5 ways to improve your Mac security
To improve your Mac's security and performance, we've got 5 tips to help you out, including something you may have not considered before. Let's get started.
1. Consider how you share data
If you didn't already know, your Mac is capable of sharing files with other computers. This also includes a form of remote access, a feature allowing you to share your entire screen. Useful when used for the right reasons, remote access is normally password protected too. However, this doesn't necessarily guarantee a security flaw is non-existent. Your best bet is to be cautious. This could mean paying your 'System Preferences' a visit, clicking the 'Sharing' icon, and investigating what settings you have switched on (there are a series of ticks you can check or uncheck). It may be simple, but it's worth considering as part of your Mac security.
2. Check if the Firewall is on
The Firewall feature of macOS helps shield you from suspicious network connections, but may not have been turned on by default since you've owned your Mac. Keep in mind that Firewall only defends you from inbound web traffic, and practicing safe online browsing to avoid attacks is still important. To turn on Firewall, visit 'System Preferences' and go to 'Security & Privacy'. You then need to click the lock icon, enter the password for your Mac's administrator, then you can turn Firewall on. If you happen to have a Mac running slow at this time, malware you've downloaded by mistake could also be the cause.
3. Try Avast Security for Mac
On the subject of malware and risky network connections, you could do a lot worse than download Avast Security for Mac to protect your Mac security, and it comes with a free version too. Shielding you from malware, malicious websites, and vulnerable wi-fi networks, this app can also easily locate hidden threats on macOS and block unsafe online downloads. The premium version goes a step further, allowing you to prevent unwelcome "guests" from using your home wi-fi network and protecting your files from ransomware attacks.
4. Enable two-factor authentication
A name that rolls off the tongue it ain't, but it's definitely worth making use of as it puts up a considerable barrier to would-be hackers - a quick win for you. You can actually set it up with your Apple ID and iCloud account. This means you use your password for your account like before but, in addition, Apple sends you a code to your smartphone through a text message or sends an alert with the code to your Mac. Similar technology is available for your Google account, Dropbox, and also Microsoft website and services. To add two-factor authentication to your Mac, visit your 'System Preferences', go to 'iCloud' and then go to 'Account Details'. Once here, find 'Security' and you can easily switch on two-factor authentication. As well as helping your Mac security, you can also turn this setting on through your iPhone or iPad. However, we still haven't mentioned the mystery security booster that we talked about at the beginning.
5. Download CCleaner for Mac
And here it is! CCleaner for Mac can also help with the security of your computer through a variety of methods. By deleting passwords and temporary internet files, it can protect your web browsing privacy. It even deletes information about the files and folders you've accessed while using some macOS applications. Again, this helps leave less of a breadcrumb trail for would-be hackers, thereby helping with your Mac security.
If you need to delete documents and files, it can also securely wipe them from your hard drive without leaving traces behind. To find out more and download the app, see here.