How Can I Make My Mac More Secure?

 

When it comes to protecting your Mac, security should always be a priority. Though Macs are considered to be more secure than PCs, there are still a variety of ways hackers and malicious programs can take advantage of vulnerabilities in your system. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to make your Mac as secure as possible. In this article, we’ll explore some of the ways you can protect your mac.

1. Update your Mac’s OS and software regularly

Maintaining the security of your Mac is essential – especially amidst an ever-growing cybercrime landscape. One of the most simple yet effective ways of keeping your Mac secure is to ensure that all software, both iOS and macOS, is updated to the latest available version.

Fortunately, Apple provides a feature known as Automatic Updates which enables users to easily receive the latest software updates without needing to manually search for them.  Update your Mac by clicking on the Apple icon, choosing “About This Mac,” and selecting “Software Update.”

If there is a new macOS version available that you haven’t yet installed, this will be shown here, allowing you to install it with just one click – no hassle required! By staying up-to-date with all software releases, your Mac will continue to remain safe from any malicious intrusions.

2. Ensure the safety of your login credentials and settings

Protecting your login details and settings is an important part of keeping your Mac safe. If you have admin rights, it would be particularly troublesome if someone were to gain access to your computer without permission. To prevent this from happening, it’s best to take a few simple steps to secure your login information and settings.

The first thing you should do is make sure that you use a strong and secure password for your account. Try not to use simple words or information that can easily be guessed by others. As an added layer of security, you should disable auto-login so accessing your account requires inputting the password each time. Another useful setting you should consider changing is disabling the password hints which appear when entering the wrong 4 digits of characters. It’s also recommended that you change your password regularly in order to keep it up-to-date and secure. Doing all of these things will provide added protection against unauthorized users gaining access to your device.

3. Create a Non-Admin Account

Creating non-admin accounts on your Mac is a great way to protect both your personal data and the overall security settings of the computer. This is especially important if more than one person uses your computer as it ensures each user will have their own login credentials, only be able to access their own files, and can only make changes to their individual settings.  Only the administrator can access advanced security settings on a Mac for safety reasons.

You’ll need to click on the padlock and enter your password in order to make any changes. From here, you can add a new user with the “plus” sign, choose different types of online accounts or groups, and fill out all required information. To enhance security, consider creating a “Sharing Only” account that restricts access to selected files and prevents unauthorized changes or entry from other sources.

4. Disable Remote Access & Sharing

Disabling remote access is a critical security step to protect your Mac from malicious attackers. Cyber attacks targeting personal and corporate devices are on the rise and with just one wrong click, those attempting to gain access to your device could be successful. Therefore it’s essential that users take all necessary measures to prevent their data from being compromised.

This will show any services you currently have enabled for remote connection or sharing. Simply untick the boxes next to “Remote Login”, “Remote Management” and any other unnecessary sharing options and you can rest safe in the knowledge that no unwanted parties are able to access your computer. I highly recommend disabling all these options until such time as use of them is required.

5. Adjust the privacy settings from their default

It is important for users to pay attention and take responsibility for their online privacy. This can be done by changing the default privacy settings on your Mac. Default Mac settings are configured to allow Apple, as well as associated app developers, access to personal data like contacts, calendars and location services. This means they could potentially collect and use usage data and location information of their users.

By inspecting the permissions set up in these security options, users can decide what data is seen by other applications or Apple itself. For example, if you do not want your Macbook’s location services enabled, you can make that choice when reviewing the permissions under Security & Privacy. These changes will ensure that only those applications you approve have access to your device and its associated data. Altering default privacy settings can help protect against accidental or malicious snooping into your personal information.

6. Enable iCloud Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an important security feature that helps ensure the safety of your data. By requiring you to input a randomly generated one-time code alongside your account password, it adds an extra layer of protection by keeping hackers from accessing your data even if they know the passwords. This makes it much more difficult for malicious actors to break into your accounts.

Enabling two-factor authentication on iCloud can be relatively straightforward and only takes a few minutes. Once enabled, two-factor authentication will help prevent unauthorized access to your iCloud account and provide peace of mind knowing your data is safe and secure.

7. Turn on “Find My”

Find My is an incredibly useful tool for those of us who use Apple products, as it allows us to easily locate our device if it gets lost or stolen. With this feature, we can also remotely lock the Mac and/or wipe data off the computer so that no one else can access our personal information or files.

To activate this feature and enable Find My, you will first need to go into System Preferences, then Security & Privacy and make sure that Location Services are enabled. After entering your password to gain changes, simply check the box next to ‘Enable Find My’ and you’re done! Once the setup is complete, you can safely rest assured knowing that your Mac is protected in case it ever goes missing.

8. Turn On Your Mac’s In-Built Firewall

The built-in firewall on a Mac is an important tool for keeping unwanted traffic and malware away from your computer. It’s turned off as a default setting, so one of the first steps every user should take upon purchasing a Mac is to enable its firewall. To reach the Firewall settings, go to the Security & Privacy section in System Preferences and choose the Firewall option. Here, you’ll be able to select the “Turn On Firewall” option. This will provide your Mac with basic protection against incoming network connections while blocking malware from entering your device.

If you’re a more advanced user, you can make even further use of the built-in firewall by setting it to detailed options in the Firewall Options screen. By doing so, you can customize your defense against malicious outside traffic for an increased level of safety. However, for those that aren’t too familiar with such settings, leaving the default security  measures intact will still provide a much improved level of safety compared to having no firewall enabled at all.

9. Use a Mac Antivirus

When it comes to protecting your Mac from viruses and other malicious software, there is no better solution than having a good antivirus program installed. It can be difficult to find an antivirus that works well on Macs, since many of the popular options are designed primarily for Windows devices. Nevertheless, there are some excellent antivirus programs out there specifically designed for Macs that provide great protection from all types of malware including ransomware, spyware, keyloggers, phishing attacks, and data breaches.

One such antivirus program is Intego Airo AV which is a program designed specifically for Macs. It features real-time malware protection as well as advanced threat detection algorithms to help keep your computer safe at all times. Integration Airo AV also provides secure browsing capabilities with anti-tracking technology to block popups and cookies while you’re surfing the web. With Intego Airo AV installed on your Mac, you can be sure that you have the best protection available against the latest threats and online threats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several steps you can take to make your Mac more secure. Start by enabling two-factor authentication on iCloud and turning on Find My. You can also turn on the built-in firewall in System Preferences and use a good Mac antivirus program like Intego Airo AV. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure that your Mac is as secure as possible from potential threats and data breaches.