Have you ever wondered how your Mac protects your data? The following are the key security features built into macOS , you should use them to protect your system.
Most of us understand the need to use strong passwords to protect our accounts and devices from unauthorized access. However, we may overlook the use of additional security features provided by software and hardware manufacturers.
Apple provides a variety of built-in tools that you can use to protect your Mac from thieves, malicious operators, and others who should not have access to your personal data. These features are easy to use and simple to set up. If someone really targets your device, it can save you trouble in the future. Let's take a look at some of the most important.
1. Use the file vault to protect your data
In the latest version of macOS, the setup assistant will prompt you to activate security and privacy during the installation process. People who are not familiar with this feature may avoid turning it on if they don't understand it, and those who rush through the setup process may not even notice this option.
File Vault encrypts the entire macOS volume, adding an extra layer of security in addition to the administrator user account password. This means that no one can access the data on your hard drive without the decryption password.
Additional protection prevents unauthorized individuals from physically accessing your computer’s content. If FileVault is not enabled, savvy users can bypass your admin user account and help themselves with your files,As long as they can access your drive. Security and privacy is a simple and effective way to improve device security and protect data. To enable encryption, please follow these steps:
1. Open System Preferences.
2. Choose security and privacy.
3. Select the document safe tab.
4. Unlock the safety padlock.
5. Click to open the file vault.
If your device has multiple users, you must choose to enable users for each account that should have access to unlock the disk.
Click to continue, and a prompt will appear asking you how to reset the file vault password if you have forgotten it. For this, you have two options: use your Apple ID/iCloud account, or use the generated recovery key. Both options come with warnings. If you choose to use iCloud as the reset method, the account should be very secure. Or, if you prefer to generate a recovery key, you must keep it in a safe place where only you can access it.
Locking yourself out of the encrypted volume means erasing the entire drive to regain access, so you need to pay attention to passwords and recovery methods.
is first activated,FileVault works in the background to encrypt your drive. You should connect the device to a power source and let the process complete. The encryption time varies depending on the size of the hard drive, and it is best not to interrupt the process. When finished, your newly encrypted volume will make it difficult for potential data thieves to physically access your personal information.
2. Use the firmware password to protect your Mac
The firmware password adds an extra layer of security to your device. When enabled, this feature will prompt you for a password when you try to start from a backup volume (such as a recovery partition, an attached external storage device) or when using most Mac startup key combinations.
By default, unauthorized users can use certain Mac features (such as recovery or single-user mode) to tamper with your device. But the firmware password prohibits access to these areas.
Since newer versions of FileVault contain similar protection measures, Apple Silicon Mac no longer requires a firmware password. However, many people still have a Mac equipped with Intel chips, so they can benefit from additional security.
To set the firmware password on an Intel Mac, press and hold Cmd + R to boot to the recovery partition during the boot process, and then follow the instructions below:
1. Click the Utility menu.
2. Choose to start the security utility or the firmware password utility.
3. Enter a strong password that you will remember.
4. Restart the Mac from the Apple menu.
is just that. Firmware passwords can now protect your device from unauthorized tampering and provide an ideal complement to FileVault encryption.
It is important to remember your firmware password. If you forget what you entered, you will need to provide proof of purchase, go to an Apple authorized service provider, and pay a malfunction bill to regain access to your device.
This strict process ensures that only the owner of the device can request the removal of the safety function when needed.
3. Use "Find My Mac" to track, lock and wipe your device
Find My Mac is the ultimate technical defense tool against thieves. The iCloud feature allows you to track a lost Mac, remotely lock your device with a firmware password, and erase the hard drive to protect its data. You can even check the battery level of the stolen device to see when and where it will lose power.
There is no good reason to avoid using "Find My Mac", it only takes a few minutes to set up this feature. Here is how to configure it:
1. Open System Preferences.
2. Choose Apple ID or Internet account.
3. Select iCloud from the list.
4. Check Find My Mac,Then allow access.
To use the "Find My Mac" feature, navigate to iCloud.com, log in, and select "Find iPhone". From here, you can access the device list and perform the necessary actions.
Find My Mac is such an important feature, because it can not only help you protect and restore a lost or stolen device, but it can also deter thieves through its existence. If more users adopt this and similar security features, stealing computers, phones, or other protected equipment becomes meaningless.
4. Apple ID two-step verification
Enabling two-factor authentication for all your accounts (including your Apple ID) is a simple and effective way to improve security. Although most people are familiar with this measure, some people have not yet adopted it. A secure Apple ID is essential to overall device security, because access to this account allows anyone to reset the FileVault password and disable Find My Mac.
If you have not enabled two-factor authentication on your Apple ID, we strongly recommend that you enable it now. The fastest way to set this feature is through the Apple ID panel in the system preferences. Just select the password and security options and follow the prompts.
5. System integrity protection
Although the above tools require you to activate,But Apple also provides automatic security features in macOS, including System Integrity Protection (SIP). The SIP introduced in
El Capitan (macOS 10.11) prevents root user accounts and malicious operators from modifying important parts of the system. This function will run automatically and does not require any additional settings. With SIP, only Apple processes have the right to modify system files, thereby limiting the damage that malicious operators may cause when accessing your system.
Although SIP is an automatic feature, devices running versions prior to macOS 10.11 lack this feature. If you are using an outdated operating system, we strongly recommend that you upgrade, unless you have a good reason not to do so. If you cannot upgrade, it may be time to replace your Mac.
Is your Mac safe?
In terms of Mac security, Apple provides a series of useful tools. FileVault encrypts your hard drive to protect your data, and firmware passwords for devices running Intel chips add an extra layer of security. The "Find My Mac" feature of iCloud is a valuable tool to deter thieves and manage lost or stolen devices.
At the same time, enabling Apple ID two-factor authentication is the first step that security-conscious users should take because it helps strengthen other protection measures on the Mac. SIP can prevent unauthorized tampering at the system level and is an automatic feature integrated into macOS 10.11 and later.
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