Targeted - Using Filtering¶
- Make sure all requirements above are met
- Login as an admin into the target Mac computer
- Connect the LLIMAGER drive that contains the copy of the llimager.app and license key file (llimager.lic)
- Connect the destination disk (as needed)
- On your USB SSD, navigate to /llimager and double-click on “llimager.app” and once it launches, enter a local admin password and click the
button.

• On your USB SSD, navigate to /llimager and double-click on “llimager.app” and once it launches, enter a local admin password.

• Make sure to review the "Best Practices Checklist" and click OK when done. Then select the type of image you want to make
LLIMAGER Menu Options¶
Full File System¶
This option is equivalent to a full file system and allows the entire process of imaging the computer’s hard disk volumes’ active space, saving the image to a Mac sparse image container and then conversion of the image to a compressed DMG file, and calculating the hash value of the DMG file. During the process, there will be an option to fully automate the process by creating the final DMG or to just generate the sparse file.
Targeted¶
This option allows the imaging of targeted files/folders on the computer’s hard disk, saving the image to a compressed read-only DMG file, and calculating the hash value of the DMG file. It includes granular selection of documents and folders based on custom file types (extensions) and file system dates such as the birth time (creation), modified, accessed and the change time (inode delta). Moreover, profiles are available to save selections for future jobs.
Time Machine¶
A Time Machine-based disk image of the near-full data volume, including Trash folders, can be created using this feature. Unlike standard Time Machine backups, LLIMAGER 6.0 includes all Trash folders, which are typically excluded, and packages the image into a single DMG file. Note, Time Machine omits specific system, log, and cache files, thus this option is better suited for e-discovery rather than digital forensics workflows.
Convert/ Hash¶
This option allows the process of converting a sparse image file to a compressed DMG file, and to calculate the hash value of the DMG file.
Send to Cloud¶
Allows uploading of images to AWS, Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure using authentication keys and giving option to securely saving credentials for future uploads. Note, you can preview the upload speed on the environment where the upload process will be occurring.
User Profiles¶
This option allows the imaging of targeted user profile(s), saving the image to a ZIP or DMG file, and calculating the hash value.
Exit¶
This option will exit the application.
Creating Evidence files¶
The core workflow of the LLIMAGER app encompasses evidence capture, DMG file generation, and the creation of a signed, tamper-protected PDF log.
Before You Begin¶
- Confirm you are logged in the target Mac computer with valid local admin credentials
- Make sure you have enabled full disk access for the LLIMAGER app
Step 1 — Start a New Acquisition¶
- The evidence creation form for Targeted images will open.
Enhanced Filtering¶
LLIMAGER includes enhanced filtering for improved digital forensics and e-discovery collection workflows. The filtering includes:
-
File System dates:
- Access Time (st_atime): This represents the last time the file's data was read or accessed.
- Modification Time (st_mtime): This indicates the last time the file's content was modified.
- Change Time (st_ctime): This reflects the last time the file's metadata was changed. This includes permission modifications, ownership changes, or any other alterations to the file's properties outside the content itself.
- Birth Time (st_birthtime also referred to as st_ctime on some systems): This can be a bit confusing because depending on the file system implementation, st_ctime might sometimes refer to the birth time (creation time) on some systems.
-
File Types:
- File Categories:
- Spreadsheets: common spreadsheet file extension names
- Documents: common word processing, presentation, and text file extensions
- Multi-Media: common audio, video and images file extensions
- Custom: add custom file extensions.
- File Categories:
-
Profiles: Option to save filtered selections to a customer profile name.
Below is the screenshot representing the filtering options and saving to a profile:

