Your Mac is as secure as a UN aid truck, sitting there, a target for every rascal out there on the internet. To make sure you don’t fall victim to any cyberattack, you need to do your homework: close all the security holes in your Mac’s operating system and thereby protect yourself against viruses, attackers and other nasty stuff that could ruin your day.
You know it makes sense… but where do you start? And how much time have you got?
For a detailed step-by-step guide to keeping your Mac safe, you can read below.
Keep your operating system up to date
First, check the version of your operating system. If it’s outdated, update it immediately. Without this step, your computer could get infected by a virus or malware that infects computers worldwide and causes them to crash repeatedly.
Updating an operating system is an easy process compared to past versions of Mac OS X—it only takes about five minutes for most users (and even less time if you have a fast internet connection).
You can do this by going into System Preferences > App Store > Updates tab and selecting Install Software Updates from there; then follow instructions on screen until finished!
Use a secure password and turn on FileVault encryption to protect your files
For the most part, you’ll be able to keep your Mac virus-free by following these tips:
- Use a strong password: Your password should be at least 10 characters long and should contain letters (a-z), numbers (0-9) and special characters like !@#$%^&#()_-+[ ]{}’ ‘;:””.
- Use a different password for every website: If you’re using the same account on many different websites or services, it’s possible for hackers to guess your password from their knowledge of what other sites you use and then try their hand at guessing all kinds of other passwords like yours until they find one that works—which could happen if there are any similarities between them!
Always use the latest version of Safari and other Web browsers
Updates are important. They keep your Mac virus-free, and they can also improve performance and security.
- Updates fix bugs and make sure that Web browsers work properly.
- Updates may include new features, such as extensions (add-ons) for Safari or other Web browsers that enhance their functionality. For example, an extension might allow you to search for a word on Google using only the keyboard instead of having to click through menus or use the mouse all day long!
- Learn how to disable search marquis on Mac in order to prevent Mac specific hijackers that can lead to search engine manipulation.
Avoid suspicious websites
While you’re using your computer, avoid clicking on links that come in emails. If you open an email attachment and it seems suspicious, don’t open it—just delete the entire message.
Also, avoid downloading files from unknown sources. You should also be careful about where you download software updates for your operating system and applications. For example, if someone sends a link to their latest virus-free version of Mac OS X—which is normally found on the company’s website—don’t click!
Install antivirus software
Antivirus software is a must-have for your Mac. It can detect and remove viruses, spyware, and other threats that may be on your machine. You can get good antivirus software for free or pay for it. Some people prefer to use the built-in protection provided by their operating system so they don’t have to worry about installing a third party product (which could interfere with the work of other applications).
If you want to know more about what kind of protection you need when protecting yourself from viruses on your computer or mobile device then read this article: How To Protect Yourself From Malicious Software On Your Device
Run periodic scans with your antivirus scanner
While it’s important to run a full system scan every few months, you should also make sure to run a full scan of the hard drive and external drives as well as memory and network drives once or twice per month.
These scans will catch any new viruses that might have been introduced into your Mac while you were away from home or work (or even on vacation).
Only download apps from the Mac App Store or legitimate developers
To keep your Mac virus-free, only download apps from the Mac App Store or legitimate developers.
You should never download an app from a website or email attachment. If you’re unable to find what you want in the App Store, search for it on Google by typing “…and then type in the name of your favorite app.” This will help you find legit versions of popular programs like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite (which is why I recommend using these two products).
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for on those sites, don’t risk installing malware.
Instead, go ahead and do some research by visiting other websites that offer similar services as well as forums where users discuss their experiences with different types of software packages before making any decisions about which ones might work best for them personally!
Conclusion
We hope this guide has given you some insight into the best ways to keep your Mac safe from viruses. The most important thing is to protect yourself by taking the necessary precautions, so that the next time you open up a suspicious link or download an app from a shady developer, you’ll know what to look out for.
