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auditd
auditd can be used to track for when a file is deleted, and provides some information about who or what process deleted that file. It can track other system or file changes as well.
Install the package:
apt install auditd
Using:
Set up an audit tracker (set 'foo' to some custom string):
auditctl -w /var/www/html/some_file -p wra -k foo
Search the logs for entries:
ausearch -k foo -i
Get some other general stats:
aureport -ts today -i -x --summary
Remove an audit tracker (notice the uppercase 'W'):
auditctl -W /var/www/html/some_file -p wra -k foo
Caveats:
Some reads and writes may not be tracked. It's complicated stuff, but check the
-p
option in man auditctl
.