The Rules Of Computing: Keeping Your Mac Secure

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When I was a computer newbie, what I heard repeatedly was "The Number One Rule Of Computing is Make A Backup!" I've been working on an extended list beyond one item in order to help newer newbies consider further aspects of their computer experience that can help save them in a crisis. I don't consider my list definitive or even finished. But I like the list enough to publish it as a starting guide. So here I go:


The Rules Of Computing


1) Make a backup. Have two backup strategies. One strategy regularly backs up your crucial data to local external media away from your computer. The other strategy backup up this same data to an off-site location, such as in 'the cloud' or onto external media you take to a separate location each day. The idea is to have an off-site backup in case your computer site burns to the ground. Backups are also your first and best defense against malware damage and hardware failures. If you don't back up your data, you get what you deserve.


2) Verify all software before installing it. Verify your software source is reliable and that the software itself is reliable. Look up the software title on the Internet using a search engine to discover if it has been reported as problematic. Download software from reliable sources such as VersionTracker, MacUpdate, Major Geeks, etc. Don’t ever blindly install emailed software. It could be malware.


3) Verify that websites you visit are legitimate. This third rule is difficult to implement on your own. Use tools provided inside web browsers, as well as add-on browser extensions, that help you check websites you visit against a blacklist of known bad websites. One of the most popular ways of spreading malware at this time is via 'drive-by' infections via JavaScript and Java.  Don't ever blindly click on web links in email. The could be sending you to a malware infection or identity phishing website.


4) Keep your computer up-to-date with the most recent security updates. Apple provide security updates on a regular basis. Security Preferences, built into Mac OS X, should let you know when an update is available. You can also open Security Preferences yourself and have it check for you.


5) Use a 'Standard' account when surfing the Internet or using your Mac on any network. Do NOT use an 'Administrator' account in these situations. This is not a cure all to prevent your Mac from becoming hacked or malware infected. But it adds a terrific layer of security to help prevent malicious root access to your computer.


6) Password protect your user account. Make sure your account password is not a dictionary word or you'll be hacked in no time flat. Use something long and obscure that you can remember but that you expect no one could guess. To this day I run into people who tell me 'But I'm the only one who uses my computer!'. Cure your ignorance please. There is NO excuse for not protecting your computer with a password. If you don't protect your user account, you get what you deserve.

Yes, I'm that mean and cruel when it comes to computer security. There are wonderful security strategies and tools that Apple provide, such as Time Machine, Disk Utility, Standard user accounts and password protection. If you don't put them to use, I have no sympathy! If you have questions about how to make them work for you, write to me, talk to Mac users you know, contact users on the Internet or at your local Mac user group. These tools are not difficult. They are important and they are FREE.




A Few Further Strategies:


I'm only going to list these strategies as they are more complicated and involved to install and get running. What's important is that they are available, they are also FREE, and they may well save you from giving away data to the bad guys.

A) FileVault. You will find it inside the Security System Preferences. It lets you transparently encrypt your entire user account folder so no one can ever get to your data without knowing the decryption password. This is rock solid encryption you can rely upon. Apple will be providing an option for encrypting your ENTIRE computer hard drive in Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. I personally consider whold drive encryption to be overkill. But it is considered to be critical in Enterprise business situations. Note that there are some minor dysfunctions that result from encrypting your user account. But if you have critical data, it is an excellent security tool.

B) Firmware Password. Apple provide a utility to set their Firmware Password Utility on all Mac OS X installation DVDs. It adds another layer of security to keep the bad guys out of your computer. Sadly, it is not fool proof. A tech savvy bad guy can work around it. Encryption is a much more effective tool. Also note that you lose some minor computer functionality when you use a firmware password.

C) GnuPG, aka GNU Privacy Guard. I have been using GPG for many years at this point. I'm a fairly infamous critic of the bugs that have should up in the related tools from time to time. Also note that GnuPG has a steep learning curve and can be a bit frustrating. However, it is a FREE and brilliant tool with many users. You can encrypt and password protect anything you like. The Apple Mail tool lets you digitally sign all your email in order to verify exactly who you are to those who receive your email. You can encrypt your email such that no one can read it in transit over the Internet. It lets you create any number of encryption keys as well as collect public keys from your friends and acquaintances. And more! If you want to be serious about encryption, GPG is excellent. These days it also has a terrific group of developers dedicated to keeping it bug free and up-to-date.

D) Disk Utility. Among the many features of the Mac OS X Disk Utility application is the ability to create encrypted, password protected .sparseimage files. I absolutely love this feature and use a sparseimage I created all day, every day. I have my sparseimage open every time I log into my user account. I provide the decryption password and it sits on my desktop like a disk volume. Anything I put into it is encrypted and unavailable to anyone but me as soon as I close the disk image. Because its a sparseimage, it can grow to as large a size as you choose as you add more into it. Recently the DropBox application and server have become notorious because nothing-at-all is encrypted when you use it. That can be very bad. However, I work around this problem by putting only my sparseimage file into my drop box. No one has any access to anything I have in my DropBox ever, thanks to this great tool.

E) Anti-Malware applications. I own, use and love Intego's VirusBarrier X6 ($50). There aren't any better anti-malware applications, period. But I have to pay for malware signatures every year. If you are a professional user, VirusBarrier is well worth the cost. 

If you're a casual computer user, paying for anti-malware is a bit less critical. I've worked fairly closely with Mark Allan and friends who develop and support the FREE program ClamXav. There was a time when I had quite the run-in with the ClamAV Open Source project because most volunteers there cared not-a-whit about Mac OS X. But gradually Mark and I managed to turn a few heads and encourage them to get up-to-date with current Mac malware. At this point in time I can tell you that just about all current Mac malware is being detected by ClamAV. Therefore, I highly recommend downloading, installing and running ClamXav from time to time if you are concerned about malware. The GUI Mark provides is excellent. 

Also, if you own Snow Leopard Cache Cleaner ($15) you will find that it includes its own implementation of ClamAV, also highly recommended. I no longer recommend free iAntiVirus as it is now out-of-date and less effective than the ClamAV alternatives.


There are plenty more security tools and strategies, both free and for a fee. But the above is a good start with reasonable coverage.

For the extra security conscious, as ever I highly recommend the TWiT.tv podcast 'Security Now' with the most excellent Steve Gibson. It gets highly technical but is wonderfully presented and very contemporary. You can look up the podcast in iTunes or visit its dedicated webpage at:


http://GRC.com/SecurityNow


:-Derek
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Sophos Top tips for Mac OS X security - Part 1 And my commentary

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While I polish up Parts II and III of my 2010 Mac security summary, here is an article Sophos posted on Christmas day. It is the first in a series of articles to help Mac users secure their Macs. For advanced users, this is old news.

Top tips for Mac OS X security - Part 1

For users new to the concepts in this article, it is important to note that each added layer of security typically adds a layer of difficulty for the user. Using the points from this article, here are some useful examples:

1) Disable Automatic Login: This is absolutely critical. But it means there is not automatic logging in and booting of your user account ever again. That is a GREAT thing for security. But there are always newbies who complain. I say tough. But I'm a grizzly old meanie when it comes to personal responsibility. If you are of a more personable personality, talk over with your users exactly what happens when a hacker accesses their computer: Everything of yours is now their's. Everything. Once people think about that, they tend to want to protect their computer.

2) Set a Firmware Password: This is incredibly brilliant for stopping that big, Huge GAPING SECURITY HOLE in Mac OS X: Booting onto anyone's Mac via any compatible Mac OS X installation disc. Once booted from these discs, it is dirt easy to remove and change the Administrator account password. Once changed, that Mac is PWNED! Setting a firmware password stops that DEAD. However! There are other results as well. These include losing the ability to easily change your Startup Disc. You can't boot with the Option key down to change startup discs. You can't simply click on a new volume in the Startup Disc preference pane. The result can be quite annoying if you frequently change them, for example to use another volume on your Mac for repairing your main boot volume, which I do regularly.

3) Encryption is a good idea:

--3A) Boot Drives:

On Mac OS X you are allowed to use FileVault (found in the Security preference pane) to encrypt your User accounts. If you have critical data that should NEVER fall into other people's hands, this encryption is CRITICAL! Do it. However! You've got to consider some consequences:  

First, you can no longer access that volume from another boot volume. No more repairing it from elsewhere.

Second, you MUST keep all your critical data specifically in your User account and NOT anywhere else on your boot volume. Again, only the contents of your user account Home folder is encrypted.

Third, updating Mac OS X to a new version is a bit more of a PITA if items in your Home folder have to be updated.

Fourth, there is a minor slowdown of your machine due to the constant decryption of your data then reencryption of new data.

And you'll find other minor annoyances.

If you have a critical machine, all of three of these steps are important. Think of the added user annoyances as added 'Cost Of Doing Business' that you cannot do without. Live with them and appreciate that they provide you with solid and important security.

Question: Is it important to encrypt your entire hard drive?

Answer: NO, not if you keep ALL your critical data inside your Home folder. Everything else on your hard drive should not be of any consequence. All of it should be files and folders and apps that anyone could obtain any day of the week. Therefore, getting them off your computer is trivial. What you must protect is UNIQUE data that only you and trusted colleagues should ever see.

Question: But, but, but, some security expert firm says blahblahblah!!!

Answer: They are either being extremists or they want to sell you something. For example, Sophos use their article to try to sell you their 'SafeGuard Disk Encryption for Mac' that encrypts absolutely everything on your Mac. If you see a point in further slowing down your Mac and keeping publicly accessible System files away from bad guys, fine. Go buy it. I personally see no reason for it.

The only possible exceptions I can imagine are if you are a developer or software tester who has something unique installed into their system, such as a custom .KEXT extension file, that there is no way on Earth you want anyone to obtain. Then I'd encrypt everything.

--3B) External Drives:

YES! Encrypt them! They have your data on them. This includes everything from CDs you burn to DVDs to Flash drives to attached hard drives. ENCRYPT THEM ALL!

There are lots of great programs to accomplish this for you, many of which are simple Drag And Drop apps that encrypt then put the encrypted file onto your external drive for you. Some of them will alert you if you attempt to put anything unencrypted onto a drive, 'user-minder' apps if you will. These are great to have.

--3C) Wi-Fi Encryption:

YES OF COURSE! It is so easy to forget that free Wi-Fi spots continue to provide ZERO PRIVACY. If you don't have to sign in to a Wi-Fi spot, your data and/or your cookies to websites are IN THE CLEAR, meaning you can expect them to be stolen by anyone else also connected to that router. This is why the Firesheep hacking tool was made public: To force people, Wi-Fi spot owners and website owners to WAKE UP and force encryption or account privacy at all times. Very very slowly the world is catching on. But I fully expect encryption/privacy cluelessness to last well on into the very distant future. Some people are never going to understand. That includes members of my own family! Be nice to them and if need be, set up encryption and privacy on their routers for them.

As Sophos publish further Mac OS X security tips I will provide further links and further commentary.

Share and Enjoy!
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