Persistence on macOS: BSides Orlando 2023
Security Research
Delivered a conference talk on macOS persistence, malware revival, and defensive tradecraft, pairing hands-on research with a live reverse-engineering challenge.
Core Skills
Security Research
macOS
Malware Analysis
Threat Hunting
Conference Speaking
Year
2023
Format
Conference talk
Focus
macOS Persistence, Malware Analysis
Presented at BSides Orlando 2023, this talk explores macOS persistence techniques through the lens of both attacker tradecraft and defender understanding. I covered platform fundamentals, explained why persistence matters in macOS security, and walked through multiple techniques with a live demonstration that revived older malware on a modern system.
I also designed a reverse-engineering challenge around the sample so attendees could go beyond passive learning and work directly with the material. That made the session a blend of research communication, live demonstration, and practical security education.
Audience Takeaways
The talk gave attendees a practical understanding of macOS persistence techniques, including:
- Comparative analysis of macOS to other operating systems.
- Practical persistence techniques and their application.
- In-depth discussion on macOS security measures and how to navigate them.
- Live demo of reviving and mitigating malware.
- Get Demo Materials