TA0005 · DEFENSE EVASION
Clear Windows Event Logs
Adversaries may clear Windows Event Logs to hide the activity of an intrusion. Windows Event Logs are a record of a computer's alerts and notifications.
Detect it with
Deleting Windows event logs (via native binaries , API functions , or PowerShell ) may also generate an alterable event (Event ID 1102: "The audit log was cleared").
Why it matters on shift
Clear Windows Event Logs is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve defense evasion. Recognising it in telemetry lets you name the technique in your ticket and pivot to what came before and after.
What to look for next
After defense evasion, the next tactic is usually Credential Access. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
Kill-chain context