

Click Continue and your Mac will begin encrypting your drive. When you do this you’ll be asked to choose the user accounts that are authorized to unlock the disk (you can add other accounts later, if you like). To enable FileVault, go to the FileVault tab of the Security & Privacy system preference, unlock the preference, and click Turn On FileVault. For home networks you can usually rely on your router’s firewall for protection, though enabling the OS X firewall for added security generally won’t cause additional problems.įileVault is the full-disk encryption routine in OS X that will secure all files on the drive, including OS X system files, applications, caches and other temporary files any of which may contain personal or sensitive information. The firewall is a good option to enable if you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi network, such as one at a cafe, library, or other hotspot.

OS X’s advanced filewall settings give you more control over what comes in to your Mac.

This basic option is the best for most purposes, but you can also click the Firewall Options button to see the specific settings for each application as well as access some additional features such as stealth mode (which hides your computer from outside access attempts) and an option for blocking all connections. To set up your firewall, go to the Security & Privacy system preferences, click on the Firewall tab, and then unlock the preference pane, after which you will be able to click the Turn On Firewall button. While classic firewalls do this on a per-port basis-regardless of which software is using the port-OS X’s firewall can work on a per-application or per-service basis, giving you more flexibility. The firewall in OS X is a network filter that allows you to control which programs and services can accept incoming connections. Take the following tips to heart to better protect your Mac and its data. While OS X is relatively secure by default, there are some additional steps you can take to ensure the data on your Mac is only accessible by you, even if your Mac is stolen. And on your Mac, you’d like much of the work you do on it to be kept private. Chances are that if you’re reading this article, you own a Mac. As our lives increasingly go digital, security is a major concern not only for the various online services we use, but also for the devices on which we save our data.
