JNSoftware
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Version: 0.1.9
Release Date: November 2, 2005
Requirements: Mac OS X 10.2+ & Administrator Access (AppleScript Studio/Xcode to edit source code)
Script Type: Editable
License: Freeware
Installation: Download & expand.
Description: This is a small application that parses the /var/log/secure.log file looking for failed authorization attempts. It presents a summary of the total number of failed attempts (and successes) per user. It will also optionally display the full log listing of each failed attempt, each successful attempt, and SSH information from the /var/log/system.log (see the preferences to enable/disable these options).
When you run this application, if your secure.log file is not empty, the application will ask for your administrative password. This authentication is just used so the application can read the secure.log file which is owned by the system and generally does not allow regular users access to its contents. The password is not stored anywhere and this application does not modify any files or settings on your system. The password is just used so it can read the protected log.
This application is based on tips submitted to www.macintouch.com. See the MacInTouch report on Security: Access Monitoring and SSH (https://www.macintouch.com/security-mon.html) for a discussion of what these results mean and how to better protect your system.
If you are a native speaker of a non-English language and are interested in helping to localize this application, .
This application is unsupported freeware. It is provided “AS-IS”, with all faults and with no warranty of any kind.
YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT USE OF THE SOFTWARE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND THAT THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO SATISFACTORY QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCURACY AND EFFORT IS WITH YOU. If you do not agree to this, do not use the software.
Version History
  • v0.1.9
    • Improved compatibility with Mac OS X 10.4.3 (Tiger).
    • Minor interface adjustments.
  • v0.1.8
    • Updated for Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger). (If you are using an earlier version of Mac OS X and are having problems with this version, try v0.1.7 available here.)
    • Minor interface adjustments.
  • v0.1.7
    • Added an icon.
    • Fixed the error: "variable o not defined".
    • Fixed some typos.
  • v0.1.6
    • Better error handling if the log files are either not present or empty.
    • Added explanation of why the application asks for a password.
    • Improved the text formatting of the number lists.
  • v0.1.5
    • Added check of successful attempts.
    • Added check of SSH activity.
    • Added preferences.
    • Updated the GUI.
    • Cleaned up the code.
  • v0.1.4
    • Fixed the error: "An error of type 1 has occurred." on systems with no failed password attempts in the log.
  • v0.1.3
    • Updated the GUI.
  • v0.1.2
    • Fixed the error: "Can't make word 2 of "1" into a Unicode text".
    • Minor other code changes.
  • v0.1.1
    • Minor adjustment to the script to change double quotes to single quotes to accomodate Mac OS X 10.2.x users.
  • v0.1
    • Initial Public Release