Mac users have always believed their Apple Mac devices are safe from cybercriminals. Make no mistake; Mac security is one of the best since Apple has gone to significant lengths to protect users. However, cybercriminals have become so sophisticated that keeping up with them has become challenging.

You’re Not As Safe As You Think: Protect Your Mac Now

Hackers have always taken advantage of users’ overconfidence that they’re safe. Whenever a new tool is developed to protect our devices, some hacker has already found a way to bypass it. So are you as safe as you think? The unfortunate answer is a big fat NO, but don’t throw away your Mac.

We’re here to help you. First, we’ll outline how you can check whether your Mac has been compromised and what tools hackers use on Macs, and then we’ll tell you how you can protect yourself. The most effective way to protect your Mac device is to employ reliable proxies and buy an HTTP proxy. Continue reading as we explore what you need to know.

Checking Your Mac

There are various ways that you can check your Apple Mac. The most apparent sign is determining whether your device has slowed down. Perhaps you’ve noticed some strange activity, like seeing more dodgy content or pop-up ads than usual. Either way, it’s best to check anyway.

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Here are the steps you need to take to check your Mac:

  1. Go to haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address. You’ll be able to see if there’s been a data breach. If it picks up anything, change your password immediately. Ensure your password is longer than eight characters, and try to use random numbers and special characters.
  2. Go to the Activity Monitor and look out for suspicious network activity.
  3. Go to System Preferences, then Sharing, to check for more suspicious activity.
  4. Look out for suspicious processes running in the background. Go to the Menu Bar, click Go, select Utilities, then double-click on the Activity Monitor.
  5. Lastly, sweep your entire system with malware and virus detection software from the best Mac antivirus apps.

What Tools Do Hackers Use

There are many forms of malware that cybercriminals employ. Despite Apple’s best efforts, malware does exist, and some have even been found on the Mac M1. Below are the most common threats your Apple Mac faces.

Ransomware

This is the most common threat to your Mac device. Cybercriminals are using ransomware to blackmail users. Hackers will encrypt essential files and extort money to have the files decrypted.

Cryptojacking

This will be especially noticeable if your device has slowed down significantly. Hackers will use other users’ RAM and Mac processors to mine for cryptocurrencies.

Spyware

A hacker will attempt to gather your sensitive information and data, such as your usernames and passwords. Key loggers are used to record your keystrokes. They will then take that data and sell it on the dark web.

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Loopholes and Vulnerabilities

Hackers are constantly looking for vulnerabilities in systems, software, and websites. A hacker will identify a vulnerability or loophole in the Apple code. If Apple isn’t fast enough to close that door or doesn’t even know about it, it will be used to their advantage. For instance, a vulnerability was found in the macOS memory manager by Google’s Project Zero team, and they were able to compromise parts of the macOS.

Botnets

In these cases, a spam machine (like in the case of the Trojan Horse Botnet OSX.FlashBack) will remotely control and operate your Mac device.

Port Exploitation

Sometimes a hack can be done with something as simple as plugging a USB or a modified USB-C cable into your device’s port. It’s crucial that you never leave your Mac device unattended, as someone could quickly get access to your device.

Protect Your Apple Mac: Buy A HTTP Proxy

Now, there are various things that you can do to improve the security of your Mac. Improving security protocols directly on your Apple device is definitely recommended. However, you should take further steps to improve your online security even further.

You can buy a HTTP proxy from Smartproxy. An HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) proxy is a content filter that will protect your Mac from all online malware and malicious content. It has additional benefits in that it can save you a lot of bandwidth by bypassing annoying ads.

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An HTTP proxy will ensure that your privacy is 100% secure by hiding your identity with over 40 million real mobile and desktop rotating IP addresses from over 195 locations. Your online activity and personal details are guaranteed to be untraceable and safe from cybercriminals. Additionally, it’s straightforward to set up, and Smartproxy will provide you with 24/7/365 expert customer support should you encounter any issues or need assistance.

Get Protected Now

Apple has always produced top-tier products that are stylish, powerful, and very easy to use. Mac users could always feel secure knowing that their devices had the best anti-malware and virus protection protocols. However, times have changed, and there are many reasons for this which are, of course, no fault of the manufacturer.

Before Apple’s meteoric rise to popularity worldwide, the manufacturer had a tiny market share compared to Windows, and the Apple operating system source code used to be kept in a secure vault under lock and key. User numbers were so low that cybercriminals didn’t even consider targeting Mac users. With Apple’s growing market share, more people became tech-savvy with the macOS, which opened users up to increasing cyber-attacks.

Although Macs are still significantly safer than Windows PCs, users should be vigilant of their safety. The best anti-malware and virus software and setting up security protocols directly on your Apple device are effective. However, we strongly recommend employing an HTTP proxy for added protection. Get protected now and be safe!

Author

Ruby has been a writer and author for a while, and her content appears all across the tech world, from within ReadWrite, BusinessMagazine, ThriveGlobal, etc.

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