Security How Tos for macOS and iOS
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Mac 911
Sneaking past the Gatekeeper
Reader Richard finds his way blocked when trying to launch a favorite application. Chris Breen shows him the path forward.
Working Mac
Security tips for Mac travelers
Far from home with lots of Apple gear? Learn what you can do to protect your technology from thieves and how to track it down if it goes missing.Macworld Video
Easily encrypt drives in Mountain Lion
OS X has long let you use Disk Utility to encrypt removable drives to prevent other people from accessing your data. But doing so used to require you to use Disk Utility and navigate its many options, menus, and buttons. In Mountain Lion, the process is much easier. Here's how to do it. We also show you how to encrypt your Time Machine backup drives.How-To
How to protect your laptop
Whether you're heading off on a business trip or your first year of college, you're probably hauling a laptop. Here's how to keep it clean and ding-free.How-To
How to configure Dropbox’s two-step authentication
Two-step authentication is all the rage these days, after high-profile security breaches. File-syncing service Dropbox is offering a preview build that lets users enable the feature, and Dan Moren shows you how to set it up.Mac 911
Disabling Google auto updates
Did you know that Google applications automatically update themselves? Where some find convenience, others are concerned. Chris Breen shows you how to stop it.
Working Mac
Encrypt any disk in Mountain Lion
One of the more interesting (and less visible) new features in Mountain Lion is the ability to encrypt almost any disk, even simple USB flash drives. Here's how to access this hidden option.
How-To
How to configure Google’s two-step authentication
Enabling Google's two-step authentication comes with a few complexities. But it also might save your data from nefarious folks out to steal or delete it for fun.Updated
Security in the iCloud age
Wired's Mat Honan got hacked hard over the weekend, and the attacker wiped out his iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Protecting yourself from malicious ne'er-do-wells requires secure passwords, clever security answers, solid backups, and careful considerations.Working Mac
How to surf safely with a VPN-for-hire
If you regularly use public networks–such as those in airports or coffeeshops–to access the Net, you should know that your data is at risk. You should also know that private, commercial VPN services are available that will keep your data safe.Mac 911
How to securely delete files
If you want your deleted files to be really, completely, totally gone, emptying the trash isn't enough. Chris Breen provides other options.Mac 911
Tweaking Lion’s firewall
Like versions of OS X's firewall before it, Lion limits what you can do with the firewall from within the Security & Privacy system preference. Thankfully there's a terrific tool for digging deeper.Mac 911
Easy encryption with Disk Utility
Are there tools for encrypting folders on your Mac? Sure. But before going there, take a second look at Disk Utility.How-To
Can FileVault 2 and Find My Mac foil thieves?
OS X 10.7.2 includes some significant changes to FileVault that includes some nifty interactions with the new Find My Mac feature.How-To
Complete guide to FileVault 2 in Lion
Lion's FileVault 2 can be used to protect your data by encrypting your Mac's hard drive. Interested in using FileVault 2, but don't know where to start? Macworld senior contributor Glenn Fleishman has a complete guide to FileVault 2.Working Mac
Three Twitter security tips
Protect your Twitter account from hackers with these three simple tips.
How-To
Keep your Mac safe from Web security flaws
This year has seen numerous security breaches at the root infrastructure of Web privacy and security. How can regular users protect themselves? Glenn Fleishman has some expert suggestions.
Working Mac
Keep your Mac safe while traveling
Getting ready for the holiday weekend? Whether you're on a cruise ship or at a coffee shop, public Wi-Fi networks can leave your Mac's data vulnerable. Lex Friedman offers a few tips for keeping your data safe.
Mac 911
Bugs & Fixes: Microsoft, Adobe issue new security bulletins
Ted Landau wonders whether the stream of security bulletins is making us more anxious about exploits than is justified by the level of risk.
Mac 911
Bugs & Fixes: Troubleshooting Apple’s malware protection
Ted Landau describes how to keep your Mac's malware definitions up to date.Working Mac
How to use your iPad securely
Security is vital if you're going to use an iPad a business device. Rich Mogull has some advice on how to keep the tablet and its data safe.
MacUser
How to force your Mac to update its malware definitions
Apple's already released a new update to its recently-changed malware definitions file. Here's how to force your Mac to grab the latest update from Apple.
Mac 911
Bugs & Fixes: Mac Defender strikes again; Apple fights back
Ted Landau considers Mac Defender to be a rather low risk threat. Most users will never confront any Mac Defender variant. And those that do will still need to be "tricked" by the software before they are in any real danger.Mac 911
Copying iPhoto images over a network
With the help of iPhoto sharing you can easily move images from one Mac to another on a local network. However, be wary of who you share those images with.
How-To
How to delete your Mac’s Web browser history
This tutorial will show you how to clear your browser history in each of the most popular Web browsers for the Mac.
Mac 911
Bugs & Fixes: Flash, iOS, and Xcode
Ted Landau runs up some recent troubleshooting news, including a security vulnerability with Flash Player, a pair of iOS bugs, and a problem with the Mac App Store version of Xcode.iOS Central
How to set up Find My iOS device on your iPhone and iPad
Did you know that you can find a misplaced iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad from your computer? All it takes is a little forethought and these setup instructions.Mac OS X Hints
Add contact info to iPhone lock screen
Worried about losing your iPhone? One Hints reader figured out a way to his contact information to his phone's lock screen.Working Mac
How to get rid of Web browser cookies
When random sites started displaying his Facebook profile picture and welcoming him by name, Kirk McElhearn decided it was time to do something about his Web browser cookies. Here's why you might want to delete cookies and what to expect if you do.Mac 911
Bugs & Fixes: What’s the risk with the Citi Mobile security flaw
Ted Landau takes a closer look at a security flaw with the Citi Mobile iPhone app and whether users should be concerned about how secure their financial data is.Mac 911
Dealing with the unlockable iPhone
You say you can't impose the Never auto-lock setting? Scrutinize your Exchange account.How-To
Keep kids safe online
School's out. Is your Mac ready for summer's idle hours? A good way to start is by setting basic computing limits for your kids using Snow Leopardu2019s parental controls.
How-To
Securing your Facebook privacy settings
A bookmarklet from ReclaimPrivacy.org will scan your Facebook settings to see if you're keeping your private information secure. We give it a run-through.Mac 911
Passwords, scams, and you
While you may not have been held at gunpoint in the UK, something bad happened to your e-mail account. The how and what-to-do of it.
How-To
Facebook privacy changes: Five can’t-miss facts
CIO.com's Kristin Burnham offers up a list of five essential Facebook privacy settings you should review now and tweak accordingly to ensure your information remains safe.Mac 911
Uninstalling Norton AntiVirus
Symantec is thoughtful enough to provide an uninstaller application for removing its utilities. If you don't use it, woe is you.
Working Mac
Living with Windows: security
When you use a Mac, you don't have to worry too much about malware. But when you put a Mac on a network with Windows PCs (or when you run Windows on a Mac), you have to give security some thought. Rich Mogull tells you what you do and don't have to worry about.Working Mac
Protect data with encrypted hard drives
If you want to encrypt the contents of an external hard drive to protect its data in case of loss or theft, youu2019ve got a lot of options.
Mac 911
Bugs & Fixes: Adobe Reader phishing scam
Want to avoid becoming the victim of a phishing scam? Your first line of defense is usually a little common sense, Ted Landau writes.Mac 911
The unbootable Mac mini
Why would a perfectly good Mac mini suddenly refuse to boot? Dan Frakes takes you through the torturous path to the solution, which ended up being obvious in retrospect.Mac 911
E-mail and the advantages of deception
Despite what you learned at Sunday school, lying in the service of preventing spam is not a sin.
How-To
A practical approach to protecting trade secrets
When you think about security, you probably think about computer viruses and worms. But what about your trade secrets? Here how your company's IT department and lawyers can work together.
How-To
Google’s free airport Wi-Fi: Five ways to protect yourself
Planning on taking advantage of free Wi-Fi at the airport during your holiday travels? Make sure you follow these tips for securing your wireless computing.
iOS Central
Secure your jailbroken iPhone with a password change
A couple of vulnerabilities pray on jailbroken iPhones that use the same default password. Here's how to change that password to avoid getting bitten.Creative Notes
Integrate your iWeb site with Facebook
Here's a few tips on bringing iWeb and Facebook together.How-To