Here’s how to use the Security & Privacy pane to keep your computer safe.
How to Change Security Preferences on a Mac
The Security & Privacy panel has four areas, each of which controls a different aspect of Mac security. Follow these steps to access and modify each of them.
How to Use FileVault Settings
The next tab controls FileVault. This feature uses a 128-bit (AES-128) encryption scheme to protect your user data from prying eyes. Encrypting your home folder makes it nearly impossible for anyone to access any user data on your Mac without your account name and password.
Disable automatic login: This option requires users to authenticate their identity with their password any time they log on.Require a password to unlock each System Preferences pane: With this option selected, users must provide their account ID and password any time they attempt to make a change to any secure system preference. Normally, the first authentication unlocks all secure system preferences.
FileVault is handy for those with portable Macs who are concerned about loss or theft. When FileVault is enabled, your home folder becomes an encrypted disk image that only mounts for access after you log in. When you log off, shut down, or sleep, the home folder image is no longer available.
How to Configure Your Mac’s Firewall
Your Mac includes a personal firewall you can use to prevent network or internet connections. It’s based on a standard UNIX setup called ipfw. This is a good, though basic, packet-filtering firewall. To this basic firewall, Apple adds a socket-filtering system, also known as an application firewall.
Allow my iCloud account to unlock my disk: This option lets you use your Apple ID and password.Create a recovery key and do not use my iCloud account: Choose this setting for more security. Your data will be behind an independent, unique key that isn’t related to your Apple ID. It’s a better option if you’re concerned about the security of your iCloud credentials.
Set Master Password: The master password is a fail-safe. It allows you to reset your user password in the event you forget your login information. However, if you forget both your user account password and the master password, you will not be able to access your user data.Use secure erase: This option overwrites the data when you empty the trash. This ensures that the trashed data is not easily recoverable.Use secure virtual memory: Selecting this option forces any RAM data written to your hard drive to be first encrypted.
Instead of needing to know which ports and protocols are necessary, you can specify which applications have the right to make incoming or outgoing connections.
How to Adjust Privacy Settings
You may have a fourth tab: Privacy. This section lets you decide which apps can collect and read information from different areas of your Mac. Here’s how it works.
Configd: Allows DHCP and other network configuration services to occur. mDNSResponder: Allows the Bonjour protocol to function. raccoon: Allows IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) to function.
