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Releases: Pinperepette/MacPersistenceChecker

MacPersistenceChecker v1.8.1

20 Dec 10:30

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What's New in v1.8.1

AI-Powered Monitoring

  • AI Mode: Claude AI analyzes each persistence change and decides if you should be notified
  • Smart Notifications: AI considers full context (signature, LOLBins, behavioral anomalies, timestamps)
  • Customizable AI Behavior: Configure prompt options, notification thresholds, custom instructions

UI Improvements

  • Menu bar now shows active mode badge (AI/Std)
  • Settings button added to toolbar and menu bar
  • Startup notification confirms active monitoring mode

Notification System

  • Deduplication with configurable cooldown (1-24 hours)
  • Prevents notification fatigue from frequently-changing items

Documentation

  • Comprehensive README documentation for AI features and customization
  • MCP Server documentation with configuration examples

Fixes

  • DMG removed from repo (now available only in releases)

Requirements: macOS 13.0+, Universal binary (Apple Silicon & Intel)

If macOS says the app is damaged: xattr -cr /Applications/MacPersistenceChecker.app

MacPersistenceChecker v1.8.0

18 Dec 22:53

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Show me what stays, explain why it matters, let me decide.

Features

  • Complete persistence scanning (20+ locations)
  • Risk scoring (0-100) with MITRE ATT&CK mapping
  • Launch frequency anomaly detection (Micro-Restart, Aggressive Watchdog, No Throttle Limit)
  • Forensic timeline with timestamp anomaly detection
  • Interactive graph visualization
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Snapshot comparison

Installation

  1. Download MacPersistenceChecker.dmg
  2. Drag to Applications
  3. If macOS says damaged: xattr -cr /Applications/MacPersistenceChecker.app

Requires macOS 13.0+

MacPersistenceChecker v1.5

18 Dec 15:59

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v1.5 - Enhanced Data Visualization

New Features

  • Security Profile Chart - Comprehensive radar chart in item details showing Trust, Signature, Safety, Stability, Transparency, and Age dimensions
  • Risk Distribution Histogram - Visual breakdown of items by risk bands (Low, Medium, High, Critical)
  • Trust Level Donut Chart - Interactive pie chart showing distribution across trust levels
  • Category Breakdown Chart - Horizontal bar chart displaying items per persistence category
  • Timeline Visualization - Graphical representation of item lifecycle events
  • Graph View Enhancements - Mini radar chart, risk gauge, and risk factors breakdown in node details
  • Statistics Dashboard - New dedicated window with comprehensive metrics and charts
  • Sidebar Charts - Compact visualizations integrated into the main sidebar

Technical

  • Complete overhaul of statistical charts using Swift Charts framework
  • Improved performance and visual consistency
  • macOS 13+ compatibility with fallback charts for older systems

Download

Download the DMG below and drag the app to your Applications folder.

MacPersistenceChecker v1.4.0

18 Dec 14:13

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What's New in v1.4.0

App Invasiveness Report

  • Analyze installed apps by persistence mechanisms and installation footprint
  • Dual scoring system: Persistence Score + Installation Score
  • Grade system (A-F) for quick assessment
  • Library folder scanning (Application Support, Caches, Preferences, Containers, Logs)
  • On-demand size calculation for fast initial scan
  • Sortable results by score, size, persistence count, or name

Menu Bar Integration

  • Quick access to monitoring controls from macOS menu bar
  • Monitoring status indicator
  • Start/Stop monitoring, trigger scan

Real-time Monitoring

  • FSEvents-based persistence change detection
  • Intelligent noise suppression
  • Notification system for changes

Safe Containment Mode

  • Disable persistence items safely
  • Network blocking via socketfilterfw/pfctl

Other Improvements

  • Build script (build.sh) for easy compilation
  • Improved UI with tabbed detail view
  • Enhanced score breakdown visualization

Requirements: macOS 13.0+

Installation: Open the DMG and drag MacPersistenceChecker to Applications.

MacPersistenceChecker v1.3.0

17 Dec 08:19

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What's New in v1.3.0

Risk Assessment System

  • Automatic security risk scoring (0-100) for every persistence item
  • Detailed risk factor breakdown
  • Items sorted by risk score for quick threat identification
  • Severity levels: Low, Medium, High, Critical

Signed-but-Dangerous Detection

  • Advanced analysis for signed but potentially malicious software
  • Dangerous entitlements detection
  • Apple impersonation detection
  • Hidden locations flagging
  • Developer certificate validation

Timeline & Forensics

  • Complete forensic timeline for each item
  • File creation, modification, and execution timestamps
  • Timestamp anomaly detection (timestomping, file replacement, binary swap)

MITRE ATT&CK Integration

  • Every persistence mechanism mapped to ATT&CK tactics and techniques
  • Direct links to MITRE documentation

Interactive Graph Visualization

  • Full system graph overview
  • Per-item focused radial graphs
  • Color-coded by trust level

Other Improvements

  • Faster, more responsive search
  • Enhanced detail view layout
  • Better UI organization

Requirements: macOS 13.0+

Note: If macOS says the app is damaged, run:
```
xattr -cr /Applications/MacPersistenceChecker.app
```

MacPersistenceChecker v1.2

16 Dec 16:03

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Extended Scanners - Advanced Persistence Detection

New Features

  • Added 11 new Extended Scanners for advanced persistence detection
  • Periodic Scripts scanner (/etc/periodic/)
  • Shell Startup Files scanner with suspicious pattern detection
  • Login/Logout Hooks scanner
  • Authorization Plugins scanner
  • Spotlight Importers scanner
  • Quick Look Plugins scanner
  • Directory Services Plugins scanner
  • Finder Sync Extensions scanner
  • BTM Database scanner (macOS 13+)
  • Dylib Hijacking detection
  • TCC/Accessibility permission monitoring

Improvements

  • Enable/disable individual scanners in Settings
  • Toggle Extended Scanners from toolbar or sidebar
  • Improved disable functionality for all item types
  • Updated UI with Extended Scanners section

Requirements

  • macOS 13.0 or later
  • Universal binary (Apple Silicon & Intel)

Note

If the application appears corrupted, run: xattr -cr /path/to/Application.app

MacPersistenceChecker v1.0

16 Dec 12:03

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MacPersistenceChecker v1.0

Initial Release

Features

  • Enumerate all macOS persistence mechanisms
  • Code signature verification with color-coded trust levels
  • Snapshot and timeline comparison to detect changes
  • Disable/Enable items (with admin privileges for system items)
  • Native SwiftUI interface

Requirements

  • macOS 13.0 or later
  • Full Disk Access permission (for complete scanning)

Installation

  1. Download the DMG file
  2. Mount and drag MacPersistenceChecker to Applications
  3. Launch and grant Full Disk Access when prompted