Skip to content
Thoughtful, detailed coverage of everything Apple for 33 years
and the TidBITS Content Network for Apple professionals

Chapter 7 of “Take Control of Security for Mac Users” Available

When most people think about security in the real world, they envision imposing physical barriers and sentries at checkpoints. Similarly, you can erect digital walls and employ virtual guards on your Mac. That’s what Joe Kissell teaches you to do in Chapter 7, “Fortify Your Mac’s Defenses,” this week’s installment from “Take Control of Security for Mac Users.”

Joe focuses his attention on three main topics: anti-malware software, firewalls that block inbound attacks, and firewalls that block attempts to transfer data out of your Mac. With anti-malware software, the question is whether it’s appropriate for you since, unlike in the PC world, it’s often more trouble than it’s worth for Mac users. Firewalls that try to prevent data from leaving your Mac are similar — they may interrupt you too frequently to be worth the extra protection. However, firewalls that protect against malicious incoming traffic are another story — OS X’s built-in firewall is simple and unobtrusive, and well worth enabling.

If you want to catch up with “Take Control of Security for Mac Users” so far, the first two chapticles are available to everyone, but subsequent ones are limited to TidBITS members. Those who join the TidBITS membership program receive other benefits too, but what’s most important is that revenues contributed by TidBITS members have kept TidBITS running the last few years — your support makes all the difference. If you’re already a TidBITS member, log in to the TidBITS site using the email address from which you joined to read and comment on these chapters.

The full ebook of “Take Control of Security for Mac Users” will be available for purchase by everyone in PDF, EPUB, and Mobipocket (Kindle) formats once it’s complete.

Subscribe today so you don’t miss any TidBITS articles!

Every week you’ll get tech tips, in-depth reviews, and insightful news analysis for discerning Apple users. For over 33 years, we’ve published professional, member-supported tech journalism that makes you smarter.

Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.