Mac Security Guide

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Hi Guys

Just wanted to let you know that I've found this useful Mac Security guide.

There's quite a few things in there that I've found useful, but of course, some of it is pretty standard.

Enjoy it.

Also, would love to hear your thoughts on it, maybe it's just the n00b in me thinking it's good and you guys might tell me it's rubbish :D
 

chscag

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Thank you Maria. Always a good reminder to stay alert and aware. :)
 
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Hi Guys

Just wanted to let you know that I've found this useful Mac Security guide.
...
Also, would love to hear your thoughts on it, maybe it's just the n00b in me thinking it's good and you guys might tell me it's rubbish :D

Whenever you see an "article" that is being offered on a commercial Web site (or worse, a site that is made to look like a "review" site, but which is actually a shill site), such as the one that you pointed out, you have to realize that the author isn't concerned primarily about you the user, they are concerned about selling you stuff.

There are a number of things that I disagree with in the article you pointed out:

1. "10. Install and configure an Anti-malware application"

If you read about anti-virus software in the archives of this very discussion list, you will find that those in the know don't recommend it for the Macintosh. At this point in time there just aren't a lot of things in the wild that you have to worry about. And the Mac has built-in anti-malware software. At the same time, anti-virus programs have been known to severely compromise the performance of your Mac, or worse, introduce malware of their own. The article you referenced recommends Kaspersky, which is a company the U.S. government boycotts because they have been involved in some pretty sketchy behavior. Right off that should make you question the entire article.

2. "turn on your Mac Firewall"

Having a firewall enabled, especially when using a laptop on a public network, is a good idea. However, turning on the built-in firewall in the Mac OS isn't necessarily the best idea. If you have a desktop Mac, you are very likely using an Internet router (that is, a hardware device) that has a built-in firewall. You don't need two firewalls running, and more isn't better. Why not use the one that is in your router rather than create more overhead for your Mac?

3. "The safest option is to allow apps only from the App Store to run."

You can do this...but it is incredibly limiting. There is a ton of very useful software that is only available directly from its developers. As long as you download software directly from a known developer's Web site it should be completely safe. (However, stay away from MacKeeper and any "cleaning" programs.)

4. "Enabling the FileVault is essential"

Encrypting all of the data on your hard drive is a double-edged sword. If you lose your password, or, god-forbid, your hard drive has a problem that interferes with encryption or decryption, ALL of your data could be irrevocably lost. Whole disk encryption is, in my mind, a feature for professionals with very sensitive or valuable information. I think that the danger outweighs the utility for a home/school user. There is also the less extreme solution of using selective encryption for just your most sensitive files.

5. "Java is full of security holes"

There HAVE BEEN a lot of security holes in Java, but by itself this is a misleading statement. All the security holes have been patched. All that you need to do if you want to run Java is make sure that it is meticulously updated. But, more importantly, there has never been a security problem with Java outside of a Mac's Web browser. So, in other words, Java-based applications are perfectly safe. At this point folks have become so scared of Java that you are unlikely to find any Java-based applications that you are interested in. So the entire point is probably moot. But if you do, there is no reason to be afraid of them.

I'd say that if you want to know about Macintosh security, you should ask here on Mac Forums. The folks here aren't trying to sell you anything, and there is a lot of experience among the posters here. There also are differences of opinion. You might want to know what those are so you can make up your own mind.
 
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