People who get a MacBook believe that they are perfectly safe from potential cybersecurity threats.
Indeed, macOS is not as prone to malware, viruses, ransomware, and other malicious files that look to expose personal information, like your emails or do other harm.
However, the problem may not lie in the computer itself but in how you use it. Sure, having reliable antivirus software would be a solid foundation for a cybersecurity strategy, but do not underestimate the threats you can find on the internet.
Besides worsening your computer’s performance, malware and viruses may also put your online privacy in jeopardy. So how can you avoid potential problems? The guide below provides you with some neat solutions.
Enable the Firewall
The Firewall is disabled on MacBooks by default. If you want, you can enable the feature for an extra layer of security. Keep in mind, though, that it will consume system resources which may put a strain on a low-end Mac.
The goal of enabling the Firewall is to block incoming requests from third-party sources when you are connected to the internet or a public network. For example, by enabling a sharing service to transfer a file from one MacBook to another.
If there are such instances and you are uncertain about the safety of a network, the Firewall is useful to have enabled.
Change Your Internet Browsing Habits
Some people have less-than-ideal internet-browsing habits that can turn against them. Take online profiles.
Someone might have created an account on a website years ago and forgot about it. Yahoo, for instance. If you have an email account with them that you have not used, learn how to delete my Yahoo account and get rid of it. Doing so will leave fewer traces of you online.
Another thing to note is how Google may not be that great of a search engine as far as online privacy goes. Despite what you may hear from them, they still tend to collect personal information and sell it to advertisers. Those ads that seem quite relevant do not appear at random.
Instead of using Google all the time, you could switch things up and try DuckDuckGo, one of the search engines that are known for ensuring the privacy and security of the users.
Installing an ad blocker to your browser would also help. Some sites are notorious for their aggressive ads, and you may click on one accidentally. Getting redirected to a landing page that is crawling with viruses is a problem that not even a good antivirus can solve sometimes.
Finally, avoid oversharing information with strangers you meet on social media, video games, or communication platforms like Discord. Someone may seem like a nice person, but if they get their hands on your personal information because you were gullible enough to trust them, who knows what they will do with it?
Invest in a VPN
Virtual private networks can be a lifesaver. As a MacBook user, you are likely traveling around with your laptop and have to rely on the public internet sometimes. Cafes, libraries, and hotels are examples of a few places where public networks are available.
However, do not make the mistake of thinking that public Wi-Fi is secure because people need a password to join the network. No, most public Wi-Fi networks lack the necessary security protocols and can become a trap for unsuspecting people who join these networks.
Instead of becoming a target of a potential hacker attack and putting your Mac in jeopardy, use a VPN when joining public Wi-Fi.
A VPN encrypts your data, changes your location, and offers a different IP address. In case somebody wants to access your browsing history, they will have a hard time doing so because that data will be behind a wall courtesy of a virtual private network.
Be Smarter About Your Passwords
If you have multiple accounts on the internet, avoid using the same password for them. It is difficult to memorize multiple combinations simultaneously.
Add the fact that you should also change passwords regularly, and managing online login details becomes too much of an issue.
In this case, you could consider getting a password manager tool that safely collects and stores your passwords. To access this information, you need to have a master password.
Prioritize a proper password management strategy. Otherwise, you will be in big trouble if someone finds out your password and accesses online accounts.
Expose of Old Hardware Properly
For MacBook owners, exposing old hardware is not that common because replacing hardware just does not happen a lot. Nevertheless, there may still be an instance when you had a hard drive that you used to back up data via Time Machine, but the available storage became insufficient, and you had to purchase a replacement.
Do not simply throw away the old HDD. Before you get rid of it, make sure that it has no traces of personal data that other people can take advantage of.
