It is said most times that Mac could be hacked but unfortunately, that is not true. Macs may be compromised as frequently as Windows PCs, and there have been various examples of hackers that are successfully targeting Macs, from various programs to vulnerability exploits. The fact is that Mac can be hacked and is not immune to malware threats.
But don’t be worried about how you can keep your Mac on the safer side, because this blog gives you detailed ways How to Protect your Mac, just read through it carefully.
How to Protect Your Mac from Viruses and Hackers
Are you seriously thinking of How to Protect your Mac from Viruses and Hackers? Malware could be a threat to the security of Mac devices and data. That may include trojans, viruses, ransomware, worms, and even spyware. If you surf through the web, receive emails or text messages, or even lose your Mac, you can be vulnerable. Cybercriminals use malware to gain control and have access to a certain computer and then access personal data. And they might use that sensitive information to commit crimes such as identity theft and fraud.
Ways to Protect Mac
Here are some things that you can do for your Mac to be in safe and good health.
Use Secure Passwords
To make all your information safe on Mac, you should then use passwords to secure Mac, and then choose passwords that cannot be guessed easily. Those passwords will be required for anyone that would want to access your Mac.
- Do not use any personal information as a password
- Don’t use names
- Use a random combination of special characters, numbers, and uppercase and lowercase.
- Create longer passwords
- Change passwords regularly
- Use different passwords for different accounts
- Do not reuse passwords
- Do not enter your passwords on another person’s computer or networks that are not yours.
Create Passkeys
A Passkey is a way to sign into a specific application or even a website, without even needing to create and then remember a password. A passkey uses Touch IDs or even a face ID to identify it’s you. And Each passkey could consist of a pair of keys, one that is held by you, and the other is held by the website or app. This key pair can create a private and secure connection between you and the application or website that you are using.
Secure Mac when Idle
Mac could be set to log out of the current user if the Mac has been inactive for a certain period. You also require a password to wake it from sleep or from a screen saver. To keep your information on your Mac secure whenever you are not working or away from it, set it to require a password when it wakes from sleep. So, when you have returned to your Mac, enter your login name and the password to continue using it.
Limit Numbers of Administrative Users
Most people could have administrator privileges for Mac. The administrators are individuals who can initially set up the Mac by default. Administrators can be able to create, delete and then manage other users, they have access to install and even remove software and change settings. For more reasons, an Administrator should create a Standard User account for them to use when administrator privileges are not needed.
If the security of a certain standard user is compromised, the potential harm is then far more limited than if the user has administrator privileges. You can limit the number of users with administrator privileges if multiple people use your Mac.
Require Users to Log In
You should set up a separate user for each person that is using the Mac, and then require each user to log in, if others could get physical access to Mac. This prevents an unauthorized person from using your Mac. This process would also separate user files, so users can only have access to their own personal settings and files. Users cannot see or modify the files or settings of other users.
Encrypt the Data on Mac with FileVault
If you have private or even confidential information on Mac, then you can use FileVault encryption to protect information from being seen or copied. The FileVault could encode the information that is stored on Mac so it is locked and then cannot be read unless the login password has been entered.
For an instance, if you carry all your work and company’s financial data on a Mac laptop, losing it could allow someone to access sensitive data that may hurt your business FileVault encodes the information which is stored on Mac, so that is cannot to accessed unless the login password is entered.
Keep Mac OS and Software Updated
Being updated is possibly the simplest and most straightforward way of keeping Mac from others. Cybercriminals could target outdated software because they know where to find security vulnerabilities that developers can only patch in the updated versions. The easiest method to keep macOS software up to date is by enabling automatic updates.
Disable Remote Access and Sharing
Access that is remote can be useful if you need to access the files that are on Mac from anywhere. However, if your login details are compromised, this could mean other scans also easily be able to remotely access all your files that are data that are on the Mac.
Set Safari Privacy
The Safari web browser also has some privacy settings that you can turn on to keep your internet activity safe from hackers and eavesdroppers.
- The new Private window (Shift + command + N) enables private browsing, allowing you to browse the web without recording your visits in the history menu.
- Clear History in the Safari menu and erase cookies and other cached data that are in the History menu.
- Privacy sections in Safari preferences – in this way you can prevent websites from tracking you or storing cookies on your computer.
FAQs
Do you Need Virus Protection on Mac?
In short, yes, you will need antivirus for Mac. Mac computers could not be immune to viruses, and other malware and even Mac-targeted attackers can be increasingly prevalent. Following best practices for securing devices, and then using built-in security features could help, but the antivirus software can protect your device even further.
How do I Protect Macs from Viruses and Hackers?
These are ways that you can use to protect your Mac from hackers and viruses:
- Update macOS, applications, and programs.
- Only download apps from the AppStore.
- Do not open suspicious emails.
- Uninstall unused applications.
- Use a VPN
- Use an Ad blocker
- Use Reputable Mac security software.
Does Apple Have Built in Antivirus?
The technically sophisticated runtime protections that are in the macOS work and work at the very core of your Mac to keep your system safe from malware. This can start with state-of-the-art antivirus software that is built to block and then remove malware.
How do I Know if Mac Has Virus?
These are symptoms and signs that Mac may be infected by a virus or malware:
- Mac is operating more slowly than usual
- The browser has a new homepage or extension that you haven’t added
- You might notice more ads or popups than usual.
- Receiving security alerts even without scanning your Mac
- Contacts receive spa from your accounts.