5 Cyber Safety Tips for Apple Users to Protect Their MacBooks

5 Cyber Safety Tips for Apple Users to Protect Their MacBooks

13:16 12 July 2021

Most modern-day professionals who need to use a computer for their work are opting for MacBooks. The main reason behind this immense popularity enjoyed by the MacBook is definitely its quality. This creation of Apple comes equipped with features that make it suitable for people from all age groups and professions. 

 

Indeed, MacBooks have highly sophisticated security features. However, hackers and cybercriminals of the current era are armed with equally sophisticated technologies. So, breaking through the security layers of MacBooks has become an everyday thing for them. This makes it mandatory for every MacBook user to take the necessary steps to protect their device. 

 

The section below includes five cyber safety tips that every user must follow to keep their MacBooks protected from cybercriminals.  

 

1. Encrypt Your Communication

 

While surfing the Internet on unsecured networks such as public Wi-Fi, there’s a high possibility of your MacBook getting hacked or cybercriminals spying on your online traffic by using man-in-the-middle and packet sniffing attacks.

 

Becoming a victim of online spying or a hacking attack would leave you at a high risk of losing your personal data. Cybercriminals can use the information available on your MacBook for their own financial gains. You may even suffer from identity theft. 

 

The easiest way to prevent all the events mentioned above is by using a Mac VPN. This tool will help you hide your IP address and encrypt all your online communications. If you use a VPN, cybercriminals will not be able to get hold of your online traffic. 

 

2. Update All the Applications and Software You Use on Time 

 

The applications and software you download and install on your MacBook possess a series of data access permissions. If you don’t maintain those programs and avoid taking required security measures, they can easily become victims of malware attacks. The most crucial step of maintenance of a program is the regular installation of updates. 

 

The good news is that MacBooks are programmed to check for software updates automatically. Mac users receive alerts whenever there are updates available for them to download. If you download and install the available updates promptly, hackers and cybercriminals will not be able to utilize the flaws present in the old software to break into your device. 

 

You can also check for available updates manually. For that, you’ll need to click the Apple menu>System>Preferences and then select Software Update. 

 

3. Store Cookies Wisely 

 

When you open a website on your MacBook, the site will store tiny files called cookies on your system. Cookies are files that allow websites to identify users. They help people in saving time by keeping them logged in with their saved settings. 

 

However, if not managed intelligently, cookies can turn out to be intrusive. Websites can use cookies to correlate separate visits by a user. Advertising networks, on the other hand, use cookies to track the online activities of users 24/7. 

 

If you don’t want to see your screen filled with advertisements, block tracking cookies by configuring your browser. For additional safety, you can also block all third-party cookies. 

 

4. Prevent Browser Fingerprinting 

 

Many websites use a technique called browser fingerprinting for identifying users. The process of browser fingerprinting involves recording data related to a user’s site visits. These include the browser used by the individual, the operating system the person uses, their preferred language, fonts installed by the person, the resolution and screen size they are using, etc. The details mentioned above can help websites to monitor their online activities. 

 

Browser fingerprinting is a relatively new technique, and more research is required to comprehend its actual efficacy. Other than that, experts are yet to find a definite way of detecting and preventing browser fingerprinting. However, using the right browser can help prevent websites from using this spying technique. 

 

According to experts, Tor Browser has been found to combat attempts of browser fingerprinting by websites effectively. Firefox is also capable of stopping these attempts to a great extent. 

 

5. Use Strong Passwords 

 

The first thing you must avoid doing to ensure that your password is strong enough is password reuse. Using the same password on different websites will leave all your accounts at high risk of getting hacked if cybercriminals manage to get hold of the password you used on any one of the websites. 

 

Other than that, avoid using names of people, phone numbers, house numbers, and other such conventional details as your passwords. Your password should be a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. 

 

To make using multiple complex passwords seamless, you should use a password manager. The program will allow you to remember all your passwords securely and generate unique and strong passwords for you. 

 

Conclusion 

 

You can successfully protect your MacBook against hacking attacks and other fraudulent activities by following the above tips. To increase the level of protection even further, avoid clicking URLs that don’t start with HTTPS.