Security and privacy

Additional user accounts can be created when other people want to use your Mac and when they no longer need their account, it can be deleted. What are your options when deleting users? There are several choices.

Viruses, Trojans, spyware and other types of malware are to be found on the internet, but the internet also provides means to protect your Mac. Use VirusTotal to stay safe.

Oops! You left open some Safari tabs on your iPad or iPhone and someone might see them! What can you do? Fortunately, you can close them from anywhere in the world using your Apple Mac.

Security issues are becoming the norm these days and there seems to be one flaw exposed after another. Has your iCloud account and Apple ID been compromised? Here’s how to find out.

The recent ransomware attack on Apple Macs has brought security to the forefront of the Mac community and you might be thinking it is time to install Mac security software to keep your computer safe from malicious threats. On test are two free security applications from Avast and Sophos.

Mac users are often told that Macs don’t get viruses and they don’t need antivirus software. That is misleading and unhelpful advice, especially as Macs are once again under threat, this time from ransomware.

Data security and privacy are extremely important to prevent its misuse and theft of information. What are your options for protecting your files from access by unauthorised people? Let's take a look at encrypting an external disk on the Mac.

LastPass is a great password manager and the usual way to access it is by using a web browser extension. However, there is also a desktop app that you can run on your Apple Mac. What’s that for?

I hate security. It drives me nuts. But I turned on two-factor authentication on Google just for the extra security. What happened next on my Apple Mac is an interesting story.

Cookies have a bad reputation and some people regard them as evil and to be avoided at all costs. It is said that they are malware, spyware and evil. Are they really? Should Safari be set to block them?

With the right tools it is possible to spy on your internet activities. Who is watching you right now and what do they know about you? Block them by installing a VPN on in OS X on your Apple mac.

Are you constantly plagued by ads when you use your Mac and use Safari to browse the web? Do you keep seeing adverts for MacKeeper and other products? Do you want to clean up your Mac and get rid of these ads? Then read on...

The Apple Mac has few viruses and serious malware is rarely seen on it, but it does have a problem with adware and many people are affected. If your Mac is infected with adware, what can you do? Use a clean-up tool to erase it with one click.

There is no doubt about it, Apple Macs are becoming more popular and so to is malware for OS X. It is inevitable really and the more people that buy Macs, the bigger the target for malware authors. You really should consider antivirus software before it is too late.

Updates are supposed to fix flaws and bugs and add features, but sometimes they go wrong and they have unintended effects. After an update the computer, phone or tablet may not work properly and a flaw in the update can cause more problems that it is supposed to fix. Disable automatic updates for your safety.

Security on websites, services, computers, mobile phones and tablets is a pain. One of the most irritating features is the way that almost everything you use these days needs a password. It's impossible to remember them all. 1Password is one solution and currently it is half price.

If you have a recent Apple MacBook or iMac and recent version of OS X such as Mavericks, Yosemite or El Capitan, it is possible for apps that you run are working out your current location. They can tell quite accurately where in the world you are and this extends right down to the name of the street and sometimes even the building you are currently in, using your Mac.

WOT is short for Web of Trust and it helps you to avoid the scams, malware and bad websites that are on the internet. It is a free extension for Safari on the Apple Macand if you are concerned about your safety on the web, you should add it to your browser. With millions downloads, this is a popular security tool.

Privacy on computers and the internet is a hot topic and there seems to be no end to the ways in which your personal information can be accessed by third parties. The Apple Mac is not immunue to privacy issues and you may be surprised to learn that by default, it passes on personal information. It must be configured not to if you prefer to maintain your privacy.

There was a time when Apple Macs were immune from malware and viruses simply did not exist for OS X. One of the Mac’s selling points is that it could not get viruses. Sadly this is no longer true and if you have not yet installed security software on your Mac, you should do so soon. Avast is a free antivirus app for OS X that will keep your Mac safe.