Flash is one of the most common means of malware getting onto computers. Every web page is loaded as a separate process in a separate tab – so if there is a problem it will be possible to close that tab without Safari itself crashing.Īnother way Apple protects Mac users is by keeping Flash off Macs. Safari will warn you if a website is suspicious and will prevent it from opening. The above is designed to protect you from rogue apps, but the biggest threats can be from phishing emails, websites and services you might use online.Īpple’s web browser, Safari also offers various ways of protecting you online. The macOS will also ask for your permission before an app is able to access the camera or microphone, or log what you type, for example. Since macOS 10.15 Catalina launched in 2019 all Mac apps need to be notarised by Apple to launch, in addition it is now a requirement for all Mac apps to get your permission to access your files – whether they are on your Mac, in iCloud Drive or on an external volumes. The sandbox restricts the access apps have to a Mac’s resources and data. There may be times when you want to open a Mac app from an unidentified developer, you should exercise caution if this is the case.Īnother reason to choose App Store apps over others is that all apps that are sold via the Mac App Store have to work with sandboxing. Gatekeeper checks that the developer is verified by Apple, as well as checking the file for malware and malicious code. In fact Apple goes a step further by ensuring that apps are upfront about how they are using your data, so you can be sure that there is no risk that any of your information will be shared with anyone without your knowledge.īut even apps that you don’t install from the Mac App Store will be checked by Apple before you can install them – that’s the purpose of Gatekeeper, which we mentioned above. Every app in Apple’s Mac App Store has been reviewed by Apple, so you can be confident that it will not pose a risk to you. If you want to be really confident about any app you install you would be wise to stick to apps on the Mac App Store. Approaching security updates in this way means Apple can issue them faster without them being part of a wider update. When you restart a Mac any Rapid Security Responses will be instantly applied. Apple’s introducing the feature as an update to macOS Ventura 13.2 (and iOS 16.3). Rapid Security Responses take this a step further and will speed up the delivery of security fixes on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Your Mac can automatically check for updates and even install security updates without you needing to do anything To make sure you get background updates as soon as they are issued by Apple, make sure that Install Security Responses and System Files is selected in Ventura, or “Install system data files and security updates” in older OSs. You will still need to restart your Mac to install a normal software update update, however some security updates can be pushed to your Mac by Apple and installed as background updates without requiring you to restart. This should mean that the software is downloaded to your Mac when issued by Apple. Open System Settings (System Preferences pre Ventura).To set your Mac to check for updates and update software automatically follow these steps: Apple makes this easy by making it possible for your Mac to update automatically, so you don’t even need to do anything. Gatekeeper and XProtect are one of the barriers that malware has to cross to get onto your MacĪpple ensures that security updates are pushed out to Macs regularly – so it is important to keep your Mac software up to date. Luckily there are protections baked into a Mac that should mean that even the least tech savvy people are protected. There is also an element of being cautious and not opening mysterious emails or clicking on questionable links–you might be sure you wouldn’t do that, but could you be so sure that your parents wouldn’t… We have separate advice about the best antivirus for Mac and best VPN. There are of course other things you can do to supplement these measures, such as running an antivirus software or using a VPN to encrypt your traffic. There are various ways that Apple protects your Mac from malware and viruses as you will see if you read on. However, malware known as Silver Sparrow was found on the M1 Mac shortly after launch. For more advice about how to keep your Mac secure read our Mac security tips.Īnother thing to note is that the M-series chips that Apple started using in November 2020 are considered more secure than Intel processors. In this article we will run through the various ways Apple keeps your Mac secure, and the things you can do to stay safe.
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