Q: Best program to monitor changes made by installs, updates, and software?
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Dec 6, 2015 4:48 PMby morrispe,This really isn't something you need to worry about on Mac OS X as to uninstall applications you usually just drag them from the Applications folder to the recycle bin. There are a few utilities like App Zapper that will clean up config and plist files etc. when you want to delete an application.
If you're so inclined there is a network firewall app called Little Snitch that will monitor your applications and notify you when apps are requesting network or internet access. This basically requires that you grant permissions to applications to "phone home" or connect to the internet. I don't use this and only install applications from the Mac App Store and reputable well known companies.
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Dec 6, 2015 7:15 PMby leroydouglas,Use the Automator.app, or AppleScript and Folder Actions
"Folder Action scripts are simply AppleScripts, so if you are familiar with Apple’s scripting language then you can create some fairly complex handling routines for your watched folders; however, if not then you can still make use of Folder Actions with Automator, Apple’s simplified workflow-based scripting routine for OS X"
http://www.macissues.com/2014/05/02/monitor-system-folders-to-secure-your-mac/
http://www.macissues.com/2014/07/16/how-to-set-up-and-use-folder-actions-on-your -mac/
Starting with El Capitan the introduction to SIP. a security feature to protects certain system processes, files and folders from being modified or tampered with by other processes even when executed by the root user or by a user with root privileges (sudo).
About System Integrity Protection on your Mac - Apple Support
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Dec 7, 2015 4:36 PMby NemanjaOS,Lanny, FastTasks 2 is a program that does such a thing, it “keep logs of your system profile over time so you can easily see what changes were made to your system and when, a vital aid when things stop working as expected and you need to troubleshoot your mac.” I’m just wondering if someone knows of another program that does something similar, that I can revue in real-time and see what was changed right after it happened, and that’s suggested to be safe and by a reputable well known company/person.
