TA0003 · PERSISTENCE
Launch Agent
Adversaries may create or modify launch agents to repeatedly execute malicious payloads as part of persistence.
Detect it with
Monitor Launch Agent creation through additional plist files and utilities such as Objective-See’s KnockKnock application. Launch Agents also require files on disk for persistence which can also be monitored via other file monitoring applications.
Why it matters on shift
Launch Agent is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve persistence. 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 persistence, the next tactic is usually Privilege Escalation. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
Kill-chain context