Data Security Apps on Mac

We all agree that Mac is more secure than Windows computers. Mac computers run under macOS, a Unix-style operating system with high reliability and security. However, every software has a flaw. You still need to handle your Mac's security settings in the right ways to protect your privacy from possible hackers.

Now macOS doesn't offer a built-in antivirus/malware scan feature. Its security mechanism focuses on password management, data encryption, and sharing. Like all operating systems, macOS works hard to patch flaws in time, so hackers and cybercriminals cannot get a chance to exploit defects. It's the core that Mac has a high reputation for keeping customers' private data safe.



If the software has any flaw, your Mac will be at high risk, especially a defect is reported publicly. So you should update software regularly. In addition to macOS, don't forget to update all apps installed on your Mac, which are as crucial as MacOS to keep your privacy safe.

In the Software Update preference pane, click Advanced; you can see settings related to software updates. It lets you check the installed system data files and security updates and helps you get the latest updates as soon as possible. Here you have two basic options: auto or manual update.

• Auto-update: if you have the time, check for updates automatically and download new updates when available.
• Manual update: if you dislike interrupting, e.g., working on an important project, you don't want apps or macOS to be updated.

FileVault is Apple's full-disk encryption feature. If you activate FileVault, your files will be encrypted. If your Mac is stolen or lost, no one can decrypt them unless you know your password. Did you hear some stories that someone lost a computer then lost secrets afterward? If you have a Mac and turn on FileVault, you will never be in such a horrible story.

When the feature first came, it slowed down performance slightly, which is no longer a big concern. To decrypt files, you need to type in your account password or the recovery key created when you switched FileVault on. Besides, you need to type in a password to open a file in some cases. The inconvenience may outweigh the security advantages for some users who don't care about data leaking.

However, if the Mac is for your business or has critical personal data, you should turn on FileVault as follows. FileVault turned on, all the files under your account will be encrypted; it is robust and secure and is especially useful if your Mac gets lost or stolen.



Backing up your data is like an insurance policy. Usually, no one wants to get payment from an insurance policy, but it helps very much just in case. If your data isn't in good shape, either by yourself in an accident or by cybercriminals intentionally, the backup will help you out.

Mac offers a comfortable and valuable backup tool called a fancy name: Time Machine. Time Machine needs extra storage to contain backup contents: an external hard drive or a network volume. As long as your settings are done, Time Machine automatically backs up your Mac every hour. It's a handy built-in tool to keep your data safe.



The macOS has a built-in firewall feature, blocking unwanted incoming network connections. But the feature doesn't turn on by default. If your Mac often runs in scenarios with public Wi-Fi, you had better turn on the feature as follows.

• Click the Firewall tab in the System Preferences > Security & Privacy pane
• Click the padlock icon at the bottom left to unlock system settings.
• Click the Turn On Firewall button.
• Then click the Firewall Options button.
• In the dialog box that appears, click the Enable Stealth Mode box.

This last step means your Mac will be invisible on public networks, such as shared Wi-Fi in a cafe, and no one malware can access it.

Of course, your Mac can still receive an inbound connection by maintaining a white list. You can set a list of apps and services to collect incoming data when macOS turns on the firewall.

However, macOS's firewall works only in one direction: it shields you from inbound traffic, not outbound. Its job is to stop apps and services that accept incoming connections.

If any malware has run at your Mac, MacOS's firewall cannot stop it from connecting to the Internet. It means your privacy may leak without your awareness.

If you are concerned about an outbound firewall, you need to install third-party apps or tools.

You should know how important it is to have a secure password, which is the key to your Mac's user accounts. If anyone can access it, all your data will be disclosed. You need to ensure that your password is secure and that you can remember it. There are many tips about creating a secure password, which isn't only for Mac's password but also for generic passwords.

You can set a password for Mac as follows.

There are three settings here:

• The first is to set a password for your account.
• The next allows you to specify if a password is needed to unlock your Mac when it goes to sleep.
• Then disable automatic login, which you should do if you use a mobile Mac.
• Choose to allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac, assuming you have an Apple Watch.

Good passwords should be difficult to remember, and they should also not be written down. Apple provides iCloud Keychain to help you make and remember passwords through a built-in random password generator.

Supposing that you are logging on to your Apple ID, iCloud Keychain will automatically enter any required password for any service or website. It can store all your account details, like settings for email, contacts, calendars, and social networking services, and automatically retrieve and populate them only if you need to log into any of your Macs and iOS devices.

ICloud Keychain is a built-in solution of Apple for both macOS and iOS. It uses a master password (Apple ID) to let you create and store robust passwords and sync them across all your devices. If your devices aren't limited to Apple products, you can also select an alternative password manager.

In the General pane of the Security & Privacy preferences, you can determine which types of apps can launch on your Mac. There are two options:

• App Store
• App Store and authorized developers

Both are good to prevent malicious apps that don't have an Apple developer certificate from downloading and launching.

"App Store" is enough in most cases: you may not need to get apps elsewhere except the App Store. However, if you need an app that isn't in the App Store and from an authorized developer, you may wish to opt for the second option. With either option, your Mac should be secure.

Please note that a non-authorized developer who downloads an app will bring a high risk to your privacy and data. However, you can run an app that doesn't come from an identified developer, but you will have to approve it before running.



Mac provides a robust security mechanism; however, the security requirements are different from various use cases. Some third-party software developers also offer lots of supplements to enhance your information security. We list some of them to help you get the right choice for your Mac if you need extra security protection.

Producer	Name	Area	Free
BitDefender, LLC.	Bitdefender Premium Security	Internet Security Password VPN Service File Security Parental Control
	Bitdefender Antivirus Plus	Antivirus Password Privacy Security File Security
	Bitdefender Premium VPN	VPN Service
McAfee, LLC.	Mcafee Total Protection	Antivirus Password VPN Service Internet Security File Security Parental Control
	Mcafee Identity Protection	Privacy Security VPN Service
	Mcafee Connect VPN	VPN Service
F-Secure Cyber Security Limited	F-Secure SAFE/TOTAL	Internet Security Password VPN Service Parental Control
	F-Secure Id Protection	Password Privacy Security
Nord Inc.	NordVPN	VPN Service Password
	NordPass Password Manager	Password Privacy Security
NortonLifeLock Inc.	Norton 360 AntiVirus	Antivirus Data Backup Internet Security Password Parental Control VPN Service
	Norton Secure VPN	VPN Service
Webroot Inc.	Webroot SecureAnywhere	Antivirus Internet Security Password Data Backup
	Webroot WiFi Security	VPN Service
Kaspersky Lab	Kaspersky Anti Virus & Security	Antivirus Internet Security Password Data Backup Privacy Security Parental Control
	Kaspersky Safe Kids	Parental Control
Avast Software	Avast One	Antivirus Internet Security VPN Service
Malwarebytes Inc.	Malwarebytes Security	Antivirus Internet Security VPN Service
ESET, LLC.	Smart Secuirty	Antivirus Internet Security Password Data Backup Parental Control
K7 Computing Pvt Ltd.	K7 Antivirus & Secuirty	Antivirus Internet Security Parental Control
Comodo Security Solutions, Inc.	Comodo Internet Security	Antivirus Internet Security Data Backup VPN Service
Avast Software s.r.o.	AVG Ultimate	Antivirus Internet Security File Security VPN Service
Avira Operations	Avira PRIME	Antivirus Internet Security File Security VPN Service
Sophos Ltd.	Sophos Home	Antivirus Internet Security
Clario Tech Limited	MacKeeper	Antivirus VPN Service
G DATA CyberDefense AG.	G Data Antivirus Mac	Antivirus
Trend Micro Inc.	Trend Premium Security	Internet Security Password VPN Service Parental Control
Aura	Hotspot Shield	VPN Service Password Antivirus Privacy Security
CyberGhost	CyberGhost VPN	VPN Service
Express VPN International Ltd	ExpressVPN	VPN Service
Surfshark Ltd.	Surfshark VPN	VPN Service
AgileBits, Inc.	1Password Password Manager	Password File Security VPN Service
Keeper Security, Inc.	Keeper Password Manager	Password File Security Privacy Security
LogMeIn,Inc.	LastPass Password Manager	Password File Security Privacy Security
Bitwarden, Inc.	Bitwarden Password Manager	Password File Security
Siber Systems, Inc.	RoboForm Password Manager	Password File Security
Dashlane Inc.	Dashlane Password Manager	Password
Qustodio LLC.	Qustodio Family Premium	Parental Control
Cisco Systems	OPENDNS Home/Prosumer	Parental Control
Content Watch Holdings, Inc.	Net Nanny Family Pass	Parental Control
Mobicip LLC.	Mobicip Parental Control	Parental Control
Acronis International GmbH	Acronis True Cyber Protection	Data Backup File Security
Google LLC	Google One	Data Backup
Microsoft Corporation	Microsoft OneDrive	Data Backup
Apple Inc.	Apple iCloud Drive	Data Backup
IDrive Inc.	iDrive	Data Backup
Dropbox, Inc.	Dropbox Plus/Family/Professional	Data Backup
Paragon Technologie GmbH.	Hard Disk Manager for Mac	Data Backup
Bombich Software, Inc.	Carbon Copy Cloner	Data Backup
Econ Technologies, Inc.	ChronoSync	Data Backup
Koingo Software, Inc.	Data Guardian 7	File Security Password Privacy Security
AxCrypt Inc.	AxCrypt Encrypt Premium	File Security Password
Skymatic Inc.	Cryptomator Encrypt	File Security Data Backup
Piriform Ltd	CCleaner	File Security Privacy Security
Stellar Information Technology Pvt. Ltd	STELLAR DATA RECOVERY for Mac	File Security
Prosoft Engineering, Inc.	Data Rescue 6	File Security
Defiant Technologies, LLC.	DiskDigger	File Security
WipeDrive Software	WipeDrive Home	File Security
MacPaw Inc.	Encrypto	File Security
KLDiscovery Ontrack, LLC	Ontrack EasyRecovery	File Security
iMobie Inc.	MacClean 3	File Security

Ideally, Mac users shouldn't consider free security software. One reason is MacOS itself already has powerful build-in security features; the more important reason is that your privacy and data are deserved you pay for them. However, if you aren't familiar with third parties' Mac security software, a free product may be a good starting point for evaluating how these tools work for your scenarios.

Here we list some popular ones to help you understand mainstream Mac security software.