With the recent Apple showcase and iOS 15 making its way to the general public, there’s bound to be a trove of people eager to try out Apple’s devices for the very first time, especially when it comes to Apple’s Mac product line.
Let’s go over a few ways both new and existing Mac users can secure their devices—just in time for the new wave of software!
Security tips for Mac users
Avoid public networks
MacBooks are light, thin, and easy to carry around, making them the perfect devices for work on the go. Mac users who go out to work often rely on public networks to get their job done—this is not recommended.
Cybercriminals frequently use public networks to steal the data of other users on the network, and connecting to one immediately makes you as vulnerable as everyone else. As such, you should avoid public networks entirely, but if you need to use one, then you can at the very least encrypt your data with a VPN for Mac such as ExpressVPN or Surfshark.
Look into FileVault
There are multiple forms of encryption available to Mac users, not just the network encryption mentioned earlier. One of the best encryption methods available to all Mac users is FileVault, a full-disk encryption program capable of encrypting your Mac’s entire hard drive.
So how does FileVault work? When you activate it, FileVault will confirm with you that you want to encrypt the hard drive. When confirmed, all of your data—your documents, photos, folders, even your applications—is encrypted and locked behind a master password only you know.
Enable ‘Find My’
There’s no telling what will happen to your Mac. Maybe you go out to do some work, and someone steals it while you’re not looking. Perhaps you forget it in a public place. To prevent losing your Mac and your data from being stolen, you should enable ‘Find My’.
Find My Mac not only shows you where your Mac is at all times, but it also allows you to completely wipe your Mac’s hard drive if you are unable to retrieve it. And using Find My Mac is as easy as turning it on in your settings.
Stay away from sketchy apps
Back in the early days of the Internet, one rumor prevailed amongst all others: Apple devices are immune against viruses. Even back then, the rumor held no weight—and people quickly discovered that Apple devices are just as vulnerable to phishing scams, viruses, and malware disguised as apps as Windows devices.
Apple’s strict vetting process eliminates many threats that try to make their way into the App Store. But Apple can’t catch all of them; there are hundreds of apps developed only to infect the devices of unsuspecting users. Before downloading any app on the App Store, verify its credibility and the developer behind it.
Disable automatic login
Automatic Login has been a staple of MacOS for more than a decade, and for many users, the convenience it brings to the table is just too good to pass up. Despite its usefulness, automatic login is nowhere near secure; your Mac automatically logging a user in no matter who’s using the Mac means anyone could log in to your account.
If you keep your Mac at home, this may not be an issue. However, those who take their Mac out of the house often would do well to disable automatic login—at least during their time outside of the house.
Macs are fast, light, and intuitive, and these characteristics led them to be some of the most popular laptops in recent memory. That said, their security could always be improved, and you can improve your Mac’s security with these few tips!
