Apple’s iOS ecosystem is safe and secure, but do you know computers can get viruses in
various ways, and if macOS is 99.99% safe, the 0.01% can turn your life upside down. One
of the easiest ways to prevent your MacBook from getting infected with viruses is to follow
the online security checklist we prepared for mac users.
While creating this checklist, we had a word with a community of cyber security experts who told us what all security measures a macOS user should take. That being said, let’s begin with the article.
Ultimate Security Checklist for Mac Users
1. A VPN
A security checklist without VPN? That’s impossible. VPN is the most powerful utility tool
ever made. It helps you stay anonymous online and ensures your online activities are not
tracked, recorded, and shared with any third party. But hey, you cannot simply pick a VPN
without proper research.
A secure VPN should not store your logs, offer AES-256 bit encryption, have a kill switch,
2FA, split tunneling, and most importantly, spam-free IPs, and all of these features are
packed in Surfshark VPN. It is one of the most trusted VPNs on the internet and is loved by
millions of users. The best part is its affordability and security; you’ll never have to look for
an alternative once you get the hang of it.
You can connect unlimited devices and secure them; moreover, it comes with adblocker
functionality, eliminating intruding advertisements from your web pages.
2. Using Firewalls
Mac users are always advised to use firewalls, as these devices help protect your computer
from unauthorized access. A firewall is a software or hardware device that helps block
unauthorized access to your computer by blocking incoming traffic. There are many different types of firewalls available on the market, and it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs. Some of the most common features of a good firewall include:
1. Security profiles: This allows you to set up different security settings for different
applications or websites.
2. Port forwarding: This enables you to allow specific ports (like HTTP) through the
firewall to be used by specific applications.
3. Firewall rules: You can create custom rules that automatically block certain traffic
types. – Advanced settings: You can configure the firewall to start automatically when
your computer is started. – Anti-virus software: A good anti-virus program will help
protect your computer from viruses and other malware.
3. Use not-so-easy-to-guess passwords
If you’re like most people, you probably use the same password for all of your online
accounts. But this isn’t a good idea – not only are easy-to-guess passwords easy to guess,
but they’re also insecure. In this section, we’ll discuss the process of creating secure
passwords that are hard to guess.
First and foremost, ensure your password is at least 8 characters long and includes at least
one number and one letter. Second, never use easily guessed words like “password” or
“123456”. Third, always use a different password for every website or account – even if it’s
just for testing purposes. And finally, keep track of which passwords you’ve used in the past so that you can change them if necessary.
Tip: Avoid using insecure or any random password-saving tools; you can use Google
passwords manager since it is the most secure and first-party password manager.
4. Avoid clicking on links you receive in spam mail
Mac users are often targeted by cybercriminals, who send them unsolicited emails with links that can infect their computers. Here are some tips to help you avoid clicking on these links:
1. Always use a spam filter – One of the best ways to protect yourself from malicious emails is to use a spam filter. This will block messages that aren’t relevant to your interests and flag any suspicious emails for further inspection.
2. Use caution when opening attachments – Many times, malicious attachments (like
viruses) are disguised as helpful files. Always check the file size and origin before opening it, and don’t download anything you don’t trust.
3. Be aware of phishing scams – Phishing scams involve fraudulent emails that appear to
come from well-known companies or individuals. They might ask you to enter your login
information or provide sensitive financial data to verify your account status or make a
purchase. Don’t fall for this trap!
4. Keep an eye on your browser security settings – Your browser is one of the most
vulnerable parts of your computer, so ensure you’re taking advantage of all its security
features. For example, Firefox has a Smart Security feature that helps you customize your
security settings.
5. Keep your mac updated
Keeping your mac updated is one of the most important steps you can take to protect it from potential threats. This article will discuss some of the security measures for a MacBook and how to protect your computer.
Install updates as soon as they are released, and Macs come with automatic software
updates that help fix known vulnerabilities and improve the performance of your device.
However, you should always install these updates as soon as they’re released, even if you
don’t think there are any issues.
This way, you’ll be sure to have the latest security patches and improvements installed on
your machine. Moreover, ensure your MacBook Time machine backups are turned on in
case something goes wrong with your device.
Summing Up
Macbooks are intelligent and secure due to the hard work of innovative Apple engineers;
that’s why it is one of the most demanding laptops globally. But after all, computers can be
hacked by some extra intelligent people.
That’s why you need to be extra smart while using your MacBook, avoid getting tracked by
intruders, and not click on spam links you receive over mail. That being said, we hope this
guide helped you out.
