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This web page is meant to be a basic overview of the main steps you can
take to secure Mac OS X systems.
Computer Viruses and Malware
Firewall
Passwords
Advanced Security
Computer Viruses and Malware
While the vast majority of viruses and malware are designed to attack
and infect Windows systems, it is technically possible for Macintosh OS X
computers to become infected. Although the risk is low, it is still
important to protect your computer.
The best protection against viruses is updated anti-virus software.
Once installed, anti-virus software will run in the background and protect
your computer from a virus. It is very important to keep the anti-virus
software updated with the latest virus definitions because new viruses are
appearing all the time. Here at the University of Maryland, Virex
anti-virus software can be downloaded for free by all members of UMCP.
For information about downloading and installing Virex, see
http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/3/3526/.
For information about keeping Virex up-to-date automatically, see
http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/3/3525/.
Once you've installed Virex, remember to scan downloaded files
before opening them. Set your web browser to not automatically open
downloaded files. Never download files from web sites you do not
trust.
Do not open e-mail attachments or IM'ed files from people you don't
know. Don't open an attachment or file you're not expecting. If someone
you know sends you an attachment or file you're not expecting, verify they
actually sent it. Even if you take these precautions, the most up-to-date
anti-virus software may not protect your system from a brand new virus
because the anti-virus software will not recognize the threat until the
latest update is made available.
In order to protect your computer's operating system, it is essential
to regularly run the Software Update feature. By itself,
anti-virus software cannot protect your computer from brand new viruses.
The best way to avoid falling victim to the newest viruses is to keep the
operating system patches up to date. On Macintosh computers, this is
easily done by configuring Software Update to run automatically.
For information about configuring automatic software updates, see
http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/4/4667/.
To reduce the risk of damage to your operating system if you are
infected with a virus or malware, run day to day tasks as a Standard
(non-administrator) user. For more information about Standard and Admin
users, see http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/4/4669/.
Firewall
Another step that you can take to secure your computer is to enable the
firewall component of Mac OS X to protect your network connection. The
firewall will prevent outsiders from accessing your system through
commonly used network ports while still allowing you to use your regular
Internet programs.
To learn how to enable the firewall in Mac OS X, see
http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/4/4668/.
Passwords
Every user account (both Standard and Admin) on the Mac OS X system
should have a strong password. Mac OS X has a feature, Password
Assistant, that helps you create stronger passwords. To learn how to
use Password Assistant, see
http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/4/4670/.
Advanced Security
There is a lot more you can do to secure your Mac. For more
information about the NSA security guide and advanced security tips, see
http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/4/4666/.
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