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Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

#41

Post by kilon »

I don’t. I keep my super sensitive data in my head. I never believed in computer security and never will. But the I never believed in security in general. Why on earth you would need an antivirus for a Mac ? I don’t even remember the last time avast gave me a virus warning on Windoom 10. Nowadays it’s mostly worms, ransomeware and spyware , rarely a Trojan horse. The age of virus has long gone after the start of the age of not slow internet.The only thing I do is to backup my data via Dropbox and megasync.

If you really need security, get a computer , disconnect it from the internet. The end.

Re: Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

#42

Post by iamben »

jiscariot wrote: post #16

My primary concern is someone physically stealing my Macbook or iMac. They are personal devices and the content on them would not be much of interest to others, foreign governments or other entities. I have Prey[1] installed. On both devices, I have "admin" credentials taped to the back. The account is actually a locked down user-level account with very little authority, other than being able to get on wifi/browse th…

Question - I used to use Prey and loved it, but stopped about 5 or 6 years ago because (IIRC) it didn't work with full disk encryption or something like that. Instead I ended up setting up a separate user and find my Mac (or whatever the apple one is called). Has this changed? If you have a couple of minutes could you tell me how you have it set up?! Thanks!

Re: Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

#43

Post by TMWNN »

iamben wrote: post #42
jiscariot wrote: post #16

My primary concern is someone physically stealing my Macbook or iMac. They are personal devices and the content on them would not be much of interest to others, foreign governments or other entities. I have Prey[1] installed. On both devices, I have "admin" credentials taped to the back. The account is actually a locked down user-level account with very little authority, other than being able to get on wifi/browse th…

Question - I used to use Prey and loved it, but stopped about 5 or 6 years ago because (IIRC) it didn't work with full disk encryption or something like that. Instead I ended up setting up a separate user and find my Mac (or whatever the apple one is called). Has this changed? If you have a couple of minutes could you tell me how you have it set up?! Thanks!

I use Prey with FileVault 2. I also have Find My Mac enabled.

Re: Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

#44

Post by loopbit »

jiscariot wrote: post #16

My primary concern is someone physically stealing my Macbook or iMac. They are personal devices and the content on them would not be much of interest to others, foreign governments or other entities. I have Prey[1] installed. On both devices, I have "admin" credentials taped to the back. The account is actually a locked down user-level account with very little authority, other than being able to get on wifi/browse th…

Your comment reminded me of this:

DEF CON 18 - Zoz - Pwned By The Owner: What Happens When You Steal A Hacker's Computer: https://youtu.be/Jwpg-AwJ0Jc

Re: Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

#45

Post by jacobush »

jiscariot wrote: post #16

My primary concern is someone physically stealing my Macbook or iMac. They are personal devices and the content on them would not be much of interest to others, foreign governments or other entities. I have Prey[1] installed. On both devices, I have "admin" credentials taped to the back. The account is actually a locked down user-level account with very little authority, other than being able to get on wifi/browse th…

I more in the camp that if someone takes it, I write it off. I don't want to get my life dragged down in the minutia of "who took it, where is it". I just want to restore from (encrypted) backup and move on with my life.

Re: Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

#46

Post by jacobush »

cerberusss wrote: post #23
icedchai wrote: post #9

Full disk encryption, that's it. When I get up, I lock the screen.

To add to this: the shortcut key for locking the screen is Cmd+Ctrl+Q. There's also the possibility of configuring a Hot Corner for this.

Hot corner it is for me.

Re: Ask HN: How do you secure your Mac?

#48

Post by dewey »

cerberusss wrote: post #23
icedchai wrote: post #9

Full disk encryption, that's it. When I get up, I lock the screen.

To add to this: the shortcut key for locking the screen is Cmd+Ctrl+Q. There's also the possibility of configuring a Hot Corner for this.

Also if you have a Touch Bar Mac you can add a “lock” button to the Touch Bar. I mostly use that one and unlock with my watch when I come close.
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