5 Vital Security Features Included with Your Mac

5 Vital Security Features Included with Your Mac

The majority of us are aware of the importance of using strong passwords to safeguard our accounts and devices against unauthorized access. We may, however, overlook additional security features made available by software and hardware manufacturers.

Apple includes several built-in tools for protecting your Mac against thieves, malicious operators, and others who should not have access to your personal data. These features are simple to use and configure, and they can potentially save you time and aggravation in the future if your device is targeted. Consider a few below:

 

1. Encrypt Your Mac's Firmware Using a Firmware Password

A firmware password enhances the security of your device. When enabled, the feature prompts you for a password whenever you attempt to boot from a different volume, such as the recovery partition, an attached external storage device, or the majority of Mac startup key combinations.

By default, unauthorized users can tamper with your device by exploiting certain Mac features, such as recovery or single-user mode. However, access to those areas is restricted by a firmware password.

Apple Silicon Macs no longer require a firmware password due to the inclusion of similar protection measures in newer versions of FileVault. However, many people continue to use Macs with Intel processors and thus benefit from the added security.

To configure the firmware password on an Intel Mac, boot to the recovery partition by pressing Cmd + R during startup and following these instructions:

• Navigate to the Utilities menu.
• Select either the Startup Security Utility or the Firmware Password Utility from the menu.
• Create a strong password that you're sure you'll remember.
• From the Apple menu, restart your Mac.

That is all. A firmware password now safeguards your device against unauthorized tampering and works in conjunction with FileVault encryption.

It is critical to remember your firmware password. If you lose track of the password you entered, regaining access to your device will require proof of purchase, a visit to an Apple Authorized Service Provider, and a bill for the inconvenience.

This rigorous process ensures that only the device's owner can request the security feature's removal when necessary. We recommend that you use a password manager to store your firmware password.

 

2. Utilize FileVault to Protect Your Data

In recent versions of macOS, Setup Assistant prompts you during the installation process to activate FileVault. Those unfamiliar with the feature may choose not to activate it if they do not understand it, and those rushing through the setup process may miss it entirely.

FileVault provides an additional layer of security beyond the password for your administrator user account by encrypting the entire macOS volume. This means that without the decryption password, no one can access the data on your hard drive.

The additional security prevents unauthorized individuals from physically accessing your computer's contents. Without FileVault enabled, an astute user can bypass your administrator user account and access your files as long as they have access to your drive.

Fortunately, increasing device security and protecting your data with FileVault is a simple and effective process. To enable encryption, perform the following steps:

• Navigate to System Preferences.
• Make a choice between security and privacy.
• Navigate to the FileVault tab.
• Disassemble the Security Padlock.
• Click the Turn On FileVault button.

If your device supports multiple users, you must select Enable User for each account that should have access to the disk.

After you click Continue, a prompt will appear asking how you would like to reset your FileVault password in the event that you forget it. You have two options for this: using your Apple ID/iCloud account or generating a recovery key. Both options carry a cautionary note. If you choose to use iCloud as a method of reset, you should ensure that your iCloud account is secure. Alternatively, if you prefer to generate a recovery key, you must store it in a secure location that is inaccessible to anyone except you.

Locking yourself out of an encrypted volume requires erasing the entire drive in order to regain access, so you'll want to be extremely cautious about your password and recovery method.

When enabled for the first time, FileVault encrypts your drive in the background. Connect your device to a power source and wait for the process to complete. The time required for encryption varies according to the size of your hard drive, and it is recommended that you do not interrupt the process. Once completed, your newly encrypted volume will make physical access to your personal information difficult for would-be data thieves.

 

3. Track, Lock, and Wipe Your Device Using Find My Mac

Find My Mac is the technological antidote to theft. The iCloud feature enables you to locate and remotely lock your Mac if it goes missing, as well as wipe its hard drive to protect its data. Additionally, you can check the battery level of a snatched device to determine when and where it will lose power.

There is no reason to avoid using Find My Mac, and the feature is simple to configure. How to configure it is as follows:

• Navigate to System Preferences.
• Select an Apple ID or an Internet Account.
• From the list, choose iCloud.
• Select Find My Mac, followed by Allow access.

Find My Mac is a critical feature because it not only assists you in protecting and recovering a lost or stolen device, but also serves as a deterrent to thieves. If more users adopt this and other similar security features, stealing a computer, phone, or other protected device becomes obsolete.

 

4. System Integrity Protection 

While the aforementioned tools require activation, Apple also includes automatic security features such as System Integrity Protection in macOS (SIP).

SIP is a security feature introduced in El Capitan (macOS 10.11) that prevents the root user account and malicious operators from modifying critical system components. The feature is self-contained and does not require any additional configuration. With SIP enabled, only Apple processes are authorized to modify system files, limiting the damage that malicious operators can cause if they gain access to your system.

While SIP is a built-in feature, devices running macOS prior to 10.11 do not support it. If you're running an out-of-date operating system, we strongly advise you to upgrade unless you have a compelling reason not to. If you are unable to upgrade, it is most likely time to replace your Mac.

 

5. Two-Factor Authentication for Apple ID

Enabling two-factor authentication for all of your accounts, including your Apple ID, is a quick and easy way to boost security. While the majority of people are familiar with this metric, some have yet to adopt it. A secure Apple ID is critical for overall device security, as it enables anyone to reset the FileVault password and turn off Find My Mac.

If you haven't already, we strongly advise you to enable two-factor authentication on your Apple ID. The simplest method is to configure the feature via the Apple ID panel in System Preferences. Simply select Password and Security and follow the on-screen prompts.