8 Simple Tips to Secure a Mac from Malware, Viruses, & Trojans

Nowadays, putting malware on a device is one of the easiest things. It can range from phishing scams to ransomware and whatnot. It only takes a link clicked by the user, and before you know it, the hacker is inside your system. Therefore, it is only sensible to keep your device equipped with Mac virus cleaner

Apart from using virus-cleaning software, there are several other ways that can be employed to make sure that your system is secured from all kinds of malware attacks. These can range from uninstalling useless apps to disabling JavaScript and much more. So let me walk you through the ways you can use to secure your Mac from viruses and malware. 

Let’s dig a little deeper!

Expert Tips To Protect Your Mac From Malware, Viruses, And Trojans

Recently there has been an outbreak of Flashback Trojan, therefore, it is good to secure your Mac devices. You can use several ways to do so depending on the type of virus or malware you want protection from. Keep reading to find out easy tips on protecting your Mac from malware, viruses, and Trojans. 

  • Uninstall The Adobe Acrobat Reader

Your Mac is equipped with Mac OS X that can be used to open and study pdf easily. Therefore, the need for an Adobe Acrobat Reader should not arise. Hence, if you have installed it, it is better to disable it or uninstalls it from your device. This is because, in recent years, there have been several security breaches reported from Adobe Acrobat. 

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To uninstall the software, you can use two methods. You can either uninstall it directly from the device or if you are unable to locate it, then use the browser plugin to find it from the data files. The plugin is given below.

/Library/Internet Plug-ins/AdobePDFViewer.plugin

  • Enable Manual Opening Of Downloaded Files

The default setting of your Mac is to open the file automatically when downloaded. However, to protect your device from any unwanted virus, it is recommended that you turn these settings to manual. Hence, when a file is downloaded, you can check for yourself if it is the right file and then open it manually. Moreover, you should do this for all kinds of files whether they are pdfs, video clips, or audio clips. This can be done by deselecting the open safe files option from the general downloads tab. 

  • Disable Java On Your Mac

Until and unless your work does not involve the use of Java, you should remove it right away from your Mac. Let me tell you why. Recently, there has been a Flashback Trojan outbreak which was seen to spread through Java on Mac. To protect its devices, Apple released some guidelines that you can use to patch the gaps in Java. However, despite installing those updates, your Mac will be still at risk of Trojan. 

Hence, if your work does not rely on the use of Java, then you should uninstall it completely. This will eliminate the chance of Flashback Trojan spreading through your system. There are two ways to uninstall it, these are discussed below.

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Safari Java Removal

To remove Java from Safari, all you have to do is go to Safari Preference Menu and go to the security tab. Here you will find an option saying ‘enable Java’. Uncheck this box and you are good to go. 

Mac OS X Java Removal

Disabling Java in the Mac OS means disabling it completely from the system. Moreover, this is better than removing it from the Safari browser. To remove Java from Mac OS X, go to the Java preference tab in the utility folder. In the next step, uncheck all the boxes along the Web start Application and Applet Plug-in. Lastly, uncheck Java SE# boxes. 

  • Install The Anti Virus Software

Having anti-virus software is the best way to equip your device with a virus detector. Most anti-malware software requires a paid subscription but even signing into their free plan is enough to detect any viruses present in your system. Among all the anti-virus software available, you can choose the one that best fits your needs. 

  • Update Your System Regularly

One of the preventative steps that you can take to keep your system free of viruses and malware attacks is to update it regularly. You can not only update third part apps but also the Apple default apps too. You can either update directly in the app or from the app store. 

Upgrading the apps on a regular basis fixes all the security loopholes and protects your device from malware attacks in the long run.

  • Double Check The Anti Malware Definitions

Enabling the automatic update is crucial to make sure that your anti-malware is working properly. You can do this by going to the security and privacy tab in the system preference list. Here you will have to check the automatic update box and it is done.

  • Avoid Installing Any Unknown Software

More than once you might have come across a pop-up asking you to install certain software. Do not fall for this scam! In many instances, these random apps contain malware. Hence, ignore such pop-ups especially if you have not requested such software. 

  • Enable A Flash Block Plugin

Flash has been widely used on Macs but recently it has been observed that it uses more battery. Moreover, in the recent past, there have been several security issues with the use of Adobe Flash Player. Therefore, if you do not want to uninstall it, then disable it and enable it only when needed. 

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Final Verdict

Keeping your Mac free from all kinds of malware can be hard. However, if you stay cautious and take the necessary steps then you can easily steer clear of all kinds of trojans and viruses. Taking the required measures to keep your system free of malware is especially important if you run a business that involves client data. 

 

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