Securing and locking your Mac might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you follow these simple tricks.
Only Visit Https Websites
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Websites with the more secure HTTPS protocol are safe. Nowadays, web browsers have started informing users of the dangers of visiting potentially dangerous websites. For instance, Safari shows the ‘your connection is not private’ warning when users try to access untrustworthy websites. Many users wonder how to fix connection is not private issue, but it is not always recommended to find a workaround. Unsecure websites pose cybersecurity threats to your computer. However, if you need to access the particular website, you can open it in Incognito mode or clear your browser cache and try again.
If the website doesn’t carry the HTTPS protocol, it isn’t updated to a secure connection, and hackers may access your sensitive information.
Create a Separate Login
If you share your Mac with someone else, you must keep the administrative rights to yourself. You can create separate users on your computer, requiring each user to log in. You will have the administrator login access, not the other users. The other users can only access their settings and files with this setting.
Also, you can let some people occasionally log into your Mac as guests. Creating and using a non-administrative or standard account for your daily activities would also be a good idea. This can offer protection from malware or alert you of suspicious activities.
You can add a user by following these steps:
⦁ Click on the Apple menu
⦁ Click System Preferences/System Settings
⦁ Select Users & Groups
⦁ Click the padlock to unlock and enter your administrator name and password
⦁ Click the add button and click the New Account pop-up menu
⦁ Select a type of group or user
⦁ Set up the group or user
Turn on Filevault
FileVault is an efficient full disk encryption tool in-built with macOS. If you have sensitive data on your system and want to protect them, using this tool is the best option.
FileVault encrypts the hard drive and files using 128-bit AES encryption with a 256-bit key. The tool protects files on the Mac from being copied or seen.
When the tool is switched on, it also enables other Mac security features like Find My, which lets you wipe your drive remotely if your device is misplaced or stolen. It would be best if you created a solid password to heighten the strength of this encryption tool.
The tool lets users create a recovery key, which can be used if they forget the login password. It would be best to keep the recovery key in a separate location.
Disable the Wi-Fi Connection’s Auto-Join Feature
Letting your Mac automatically connect to any open Wi-Fi connection without your permission or knowledge can be dangerous. Hackers may use the same service set identifier (SSID) as an access point to capture your data and traffic. Therefore, the solution is to turn off the auto-join feature.
Click on the Apple menu > System Preferences > Networks > choose the Wi-Fi you wish to stop joining automatically.
Also, as a rule of thumb, you must not connect to any public Wi-Fi network without confirming its name and other credentials.
| Also Read: How To Become A Cybersecurity Analyst |
Use Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper is an excellent feature offered by Apple. It is created to prevent users from accidentally downloading malicious software onto their Mac. In addition, this feature ensures the apps and software installed on the system are signed by an identified developer and unaltered.
You must set your Mac only to download apps from the App Store and identified developers.
Turn on Automatic Updates for Macos and Apps
Security updates are released regularly by Apple. These updates patch vulnerabilities in macOS and enhance performance. However, since several data breaches result from unpatched vulnerabilities, you must enable automatic updates.
Besides macOS software updates, you must turn on automatic updates for the applications installed on your Mac.
If a reboot is required, follow the prompts to secure your system.
Use a Vpn
To ensure your Internet connection and private data are encrypted and secure, you can set up and use a virtual private network or VPN. This digital security tool will keep snoopers and eavesdroppers at bay while you enjoy browsing the web anonymously.
A VPN acts like a secure tunnel, which encrypts data transmitted and received while on public Wi-Fi and also your own Internet connection.
You can subscribe to a premium VPN and install the app on your Mac. Then, go to System Preferences > Network > click the add button > click the Interface pop-up menu > select VPN. Then, follow the instructions on your screen.
Besides VPN, you can also enable the firewall settings on your Mac and use antivirus software.
The Bottom Line
Feel safe working on a project, watching a movie, attending a Zoom call, or browsing the Internet on your Mac by implementing the security tricks and tips mentioned above.
