Mac Security and Privacy: How Apple Keeps Your Mac Secure

Mac computers are generally considered to be secure and have historically been considered less prone to malware and hacker attacks compared to Windows PCs, thanks to the smaller market share and Apple's efforts to strengthen Mac security and privacy. This article will talk about what specific Mac security settings are available to safeguard user data and the system integrity, and how to change security and privacy settings on Mac alongside other Mac security tips to maximize protection.

Primarily due to the Unix-based operating system of macOS, Macs are more difficult to exploit. However, they are not immune to malware and online threats. As Macs gain popularity, cybercriminals have shown more interest in developing malware specifically designed to exploit vulnerabilities in macOS. The number of Mac-targeted threats has been gradually increasing in recent years.

If your computer stores a lot of sensitive information or is used in a business environment, it is strongly advised that you add extra protection with third-party security tools. The best way to safeguard your Mac against virus infections, malware attacks, hacker attacks, and other threats that mostly come from the internet is to install a safe VPN on your Apple Macintosh computer.

While your Mac already has many built-in security features to cover most corners of your privacy and safety, with the increase of Mac-targeted cyberattacks, you will never be overprepared. Here are some Mac security tips that you can follow to reinforce your defense.

Encrypt Internet Traffic on Mac with a VPN

There are so many ways that you would compromise your online security. For example:

• Downloading files from untrusted sources, visiting malicious websites, or clicking on suspicious links that contain malicious software.

• Falling for a phishing attack that cybercriminals use to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card details, or personal data.

• Exposing confidential files in data breaches when a company or organization's systems are compromised.

• Revealing sensitive information when ISPs, website administrators, or any third parties snoop on your browsing history, IP address, activity logs, etc.

This is where a VPN for Mac comes into play. When you connect to a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted. This means that your data is transformed into an unreadable format, making it difficult for hackers, ISPs, or other malicious actors to intercept and decipher your sensitive information. Encryption ensures that your online activities will never be monitored or logged.

However, not every VPN can provide top-level encryption. iTop VPN is one of the most secure VPNs that provides the best-in-class encryption protocols for all internet traffic. It guarantees that your personal or business data will never be intercepted or tracked by ISPs, government, hackers, advertisers, or any malicious third-party agencies. Additionally, iTop VPN is built with other security and privacy features such as DNS protection, strict no-log policy, IPv6 servers, and browser anti-tracking.

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iTop VPN is also a free VPN solution that offers unlimited free data. With 1800+ servers worldwide, this VPN for Mac also helps bypass censorship and geo-blocks for free streaming, gaming, socializing, banking, and more with lightning-fast speed.

How to use iTop VPN to enhance security and privacy on a Mac:

Step 1. Download and install iTop VPN on your Mac computer.

Step 2. Open the homepage of the software and go to All Servers.

Step 3. Find a server you would like to connect to and click Connect.

The reliable VPN for Mac iTop VPN, not only helps you enhance your Mac security but also brings you many conveniences to your daily life and work, such as helping you buy TikTok coins cheaply; enabling you to access the US, UK, UAE, India,  Mexico, Singapore, and bypass geo-restrictions no matter where you go in the world; as well as enjoy fast speed for gaming and so on. One tool, multiple uses.

Change Mac Security Preferences

You need to go through Mac security preferences to check if you have missed enabling any of macOS's built-in protections. Some of the most important Mac security settings are talked about later in this post. Some protections are active by default, so you don't need to manually activate them.

Where is security and privacy on Mac? On macOS Ventura, security and privacy settings are in System Settings.

How to change security and privacy settings on Mac (macOS Ventura):

Step 1. Click the Apple logo to open Apple Menu and choose System Settings.

Step 2. Select Privacy & Security on the left panel.

Step 3. Select a setting you would like to change, such as Location Services, Microphone, Camera, Files and Folders, and Contacts.

Step 4. Change the specific settings according to your needs.

Step 5. Enter your admin password or Touch ID to allow the change.

Also Read: How to Private Browsing on iPhone and Maximize iPhone Security >>

Run Antivirus Software Regularly

Viruses, ransomware, spyware, adware, or Trojans will infect your device, cause permanent data loss, and steal your personal information. If some malicious programs manage to escape Mac's default antivirus protection, external antivirus software is necessary to give your Mac a full guard.

Use powerful antivirus software to scan your system frequently to detect known malware signatures and suspicious behaviors that may try to infect your Mac and then eliminate them. Moreover, you can let the antivirus software run in the background to continuously monitor your Mac's file system, network activity, and running processes in real time.

Apple offers hardware and software security for Mac computers. This article lists some of the key protections to safeguard your system against malware and other threats

Apple Hardware Protection - T2 and Apple Silicon Chips

Apple's T2 Security chip and M-Series chips incorporate various security features to enhance the security, privacy, and performance of the Mac system, such as

• Secure Enclave: a separate coprocessor responsible for securing sensitive data such as Touch ID fingerprints, and encryption keys

• Secure Boot: verifies the entire boot process to ensure that only trusted and unmodified software is loaded during startup

• Encrypted Storage: provides hardware-based encryption to the built-in SSD

• Hardware disconnection of camera and microphone

Apple Antivirus and Malware Protection - XProtect

XProtect is a built-in feature of macOS operating in the background that automatically scans files and applications for malware and blocks them from running or being opened. It will warn you "[App Name] will damage your computer. You should move it to the Trash." However, it is more effective in detecting known malware in its constantly updated malware definition database and may not be able to recognize new threats.

Apple Malicious Software Protection - Gatekeeper

Gatekeeper is another built-in security feature on macOS designed to protect users from running malicious or unauthorized software. By default, it offers you two security options -  Allow only applications downloaded from the Mac App Store to run or allow applications from the Mac App Store and those signed by developers with a valid Apple Developer ID certificate to run.

Apple System Security and Integrity - Software Updates

Keeping your operating system, applications, and security software updated can make your Mac fix the potential vulnerabilities. You can enable automatic app updates in App Store and system updates in Software Updates so that the protection is always up-to-date.

Apple Safe Surfing Tool - Safari

Safari is the default web browser for Apple devices and is generally considered to be a secure web browser. It implements various security features to prevent cross-site tracking, phishing attempts, password leaks, and other threats to protect users. However, no browser is completely immune to online threats.

Apple Untrusted Network Protection - macOS Firewall

macOS Firewall is a built-in network security setting on Mac that provides network protection. The firewall serves as a shield between your computer and the internet, preventing unauthorized network access and inbound connections.

Final Words

Mac computers offer a strong level of security and privacy, but with the increasing number of Mac-targeted threats, it is important to change Mac security settings and take additional steps to maximize protection. Adding a reliable VPN like iTop VPN can encrypt your internet traffic, safeguarding your data from cybercriminals.