How to use the BDsysLog scan utility on Mac

This article shows how to use the BDsysLog scan utility on macOS computers such as MacBook, iMac, MacBook Air, Mac mini, etc. BDsysLog is a malware analysis tool created by Bitdefender Labs. It performs a deep scan of critical system areas to enable security experts to identify evasive and unknown malware threats on your Mac.

When you contact Bitdefender support claiming suspicious malware-like behavior, a representative may ask you to provide detailed information:

  • a full description of the symptoms that make you suspect your Mac is infected
  • a screenshot of the malware signs you see on the screen – How to take a screenshot on Mac
  • a BDsys log – Use the method described below to generate a BDsys log.

 

1. Download the correct BDsysLog tool

On the affected Mac that shows signs of infection, click the link that matches your computer type:

To find out if your Mac has an Intel or Apple M-series chip, click the Apple icon () > About This Mac, then look for “Chip” (Apple Silicon) or “Processor” (Intel) on the Overview tab. Apple Silicon Macs say “Chip” with an M-series name (like M1, M2, M3), while Intel Macs say “Processor” with an Intel Core name (like i5, i7, i9).

After downloading, the file will likely be in your Downloads folder.

2. Allow the tool to run

macOS requires you to tell it that this tool is safe to run. To do this:

  1. Open Terminal (from Applications → Utilities → Terminal).
  2. Type the following (Replace “Downloads” with the folder on your Mac where BDSysLog_i was saved.): 
    chmod 755 ~/Downloads/BDSysLog_i
  3. Press Enter.

chmod 755 ~/Downloads/BDSysLog_i

That’s it – this only tells macOS the file is allowed to run.

3. Grant Full Disk Access

For BDsysLog to scan Safari and other privileged files, you need to grant it Full Disk Access:

  1. Go to Apple menu () → System Settings.
  2. Click on Privacy & Security → Full Disk Access.
  3. On macOS High Sierra (10.13) – Monterey (12) click the lock and enter your Mac password.
  4. Click the + button, select BDSysLog_i then click Open.

4. Run BDSysLog with admin privileges

This part must be done in Terminal so the tool can run with administrator permissions.

  1. Open Terminal again.
  2. Run this command: 
    sudo ~/Downloads/BDSysLog_i
  3. Enter your Mac’s password and press Enter. (The password be invisible as you type – this is normal.)sudo ~/Downloads/BDSysLog_i
  4. Click Allow each time you are prompted.
  5. Wait for BDsysLog to end the scan. This process may take several minutes depending on your system.BDSysLog end

5. Submit bdsyslog.zip

  1. When the tool finishes, a file named bdsyslog.zip will appear in the same folder as the tool – usually Downloads.
  2. Attach the bdsyslog.zip archive to your support ticket for further troubleshooting.