Apple products used to be regarded as virtually infallible, but as iPhones, iPads and Macbooks continue to grow in popularity, unscrupulous hackers have concocted new ways of infecting our beloved gadgets.
While, to some extent, it’s true that your Macbook is less likely to be infected by malware than a Windows device (due to its in-built malware detection capabilities), you should still be vigilant. Here are three tips on how to keep your Macbook safe from unscrupulous hackers.
1. Keep everything up-to-date
Software developers stop offering support for older products, leaving your system open to attack; that’s just the way it is. To ensure your system is always fully protected, check your Mac is automatically searching for, and installing, updates. To do this, go into ‘System Preferences’, open the ‘App Store’ tab and tick the ‘Automatically check for updates’ and ‘Install system data files and security updates’ boxes.
2. Download ClamXav
While Macs tend to be protected from the majority of the malware that affects its closest rival, your computer could still contain infected files that could decimate a Windows device. To protect Windows users, download the ClamXav app https://www.clamxav.com/download.html. This will scan your Mac and clean any files it identifies as posing a danger.
3. Invest in some anti-virus software
Despite the promises of Apple and the best intentions of its OS X developers, an operating system can never be completely 100% invulnerable to threats. Only two years ago, the Rootpipe issue [http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/former-nsa-staffer-finds-new-way-to-abuse-rootpipe-vulnerability-in-os-x/] was discovered, allowing an attacker with certain access to fully control a machine without the need for authentication. Modern hackers are also a lot subtler than their predecessors, and many instances of malware simply go undetected, as there are no noticeable symptoms, such as slower performance.
For peace of mind, it’s worth investing in reputable antivirus software, such as Avast & Kaspersky. Regularly perform scans and remember: don’t click on or download anything if you don’t know what it is!
If your business is in need of Apple Mac support, or you have any questions regarding computer virus removal, get in touch – we offer remote, 24/7 support.
