Protecting your Mac and keeping your crucial data safe doesn’t have to be complicated. Macs are programmed with in-built security settings, but they are used ineffectively. Hence, your privacy and data are left vulnerable to attacks from cybercriminals. So, here are a few things you can do to enhance the security of your Mac in 2022.
Using a robust and secure password can help keep your Mac secure. It would help if you started by creating a strong password for your Apple ID because the account lets you access several Apple services, such as FaceTime, App Store, iMessage, Apple Music, etc. The problem with creating strong, complicated passwords is remembering them. You might have written it down somewhere but cannot remember where. If that happens, click https://setapp.com/how-to/change-apple-id-password-easily to learn how you can easily reset the password from any device.
But Apple ID isn’t the only account that requires a password. What about the online banking portals or your social media profiles? You can use a password manager to remember all the complex passwords of your various accounts.
Apple offers iCloud Keychain, a password manager that securely stores account login credentials, payment card information, and passwords. The information is encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption.
One of the most straightforward and uncomplicated ways to keep your Mac safe from the latest malware attacks is keeping macOS and programs updated. Typically, cybercriminals attack outdated software because developers patch a few security vulnerabilities in the updated versions.
Click on the Apple icon > choose About This Mac > select Software Update and install the updated macOS software. After you have installed the latest macOS, you can choose the option of future updates to be installed automatically. You need to head to the Software update section in System Preferences and choose Automatically keep My Mac up to date.
Also, it would help if you kept all your applications and programs updated. Go to the App Store tab in System Preferences and make sure that the Automatically check for updates and the Install app updates options are selected.
Securing your privacy and staying safe when browsing online can be quite tricky. Safari, Apple’s in-built web browser, isn’t the most secure for privacy and online safety. There are chances that you might become vulnerable to phishing attacks and malicious websites. Google Chrome and other popular web browsers won’t keep you safe either.
It would help if you used alternate privacy-focused browsers to ensure your browsing activity is safe and your data is secure. Some of the secure browsers include Tor, Opera, and Brave. These web browsers come with built-in tools to ensure websites are not tracking your IP address or browsing activity. Furthermore, Brave’s browser is known to block malicious scripts typically hidden in scam sites, which can hack your device.
There’s no dearth of Mac antivirus, but not all of them are great at protecting your system against macOS-specific malware attacks. You need to find and install an antivirus that works because hackers target Macs with the latest malware.
Even though Macs come with in-built security features, they are not enough to protect your device against spyware, ransomware, keyloggers, data breaches, and phishing attacks.
Some of the antiviruses designed to protect Macs from online attacks and ransomware include Airo AV and Intego. When you are selecting an antivirus for your device, ensure to look for these features:
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Internet security tools and phishing protection.
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Advanced ransomware detection and removal.
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Real-time malware protection.
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Spyware protection.
VPNs are great at disguising your IP address and replacing it with an IP address in a completely different location. It means that websites and hackers cannot trace your connection and find your location, making you fully anonymous online. Moreover, VPNs encrypt browsing data. So, even if hackers can spy on you, they won’t be able to find out what you were doing online.
Many people use VPNs for many different reasons, and one of the most popular is accessing geo-restricted content. For example, if you want to access a particular Netflix series or show that can only be watched in the UK, you can use VPN to bypass the geographical restriction.
However, Mac users can use VPN to protect their identity online and prevent hackers from knowing their online activity.
Conclusion
As you can see, it isn’t difficult to boost your Mac’s security. You need to follow the tips mentioned above, and your system should be safe from hackers and malware attacks.