships and tasks.

    ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/, ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.reminders/, ~/Library/Calendars/ or group.com.apple.calendar

  • Chrome and Firefox History on macOSInglés

    Chrome History and Firefox places.sqlite on macOS: paths, profiles, key tables and epochs to rebuild visits and downloads outside Safari.

    ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/History

  • Dock and Finder Plists: macOS User Preference EvidenceInglés

    com.apple.dock.plist and com.apple.finder.plist record pinned and recent apps, recent folders, Go to Folder history, servers and searches.

    ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist

  • dslocal User Accounts: macOS Local Users and GroupsInglés

    dslocal plists define every local macOS account and group, with creation, password-change and failed-login times that expose rogue or hidden accounts.

    /private/var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/users/<name>.plist

  • Flujos Biome SEGB: foco y actividad de apps en macOS

    Biome guarda flujos de actividad de macOS como App.InFocus en archivos SEGB con registros protobuf, el relevo de muchos flujos de knowledgeC.db.

    ~/Library/Biome/streams/restricted/<Stream>/local/

  • knowledgeC.db: uso de apps y actividad del Mac

    Base de datos SQLite de CoreDuet que registra uso de apps, foco, pantalla y alimentación en macOS: muestra cuándo y cuánto tiempo se usó cada app.

    /private/var/db/CoreDuet/Knowledge/knowledgeC.db

  • macOS Keychain Files: Metadata for ForensicsInglés

    macOS keychains store credentials, keys and certificates; their metadata shows which accounts, services and certificates existed and when items changed.

    ~/Library/Keychains/

  • Messages chat.db: macOS iMessage and SMS HistoryInglés

    chat.db is the macOS Messages SQLite database of iMessage, SMS and RCS conversations, participants, attachments and recently deleted messages.

    ~/Library/Messages/chat.db

  • Notification Center Database: macOS Notification HistoryInglés

    The usernoted SQLite database keeps delivered macOS notifications with app, title, body and time, often preserving message text from other apps.

    ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.usernoted/db2/db

  • Safari History.db: historial de navegación en macOS

    History.db de Safari, bases de datos de perfiles, Downloads.plist y almacenes de pestañas en macOS: qué páginas visitó un usuario, cuándo y qué se borró.

    ~/Library/Safari/History.db

  • Saved Application State: macOS Window and Terminal HistoryInglés

    macOS Saved Application State (.savedState) restores windows at relaunch and keeps window titles, open documents and even Terminal scrollback text.

    ~/Library/Saved Application State/<bundle-id>.savedState/

  • Screen Time Databases: macOS App Usage TotalsInglés

    ScreenTimeAgent RMAdminStore databases on macOS hold per-app and per-domain usage totals, pickups and notification counts per device and user.

    /private/var/folders/<xx>/<id>/0/com.apple.ScreenTimeAgent/Store/

Red

  • netusage.sqlite: macOS Per-Process Network UsageInglés

    netusage.sqlite records which processes used the network on a Mac, with first and last seen times and bytes over Wi-Fi, wired and cellular links.

    /private/var/networkd/db/netusage.sqlite

  • Screen Sharing and Apple Remote Desktop ArtifactsInglés

    macOS Screen Sharing and Apple Remote Desktop leave connection history, screensharingd log events and ARD caches that show remote control of a Mac.

    /private/var/db/RemoteManagement/ and ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.ScreenSharing/

  • SSH and Remote Login on macOS: Keys, Hosts and LogsInglés

    macOS Remote Login (sshd) leaves authorized_keys, known_hosts, sshd configuration and Unified Log events that show inbound and outbound SSH activity.

    ~/.ssh/ and /private/etc/ssh/

  • Wi-Fi Known Networks on macOS: Plists and LogsInglés

    macOS known Wi-Fi networks in com.apple.wifi.known-networks.plist, airport preferences, wifi.log and Unified Logs: where a Mac has connected, and when.

    /Library/Preferences/com.apple.wifi.known-networks.plist

USB y dispositivos

  • Bluetooth Devices on macOS: Paired and SeenInglés

    macOS Bluetooth artifacts: com.apple.Bluetooth.plist, MobileBluetooth device plist and LE databases, and bluetoothd logs to show which devices paired and when.

    /Library/Bluetooth/Library/Preferences/com.apple.MobileBluetooth.devices.plist

  • iPhone Backups and Pairing Records on a MacInglés

    Finder (MobileSync) backups of iPhones and iPads on a Mac, plus lockdown pairing records, show which iOS devices were connected, trusted and backed up.

    ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/<UDID>/

  • USB Devices: macOS Removable Media HistoryInglés

    macOS keeps no USB registry: rebuild removable media history from Unified Logs, DiskArbitration mounts, FSEvents, Spotlight and the device itself.

    /private/var/db/diagnostics/

Antiforense

  • macOS Trash and .DS_Store: Deleted File EvidenceInglés

    The macOS Trash keeps deleted files with their original location in .DS_Store put-back records, showing what a user deleted, from where and when.

    ~/.Trash/ and /Volumes/<volume>/.Trashes/<uid>/

Registros